Medical lab professionals work behind scenes Published April 22, 2011 By Maj. Dana Gilligan 87th Medical Support Squadron JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Have you ever wondered the journey your blood takes after it has been drawn from your body? Many people don't think twice about it; they just know results will be available at some point in the near future. Maybe you'll be asked, as well, to dart into the bathroom with a bottle to provide other samples. Just what happens behind the scenes when your samples end up in the hands of the professionals who draw blood, collect other fluids and test them for your cholesterol or iron samples, or for the presence of bacteria that cause certain illnesses? Laboratory medicine is a program people are not aware of and how diverse it is. Lab professionals work out of sight from patients and because of this they often go unnoticed. They are the workhorse of the diagnostic engine in the Medical Treatment Facility. The lab puts out all the vital information necessary to aid in disease diagnosis and treatment, and they do it quiet and confidently behind the scenes. When it comes to the jobs performed by medical laboratory professionals, many don't realize how vital their responsibilities are as a part of medical readiness and the health care infrastructure. The laboratory field is an integral part of developing mission-ready Air Force medics, ensuring a medically ready total force, taking care of each patient's needs and ultimately improving the health of the population whom we serve. So back to the journey our precious blood makes after your lab visit. After a patient, approximately 75 a day at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, provides a sample to the lab, the lab technician takes all of the samples, approximately 400 a day, and sorts them by testing department. Each department has trained lab technicians who prepare the lab equipment and ensure it is working properly before using it on patient samples. Samples are first checked for quality, then the sample is analyzed. Finally, the lab technician reviews results and enters the values into the computer system. Each step has a stringent quality control check to ensure all values are precise and accurate. When all is complete, the provider relays all information gathered from your lab test to you. Additionally, medical lab professionals ensure U.S. Food and Drug Administration equivalent blood products are available to our Airman, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and other beneficiaries every day around the world. They also train and work closely with Civil Engineering and Bioenvironmental Engineering to test for biological and chemical agents that could be a threat to the United States. April 24 through 30 is National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. Celebrate this week with your favorite laboratory professional and thank them for what they do to support the warfight and take care of our patients' needs every day.