AL-BAYAN UNIVERSITY - IRAQ
TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS TECHNICAL ENGINEERING DEP.
Classification of different medical
laboratories
Medical Instrumentation I
Second Stage – First Term
Rasool Mohammed Fadhil
1
General overview
Laboratory is a place that is
equipped with different
instruments, equipment and
chemicals (reagents) etc., for
performing experimental
works, research activities and
investigative procedures. 2
General overview
Medical laboratory is one part of the laboratory that
is equipped with various biomedical instruments,
equipment, materials and reagents (chemicals) for
performing different laboratory investigative
activities by using biological specimens (whole
blood, serum, plasma, urine, stool, etc).
3
Classification of medical
laboratories
The world Health
Organization
(WHO) lists four
kinds of levels of
laboratories based
on their biosafety.
4
Classification of medical
laboratories
Basic laboratory (level I): Is the simplest kind and
adequate for work with organisms which have low
risk to the individual laboratory personnel as well as
to the members of the community. WHO categorize
organisms under Risk Group I. These organisms are
unlikely to cause human diseases. Example, food
spoilage bacteria, common molds and yeasts. 5
Classification of medical
laboratories
Basic laboratory (level II): Is suitable for work with
organisms that predispose to moderate risk to the
laboratory worker and a limited risk to the members
of the community. WHO categorize such organisms
under Risk Group II. They can cause serious human
diseases but not serious hazards due to the
availability of effective preventive measures and 6
Classification of medical
laboratories
Basic laboratory (level II):
Example, entero bacteria except Salmonella typhi.
Such laboratory should be clean, provide enough
space, have adequate sanitary facilities and
equipped with autoclave.
7
Classification of medical
laboratories
Containment laboratory (Level III) : Is more
advanced and it is used for work with infectious
organisms that present a high risk to the laboratory
personnel but a lower risk to the community. WHO
categorize such organisms under Risk Group III.
Example, Tubercle bacilli, Salmonella typhi, and
HIV others. 8
Classification of medical
laboratories
Containment laboratory (Level III) : The principle is
to remove from the basic laboratory those
organisms and activities which are particularly
hazardous. They are easily transmitted through
airborne, ingestion of contaminated food or water
and paranterally. Such laboratory should be a
separate room with controlled access by authorized 9
Classification of medical
laboratories
Maximum containment laboratory: Is intended for work
with viruses, which predispose to a high risk for both
laboratory personnel and the community. WHO
categorize such organisms under Risk Group IV.
Example, Small pox. Most of these organisms cause
serious disease and readily transmitted from on person
to another. These laboratories are usually a separate
building with strictly controlled access. 10
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Community based primary health care laboratory
Duties:
To support primary health care in investigating,
controlling and preventing major diseases in the
country.
Promoting health care by integrated health
education. 11
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Community based primary health care laboratory
Main activities are to:
Investigate by referral or testing on site, important
diseases and health problems affecting the local
community such investigations usually include
bacterial diseases, parasitic diseases and other
causes of illness. 12
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Community based primary health care laboratory
Main activities are to:
Assist health care worker in deciding the severity of a
patient’s conditions.
Collect and refer specimens for testing to the district
laboratory.
13
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
District hospital laboratory
Duties:
These laboratories have an important role in
supervising the work of the peripheral community based
laboratories, testing referred specimens, and
performing a range of tests compatible with the work of
district hospital 14
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
District hospital laboratory
Main activities are to:
Perform a range of tests relevant to the medical,
surgical, and public health activities of the district
hospital.
Support the work of the community-based
laboratories by testing referred specimens, providing
reagents, standards, specimen containers, and other
essential laboratory supplies. 15
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Regional hospital laboratory
Duties:
In addition to the duties done at the two above lower
levels, the regional laboratory assists and supervises the
district laboratories. It analyses referred specimens and
performs a range of specialized and other tests as
required by the work of the regional hospital. 16
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Regional hospital laboratory
Main activities are to:
Operate a regional blood transfusion center;
Prepare reagents, controls, standard solutions and
others as found necessary;
Investigate epidemics and perform tests of public
health importance in the region;
Supervise and support the work of district
laboratories; 17
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Regional hospital laboratory
Main activities are to:
Send specimens that require special investigation to
the central and public health laboratory;
Prepare periodical reports and send to the central
and public health laboratory.
18
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Central and public health laboratory
Duties:
The central and public health laboratory is responsible
for planning, advising and overall coordinating of
medical laboratory services in the region.
19
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Central and public health laboratory
Main activities are to:
Formulate a professional code of conduct to medical
laboratory personnel.
Perform a range of special tests not normally
undertaken in the regional laboratories such as viral,
histopathological, cytological, immunological,
forensic and genetic investigations.
20
Structure of medical laboratory
services
A laboratory service network consists of:
Central and public health laboratory
Main activities are to:
Carry out appropriate research of importance in
order to mitigate public health problems.
Evaluate new technologies and standardize
techniques.
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