Learning

As stated in my previous posts, I mostly work with data entry software and creating excel spreadsheets for the lab. However, this week I was able to work with the actual specimens in the lab. The various specimens consist of urine samples and blood tubes for different tests. My job was to identify that the test tubes were labeled correctly and recorded in the lab notebook. Also, I was asked to spin a few of the tubes in the centrifuge. I thought that this was pretty cool because I have only used a centrifuge in lab and never in a medical setting.

I am so grateful to be working with such great people that really appreciate my help. The lab technician is always so happy to see me and has a list of things that I can help her with. She does most of the work by herself so I am glad that I can take some of the burden off her shoulders. 

I hope that I can continue to volunteer at the clinic and possibly give more of my time to them. I would like to volunteer more in the actual patient rooms, but of course, not completely leave the lab technician to do all of her work by herself.

Lab Tests

   Since I have begun volunteering in the lab at San Jose, I have learned about the various tests for certain diseases. I am now able to recognize the abbreviations for the lab tests and what disease they are associated with. I work with medical records of the lab tests for each patient and must know the abbreviations in order to enter the records into the computer.
    The most frequent blood tests are lipid panels and complete blood counts (CBC). These two tests are important for every patient to have in order to assess the patient's overall health. Lipid panels are extremely important for patients that come from a family of high cholesterol or possess certain risk factors for hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, and heart attack.
   I hope to continue to work in the lab and also in the patient rooms in order to have a better medical vocabulary for my future career in the medical field.