physician chambers nowadays, so that clinicians may

obtain basic inputs right in their own premises. These

primary laboratories may provide the following simple

investigations:

¾ Hemograms (hemoglobin estimation, total and

differential counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and

packed cell volume with basic peripheral smear study

including the reporting of hemoparasites)

¾ Routine and microscopic studies of urine and stool.

Routine examination also entails chemical examination either by laborious and time-consuming old

chemical methods or by new generation dipstick

tests. These may include tests for glucose, bilirubin,

ketones, hemoglobin, leukocytes, pH, nitrites, protein,

urobilinogen and specific gravity in case of urine. For

stool samples, reducing substances, pH and occult

blood may be performed. Basic spot/latex/device tests

(e.g. pregnancy test) may be conducted.

Secondary Laboratory

These are laboratories that assist a clinician to confirm a

clinical suspicion or establish a diagnosis. Therapy and

prognosis monitoring can also be provided from these

laboratories. Such laboratories are staffed by qualified

personnel who are trained and experienced to perform the

tests. They also have a perfect knowledge of the equipment

and machines they use. They should be aware of quality

control essentials and be well versed with interpretational

aspects of the reports generated by their laboratories. In

addition to what has been mentioned under primary

laboratories, secondary laboratories also perform:

¾ Routine immunohematological tests.

¾ Routine examination of all body fluids, e.g. semen,

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), sputum, etc.

¾ Routine bacteriologic studies including stains, cultures

and antibiograms. Routine mycological investigations

would include—primary cultures, isolation and identification techniques along with microscopic evaluation.

¾ Routine immunoserological tests. These can include

tests like Widal, STS, ELISA or strip or device tests HIV I