1
,Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
...............................................................................................................................................................1
Quality assessment and quality control in the clinical laboratory.........................................................4
Collecting and processing samples......................................................................................................10
Centrifugation......................................................................................................................................10
Electrophoresis....................................................................................................................................17
Chromatography..................................................................................................................................21
Diagnostic enzymes.............................................................................................................................27
Immunoassay.......................................................................................................................................33
Electron and nuclear spin orientation in magnetic fields.....................................................................39
Polymerase Chain reaction (introduction, real-time, application).......................................................39
Spectroscopy......................................................................................................................................42
Microscopy..........................................................................................................................................47
Biosensors............................................................................................................................................52
Tests done in clinical chemistry...........................................................................................................56
Blood composition, sampling and processing......................................................................................61
Calculations.........................................................................................................................................67
2
,Introduction
The goal of this eBook is to provide succinct but thorough introductory
guides to various scientific techniques, aimed at both the new student and
novice scientist. Each book will highlight different stages and concepts of
Techniques in Biomedical Science.
There is an abundance of textbooks discussing various scientific
techniques to experts, but these resources, written in technical scientific
jargon, can be difficult a new researcher/ student whether an experienced
scientist from a different discipline or a new researcher, to understand
and follow. These techniques, however, may in fact be quite useful to the
a non expert scientist or a student doing any medical science degree -
expert due to the interdisciplinary nature of numerous disciplines. This is
what inspired me to collate all of my notes, before I started my final year
disseration project. All of the notes from the experiments from the
laboratory work I had done in my Biochemistry, Physiology, Genetics
courses. I had distilled them and then added to them when I did my MSc
in Translational Neuroscience. I used the notes I had made as a revision
and reference guide. I read it between experiments in the lab and on my
way to the lab in the morning and it helped me reflect on what I had done
and prepare me for what I would need to do. I
I had spent days poring over numerous textbooks to condense down the
complex explanations and concepts of the important techniques in
Biomedical Scientist. This helped me conducted excellent research in both
my BSc in Biomedical Science and MSc in Translational Neuroscience. I
was conducting novel, groundbreaking research in Neuroscience and the
notes from in this eBook helped guide me during those difficult moments
when I had to improve and perfect my experiments or simply understand
what went wrong. The lack of effective succinct guides to such
techniques can and does slow down research, potentially resulting in
inaccurate data and ultimately waste valuable time and money. This
series sets out to fill the gap in this much needed scientific resource.
I hope you enjoy reading. Love to hear your feedback.
3
, Quality assessment and quality control in the clinical laboratory
Quality = Worth of a service
Components critical to quality-“key measurable characteristics of a product or process whose
performance standards or specification limits must be met to satisfy the customer”
Introduction of quality control (QC) in clinical laboratory was a major advancement in improving the
accuracy and reliability of laboratory testing.
Laboratory errors:
-Preanalytical
-Postanalytical phases of testing
-Specimen related
-Cost to patient
-Cost to hospitals
QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME IS ESSENTIAL to prevent and eliminate laboratory
errors, which could cost up to 400 million per year!!!
-Quality assessment program divided into:
-Preanalytical factor (or errors):
-Specimen obtained from wrong patient
-Specimen taken at wrong time
-Specimen collected into wrong tube or container
-Blood specimens taken in wrong order
-Incorrect labelling of specimen
-Improper processing of specimen
Quality assessment procedures, which monitor:
-Test request procedures
-Patient identificiation
-Specimen procurement and labelling
-Transportation and processing procedures
-Laboratory personnel performance
-Laboratory instrumentation, reagents and analytical test prodecures
-Turn around times
- Accuracy of the final results.
Post analytical phase:
4
,Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
...............................................................................................................................................................1
Quality assessment and quality control in the clinical laboratory.........................................................4
Collecting and processing samples......................................................................................................10
Centrifugation......................................................................................................................................10
Electrophoresis....................................................................................................................................17
Chromatography..................................................................................................................................21
Diagnostic enzymes.............................................................................................................................27
Immunoassay.......................................................................................................................................33
Electron and nuclear spin orientation in magnetic fields.....................................................................39
Polymerase Chain reaction (introduction, real-time, application).......................................................39
Spectroscopy......................................................................................................................................42
Microscopy..........................................................................................................................................47
Biosensors............................................................................................................................................52
Tests done in clinical chemistry...........................................................................................................56
Blood composition, sampling and processing......................................................................................61
Calculations.........................................................................................................................................67
2
,Introduction
The goal of this eBook is to provide succinct but thorough introductory
guides to various scientific techniques, aimed at both the new student and
novice scientist. Each book will highlight different stages and concepts of
Techniques in Biomedical Science.
There is an abundance of textbooks discussing various scientific
techniques to experts, but these resources, written in technical scientific
jargon, can be difficult a new researcher/ student whether an experienced
scientist from a different discipline or a new researcher, to understand
and follow. These techniques, however, may in fact be quite useful to the
a non expert scientist or a student doing any medical science degree -
expert due to the interdisciplinary nature of numerous disciplines. This is
what inspired me to collate all of my notes, before I started my final year
disseration project. All of the notes from the experiments from the
laboratory work I had done in my Biochemistry, Physiology, Genetics
courses. I had distilled them and then added to them when I did my MSc
in Translational Neuroscience. I used the notes I had made as a revision
and reference guide. I read it between experiments in the lab and on my
way to the lab in the morning and it helped me reflect on what I had done
and prepare me for what I would need to do. I
I had spent days poring over numerous textbooks to condense down the
complex explanations and concepts of the important techniques in
Biomedical Scientist. This helped me conducted excellent research in both
my BSc in Biomedical Science and MSc in Translational Neuroscience. I
was conducting novel, groundbreaking research in Neuroscience and the
notes from in this eBook helped guide me during those difficult moments
when I had to improve and perfect my experiments or simply understand
what went wrong. The lack of effective succinct guides to such
techniques can and does slow down research, potentially resulting in
inaccurate data and ultimately waste valuable time and money. This
series sets out to fill the gap in this much needed scientific resource.
I hope you enjoy reading. Love to hear your feedback.
3
, Quality assessment and quality control in the clinical laboratory
Quality = Worth of a service
Components critical to quality-“key measurable characteristics of a product or process whose
performance standards or specification limits must be met to satisfy the customer”
Introduction of quality control (QC) in clinical laboratory was a major advancement in improving the
accuracy and reliability of laboratory testing.
Laboratory errors:
-Preanalytical
-Postanalytical phases of testing
-Specimen related
-Cost to patient
-Cost to hospitals
QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME IS ESSENTIAL to prevent and eliminate laboratory
errors, which could cost up to 400 million per year!!!
-Quality assessment program divided into:
-Preanalytical factor (or errors):
-Specimen obtained from wrong patient
-Specimen taken at wrong time
-Specimen collected into wrong tube or container
-Blood specimens taken in wrong order
-Incorrect labelling of specimen
-Improper processing of specimen
Quality assessment procedures, which monitor:
-Test request procedures
-Patient identificiation
-Specimen procurement and labelling
-Transportation and processing procedures
-Laboratory personnel performance
-Laboratory instrumentation, reagents and analytical test prodecures
-Turn around times
- Accuracy of the final results.
Post analytical phase:
4
