Blood Drug Testing

How exactly does a lab do a chemistry test on blood, or a cholesterol test, or any blood test?

is it just a matter of sticking the sample in a machine and it automatically analyzes everything? How does that work? Whats the machine called? how does the whole process work

Public Comments

1. It depends on the test requested on how the specimen is processed. Most chemistry tests are performed on an instrument after the specimen is initially evaluated for acceptability -- is it hemolyzed, lipemic, etc. The methods used by the instrument vary once again depending on the instrument and what is being tested. Some methods included: photometry, chemilumenescence, gas chromatoraphy, high performance liquid chromatograhy, electrophoresis, osmometry, fluorometry to name a few -- more info on any of these methods can be found at Wikipedia. As for what the machine is called -- well there are a number of analyzers made by many different companies. In general the process is as follows: specimen drawn, labeled and brought to lab, specimen centrifuged to separate it into plasma or serum and the blood cells. Sample is evaluated for acceptibiliy -- lipemia, hemolysis, icterus and handled accordingly. Sample is place on an analyzer which does the testing. Results are evaluated and rechecked as needed by a Medical Technologist/Technician (MT or MLT) and if acceptable verfied out and reports sent to doctor's office....
2. I want to add to what kasey above me said....not all lab tests are ran by a machine. I think the misconception is that a machine does all of the work in a lab which is not case at all. Cultures, blood bank tests (typing and crossmatching), urinalysis tests, and etc are fully or partailly performed by a Medical technologist or MLT. This is just a sample :)