Medical laboratories are areas that allow scientific research, experiments and measurements to be carried out in a controlled manner and to enable the development of these scientific researches, experiments and controlled measurements.

Laboratories are areas that can perform biological, microbiological, immunological, chemical, immunohematological, hematological, biophysical, cytological, pathological and other analyses on materials taken from the human body in order to provide information for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease or to assess   the health status of a person, and can also provide consultation services covering all laboratory research, including the interpretation of the results and advice on appropriate further research.

Laboratory analysis includes processes that can be performed, as well as determining, measuring or otherwise explaining the presence or absence of various substances or microorganisms.

Medical laboratory services are essential for patient care and must meet the needs and expectations of all patients and all clinical staff responsible for their care. These services include processing requests, patient preparation and identification, specimen collection, transportation, storage, processing, and analysis of clinical samples, as well as validation, interpretation, reporting, and recommendations, in addition to safety and ethical considerations in medical laboratory work.

Microbiology

Microorganisms are widely found in humans, animals, and plants, as well as in the environment where these organisms reside. Microbiology is the branch of science that examines the characteristics of microorganisms, which are abundant everywhere, their relationships with each other and with living things, examines them in laboratory settings, and demonstrates their isolation using various methods.

Because microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and can cause disease, microbiology is given various names depending on the field it studies. These include Clinical, Food, Veterinary, and Industrial Microbiology.

When examining disease agents within microbiology, bacteria, viruses, and fungi can coexist, so each must be considered and examined separately.  Microbiology primarily examines bacteria.  This review covers the general characteristics of bacteria, medical laboratory diagnostic methods and their results, the diseases they cause, epidemiology, and the media used for prevention, treatment, and identification.

In clinical microbiology, blood, urine, stool, throat swabs, and swabs from infected areas are frequently   used. Additionally, discharge, tissue samples, and medical materials taken from any body area showing symptoms are used to identify the bacteria causing the infection.

Clinical microbiology ensures the isolation and identification of the microorganism causing the infection from patient material, the identification of the microorganism as a result of the detection of antigens or antibodies belonging to the microorganism by serological methods, the elimination of the determined microorganism by performing antibiogram tests, that is, the selection of the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the branch of science that studies the chemical substances found in the structure of all living things, including plants, animals and microorganisms, and the chemical processes that continue throughout the life of the living being.

The aim of biochemistry is, above all, to perform structural and quantitative analysis of organic compounds such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, which are the basic components of the cell, and of DNA, nucleic acids, vitamins, and hormones, which are of vital importance and play the greatest role in chemical reactions.

 The study of life processes such as protein composition in living things, the conversion of nutrients into energy, and the transmission of hereditary characteristics through chemical mechanisms are also within the scope of biochemistry.

Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary field encompassing biophysics, molecular biology, structural biology, microbiology, pharmacology, and forensic science. Biochemistry studies are intertwined with organic, inorganic, and analytical chemistry techniques.

Biochemistry tests are a  type of blood test  and are used to reveal substance imbalance in the body and what this imbalance might mean.

Blood tissue is responsible for all bodily functions. Because it contains all kinds of chemicals, it provides important insights into the body's condition. Biochemistry tests are among the most important blood tests. Many common diseases are identified through this laboratory test. It is often used to evaluate metabolic and endocrine (hormonal) disorders. Furthermore, deficiencies or excesses of vital substances provide doctors with insight into how our body's organs are functioning. This, in turn, provides an indication of the impact of different organs on blood chemistry.

Hematology

Internal medicine, or internal diseases, has many branches. Hematology is just one of them. It has taken its place among the branches that deal with cancer. These diseases include:

• It is the field of study of diseases occurring in the bone marrow.
• Diseases occurring in blood-forming organs are also evaluated (e.g. spleen).
• Finally, diseases in the lymph nodes are also examined.

Because blood diseases are involved, blood tests are taken and results are obtained through laboratory testing. For example, blood tests are also included in cases of blood infections. Bone marrow examinations are also performed for some diseases.

Initially, investigations are conducted for leukemias. It is possible to diagnose leukemia by examining blood cells. Therefore, it is one of the branches of medicine used for both chronic and acute leukemias. It's important to note that symptoms include high fever, bleeding, or enlarged glands, if present. In addition to these,

• Hematology comes into play to assess the possibility of anemia in those who present with complaints of palpitations and chest tightness.
•  The hematology branch  also deals with complaints of low leukocyte count.
• Lymphomas are evaluated by hematology as a result of complaints such as weight loss and sweating.

What is a Hematologist?

Specialists/doctors who examine and treat blood diseases and cancers originating from the bone marrow are called hematologists.

Hematology is the branch of Internal Medicine that deals with blood disorders. It examines diseases originating in blood-forming organs such as the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. This department performs blood tests on patients to diagnose diseases. However, bone marrow examinations may also be performed when necessary.

Pathology

Pathology is a branch of medicine that diagnoses diseases, especially cancer, by examining all organs, tissues and body fluids in the body.

The primary purpose of pathology is to diagnose a disease. After diagnosis, we can also see how the disease will progress and what treatments the patient will receive through pathology data.

Pathology is a branch of science that examines cell appearance using specialized methods. It focuses on examining not only cells but also tissues and organs. In this regard, specialized imaging systems are utilized. There are essentially two types of image acquisition. These are:

• Macroscopic is used for what is visible to the eye.
• For microscopic cells that cannot be seen with the naked eye, special tools are used in the laboratory environment.

Different appearances occur in organs, tissues, or cells due to disease.  Pathology  is involved in identifying these appearances. Pathology, a specialized field in medicine, utilizes specialized techniques for diagnosis.

Pathology (the study of disease) deals with the recognition, investigation, and study of structural and functional changes in cells, tissues, and organs, particularly those related to the underlying disease.

People who are experts in the field of pathology are called " pathologists " or " pathology specialists ".

What does a medical laboratory do?

Medical laboratories are areas that allow scientific research, experiments and measurements to be carried out in a controlled manner and to enable the development of these scientific researches, experiments and controlled measurements.

What does biochemistry do?

The aim of biochemistry is, above all, to perform structural and quantitative analysis of organic compounds such as proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, which are the basic components of the cell, and of DNA, nucleic acids, vitamins, and hormones, which are of vital importance and play the greatest role in chemical reactions.

What does biochemistry mean?

Biochemistry is the branch of science that studies the chemical substances found in the structure of all living things, including plants, animals and microorganisms, and the chemical processes that continue throughout the life of the living being.

What does pathology mean?

Pathology is a branch of medicine that examines all organs, tissues, and bodily fluids in the body to diagnose diseases, especially cancer. The primary purpose of pathology is to diagnose a disease. Once diagnosed, we can also see how the disease will progress and what treatments the patient will receive through pathology data.

How are these diseases diagnosed and treated?

Today, advanced biochemical and radiological tests (such as various X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, and MRIs) are used for diagnosis. Diagnosis of diseases of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, in particular, is made by speaking with the patient and performing an examination followed by an endoscopy (gastroscopy).

In the diagnosis and treatment of bile duct stones and cancer, a special endoscopy device called side-view duodenoscopy is used.

Colon and anal region diseases, diverticulum diagnosis, polyp diagnosis and removal, cancer diagnosis and interventions for bleeding are performed with an endoscope that can be bent into the intestines, called a colonoscopy.

These procedures include gastroscopy, which examines the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum by numbing the throat locally. Gastroscopy, ERCP, and colonoscopy are performed comfortably with the patient fully asleep, leaving them with no memory of the procedure. Furthermore, a specialized device called endoscopic ultrasonography, which combines endoscopy and ultrasound, is used to diagnose and treat.