Punjab Social Security Health Management Company

PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Introduction

PSSHMC Hosp Pathology Laboratories started its operation in 2007. Today our lab has two phlebotomy specimen collection stations one in Raiwind and one in Manga Mandi. Our faculty consists of highly qualified Pathologist, 12 qualified and highly trained technologists, technicians, phlebotomist, sophisticated and state of the art equipments and over 250 test menu. PSSHMC Hosp Pathology Laboratory is role model service and provides high quality diagnostic services.
To meet international standards of laboratory services, PSSHMC Hosp Pathology Laboratories maintains a strict internal and external quality assurance program by extensively participating in external quality surveys, internal quality controls are reviewed by consultant and supervisor daily.

Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Memon is Head of Pathology Department since 2009. He graduated from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro Sindh in 2000, and passed his M. Phil in Hematopathology from Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore in 2007, and now enrolled there for PHD Hematopathology. His research papers "Bone marrow evaluation for diagnostic purpose" and Multiple Myeloma staging in light of beta2 micro globulin and interleukin-6" was published in national generals.

Phlebotomy

The Phlebotomy sections deals with collection of blood samples for the required tests. This is the most sensitive area of the Laboratory, which gives the impression of quality of work for the entire laboratory. Blood collection requires skills, a professional attitude and decorum. The phlebotomist is frequently representative of the team of highly skilled laboratory workers that the patient ever encounters, thus the patient is appropriate to judge the laboratory's performance on the basis of this contact. The Phlebotomy section is staffed with well trained phlebotomists.

We provide good, soft and painless Phlebotomy services to all in-patients and outpatients. All the safety measures are being taken to protect the patient and Phlebotomist from getting infections during the process of Phlebotomy. Needle cutters and danger boxes are provided for disposing off the used needles and sharps.

Services Available

PSSHMC Hosp Pathology Laboratories provide a complete array of routine and specialized services in Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Blood Bank, Microbiology, Serology, and Molecular Pathology. We offer the largest test menu of over 250 routine and specialized tests such as general biochemical profiles, enzyme profiles; endocrine assays are available. We focus on providing fast report turnaround, greater accessibility & affordability of reliable and quality services.

Clinical Chemistry

The Clinical Chemistry section of PSSHMC Hosp Pathology Laboratories deals with the biochemical basis of diseases and biochemical tests for the purpose of diagnosis and management. It relates to all the medical specialties bringing together science and medicine.

Clinical Chemistry comprises of following sub sections:

A)	Receiving and Processing Section: At receiving/processing bench, different types of blood and urine samples are received to Phlebotomy area of the main lab from wards, ICU, CCU, Emergency and all the collection units. These samples are processed prior to distribution to each sub sections for biochemical analysis.
B)	Routine Chemistry Section: Most of the routine clinical chemistry tests are performed on the Humalyzer 3000, Humalyte Plus 3 semi auto analyzers. These equipments functions on principal of Ion-selective electrode, turbidimetry, enzymatic rate reaction, end point and EIA.
C)	Special Chemistry Section: Various hormonal assays (T3, T4, TSH and Beat HCG) and HBV, HCV and Dengue antigens assays are performed on Rayto RT-2100C Micro plate Reader (Elisa Reader) semi auto analyzer.

Hematology and Coagulation

Hematology department consists of four sub sections:

A)	Routine: This subsection deals in with the routine tests such as complete blood count (CBC) which includes the estimation of hemoglobin, RBCs, Platelets, WBCs and differential. For complete blood count we use latest HumaCount 60TS which gives 18 parameters and hematograms of WBCs, RBCs and Platelets, within a minute and HumaCount Plus which gives 16 parameters within a minute. This section also performs Retic count, and ESR.
B)	Special: This subsection deals with special tests such as HB A1C using Imx and Bio-Rad (HPLC based) assays.
C)	Coagulation: The coagulation section is carrying out various haemostatic profiles manually within a very short time.
D)	Blood Bank: Blood Bank of PSSHMC Hosp Pathology Laboratories is manned by a team of experienced and fully trained medical technologists who work under the supervision of full time hematologist to provide quality service round the clock. It possesses state of the art equipment for storage & screening.

Since no professional donors are accepted the blood bank depends on exchange donations from healthy relatives and friends of admitted patients. However this does not generally fulfill the requirements.

Every single donation is screened for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.

Microbiology

Microbiology lab deals with bacteriology, parasitology, serology and urinalysis. It is divided into six subsections:

A)	Sample Receiving and Processing Bench: All samples brought to the clinical microbiology are at first received by this section. Here we receive samples and process them according to the nature of sample.
B)	Urinalysis: Here we do detail report of urine samples including physical, chemical, microscopic examination.
C)	Parasitology: Parasitology bench deals with intestinal parasites. Samples of feces are examined here for the presence of any intestinal parasite.
D)	Serology: In serology section immunological and serological tests are performed by different techniques like Latex agglutination, hem agglutination immunochromatography and antibody absorption.
E)	Culture and Sensitivity: In this section all, culture and sensitivity performed.
F)	Semen Analysis: Here we do detail report of semen samples including physical, chemical, microscopic examination.

Molecular Pathology

The revolutionary advances made in molecular biology during the past quarter century are making a major impact on laboratory diagnosis, as evident from its rapid acceptance and adoption in laboratories around the world. Generally, emphasis is now given for the acquisition of latest DNA technology to provide timely and high quality services to patients. Molecular Pathology section provides testing and expertise for interpretation of molecular diagnostics besides support for investigational research. Hepatitis viruses (B, C), major viral types analyzed in Molecular Pathology Laboratory.