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Understanding Your Laboratory Tests
"We're going to run some tests on you."
Did you ever wonder what
your doctor means by that?
When you provide blood, urine, or other
body substances, these samples are sent to the medical laboratory, where
the technical and professional staff process the sample, test it
and report the results to your physician.
What Happens To Your Blood
COLLECTION
First, a doctor, nurse, technician or phlebotomist draws your blood. Several tubes of blood may need to be drawn for different types of tests.
 Depending on what illness or infection you might have, your doctor may want to obtain a
urine sample, throat swab or other sample. Follow the collection instructions carefully ---
the right sample leads to the right answers.
After the sample is collected, the container is labeled with your name and either your birth
date or medical record number. If you are bringing a sample to the lab, make sure it has
your name and one of those two numbers on it, so the correct tests are done and the
results are reported on the right patient.
PROCESSING
When the sample gets to the laboratory, it is logged into the hospital computer. In some
cases, the liquid portion of blood is separated from the cells to prepare it for testing, and
then the laboratory staff perform the testing.
TESTING
Chemistry
In the Chemistry section of the lab, blood and other body fluids are tested for chemicals,
drugs and substances that indicate disease. Examples of Chemistry tests include:
cholesterol and other tests for risk of heart disease; glucose (to monitor diabetes); digoxin
(to help physicians give the correct dose of this powerful drug); and thyroxin (to monitor
the thyroid gland function).
 Hematology
The Hematology section of the lab analyzes the amount and function of blood cells and
plasma. Examples of Hematology tests include the Complete Blood Count (CBC)
that tells the doctor how many cells of each type are in your blood, and the prothrombin
time (PT), to monitor patients on the drug Coumadin.
 Microbiology
The Microbiology section of the lab tests patients for infections caused by bacteria,
fungi or parasites. Many types of specimens - including blood, urine, sputum, stool and others --- are tested. An example of a Microbiology test is a urine culture for
urinary tract infections.
Virology
The Virology laboratory tests for viral infections. Depending on the virus suspected, the laboratory might look for the virus directly, or test your blood to see if your immune system has reacted to a virus. Examples of Virology tests include rapid tests for influenza and herpes, and antibody test for HIV and hepatitis viruses.
Immunology/Molecular Diagnostics
The Immunology/Molecular Diagnostics laboratory performs a wide variety of complex tests. Some tests are used by your doctor to determine whether your immune system is functioning properly. State-of-the-art analysis
of DNA and RNA is used to test for a variety of diseases. State-of-the-art analysis of DNA and RNA is used to test for a variety of diseases and for the risk of developing certain diseases. The new field of pharmacogenetics tests to determine how an individual patient may respond to a particular drug (i.e., “personalized medicine”).
 Blood Bank (Transfusion Services)
The Blood Bank (Transfusion Services) is a unique laboratory which not only tests patients’ blood types but also provides blood products to patients who need them. It does additional tests to assure the safety of transfused blood.
REPORTING
After the tests are done, results are reviewed and entered into the hospital computer system.
For results that indicate the patient may be very ill, the laboratory calls the doctor with the results.
Depending on how long it takes to carry out a particular test, the length of time between the drawing of the blood and when your physician gets the results can vary greatly --- from a few minutes to several weeks. Most test results are available in 24-48 hours.
USING THE RESULTS
Once the information is reported, your physician will interpret the results based his or her knowledge of you. The test results may help diagnose or rule out a disease, or help manage your disease. You should ask your physician to explain your lab results to you, so you can understand and participate in maintaining your health.
WHY YOU & YOUR DOCTOR CAN TRUST YOUR RESULTS
The Yale-New Haven Hospital Department of Laboratory Medicine ensures that every test it offers – at every location – is accurate and reliable. Each test is monitored frequently by running specimens with known results, called “controls.”
The laboratory also compares the results of every test it does with those of hundreds of labs in nationwide “proficiency testing” programs. Finally, the laboratory is frequently inspected by a variety of agencies that monitor laboratory quality.
YNHH Laboratory Medicine performs tests for patients throughout Connecticut and also handles specialized laboratory referrals from other hospitals, institutions and laboratories in southern New England and across the country.
Who We Are
Laboratory professionals are among the unsungheroes of health care, working behind-the-scenes, 24/7, to support the other health care professionals with critical data from your testing.
- Phlebotomists
Most of the blood collection at YNHH and in its drawstation is done by blood drawing specialists called phlebotomists --- specially trained in blood collection and processing of blood.
- Medical Technicians and Technologists
Medical technicians and technologists are college-educated professionals who specialize in clinical laboratory science. They run the tests, look through the microscopes, report and assess the quality
of results, and implement new methods.
- Pathologists and PhD Scientists
Pathologists (physicians who specialize in laboratory medicine) and PhD clinical scientists provide medical leadership to the laboratory, analyze and interpret specialized tests, and consult with your providers on the right tests to order and the meaning of results.
- Other members of the Laboratory Team
Other workers perform important clerical, maintenance, information processing, administrative and other support functions for the laboratory.
Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Department of Laboratory Medicine has been accredited by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists. Approved by YNHH Department of Laboratory Medicine Administration, 2005
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