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Principles of Medical Laboratory Science Practice 1

CHAPTER 1 - Medical Technology: scope and nature, and Historical perspective

Objectives:
1. Describe medical technology as a science and philosophy
2. Describe the essence of medical technology as an application of science and technology
3. Trace the historical development of medical technology
4. Identify the affiliative branches of medical technology
5. Discuss the scope of medical technology
6. Explain the nature of medical technology
7. Define medical technology as a clinical science and as an application of science and technology
8. Describe the trends and future priorities of medical technology; and
9. Identify the three functions of medical technology

[Medical Technology as a Science]

⚫ Medical technology is a combination of Medicine

and the use of technology
⚪ Requires scientific procedure

⚫ Medical Technology is an applied science for it

employs scientific investigation to come up with
the findings.
⚪ Scientific inquiry can be defined as
investigative solicitation of relevant ⚫ The Impact of Using the Scientific Method in the
information that may establish the Field of Medical Technology
so-called the cause and effects of health
concerns and issues ⚪ Modern science owes its popularity in the
field of medicine and medical technology to
the scientific method fashioned by Galileo
Galilei .
The following steps were considered as important elements
in the scientific method:
⚫ Characterization

⚫ Hypotheses
 ⚫ Experimentation ⚪ Improbability to explain the incidence of
miracles, question about the origin of
⚫ Conclusion and Recommendation
species
⚫ Third Delimitations

⚪ No exact scientific procedure can determine

the future.

COMBINING MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE WITH THE USE OF

TECHNOLOGY
• Manual Technique
• Automation Technique

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Limitations of Scientific Inquiry
⚫ Controlled Environment

⚪ Free from external interference

⚫ Time

⚪ Must comply to the time constraints

⚫ Handling, Preparation and Processing of Specimens

⚪ To avoid interferences

⚫ Reagents/Chemicals, and Laboratory Supplies

⚪ Must properly read the labels and

instructions
⚫ Condition of Instruments

⚪ Properly maintained and calibrated

DELIMITATION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD
⚫ Objective Approach
⚫ First Delimitation
⚪ Not influenced by speculative assessments
⚪ No concrete evidence, cannot be examined,
measured, tested or experimented Models of scientific inquiry applicable in the field of
⚫ Second Delimitations Medical Technology
 ⚫ Classical Model

▪ Deductive (Analytical) reasoning

▪ Involves a series of statements from

which a logical conclusion can be
derived
▪ Inductive (Synthetic) Reasoning

▪ Generalization based on specific

information.
▪ Abductive Reasoning

▪ Incomplete evidence, requiring

multiple confirmatory procedures
before ruling out
⚫ Pragmatic Model [Medical Technology as an application of science and
technology]
PHILOSPHICAL DISCOURSE AND MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ⚫ Laboratory Information Systems

⚫ Professional Practice

⚫ Genetic Engineering, Gene Therapy, and Gene

Diagnosis
⚫ Laboratory Waste Management

⚫ Laboratory Diagnosis of Diseases of the 21st century

⚫ Scientific Researches
The interrelationship between classroom setting, laboratory
conferences, and clinical laboratory setting especially when
[Medical Technology Historical Perspective]
Philosophical Discourse is embedded.
⚫ Medical Technology in its Earliest Onset

⚪ 460 BC: Hippocrates determined the

correlation between anatomical and
EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE AND MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY chemical laboratory findings and causes of
disease. Promoted the triad of regimen in
treating diseases (drugs, surgery and
bloodletting)
 ⚪ 1550: Vivian Herrick determined that the
cause of intestinal parasitic infection was
Ascaris lumbricoides and Taenia spp.
⚪ 1098-1438: Urinalysis became a
commonplace
⚪ 17th century: witnessed the invention of first
microscope by Anton van Leeuwenhoek that
first described the appearance of red blood
cells and differentiate bacteria based on
shape.
⚫ Medical Technology in the 18th Century
⚪ North African and Southern Europe: four
basic humors and the state of balance
between these humors can be correlated
with healthy condition of the human body.
⚪ 1821: Rudolf Virchow was the first to
emphasize the study of manifestation of
diseases and infection, which are visible at
the cellular level by means of microscope
⚪ Apothecaries Act of 1815: intervened and
paved the way for an uphaul of medical
treatment based on laboratory findings.
⚫ Medical Technology in its Modern Onset in the
United States
⚪ Dr. William Osler – introduced the use of
microscope and blood counting machine in
the hospital-based laboratory.
⚪ 1887, Dr. Douglas build a laboratory on
University Hospital in Philadelphia and
mandated all patients to undergo routine
laboratory examinations including urinalysis,
vomitus, exudates, and other body fluids.
⚪ 1940, a standard 2-year curriculum on
collegiate education with one year of actual
training in laboratory was established.
⚫ Medical Technology in the Philippines post-World
War II
⚪ Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz Manila – first clinical
laboratory in the Philippines.
⚪ 1944 – 6th US Army provided one year
training to work as laboratory technicians.
⚪ Dr. Pio de Roda and Dr. Mariano Icasiano
preserved the remains of the laboratory,
offered free training to paramedical
graduates.
⚪ Manila Sanitarium and Philippine Union
College – first to offer Medical Technology in
the Philippines
[Medical Technology Sections]
⚫ Clinical Chemistry
⚪ Clinical blood chemistry analysis covers the
analysis of blood chemical components
including glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol,
uric acid, blood enzymes, urea, creatinine,
blood electrolytes, blood hormones, blood
gases and other blood analytes.
⚫ Hematology
⚪ Blood hematological study includes the
routine and special examinations of blood
samples for complete blood count through
the use of the microscope for microscopic
counting and morphological examination,
spectrophotometric analysis of hemoglobin
level, Hematocrit reader for Hematocrit level
 and other materials for special
testing/determination of hematological
disorder such as clotting time, clot retraction
time, blood index, prothrombin time,
bleeding time.
⚫ Clinical Microscopy
⚪ The Clinical Microscopy discipline
concentrates on the routine examination of
urine and other body fluid samples
employing the use of the microscope and
adopting the procedure in urine analysis
such as acidity, protein, sugar and crystals in
urine tests and other special procedures like
pregnancy test and semen analysis.
⚫ Parasitology
⚪ covers the analysis of stool or feces including
the presence or absence of parasites,
identifying the particular parasites and doing
special techniques for the presence of fat or
blood in stool.
⚫ Microbiology
⚪ Clinical Microbiological analysis focuses on
the isolation, identification, cultivation, and
characterizing the bacteria found in human
specimens through the use of microscopes
for gram or acid fast staining reaction,
chemicals for biochemical properties,
culture media for cultivation and
identification of morphological appearance
of colonies recovered and test of
susceptibility. Other also includes
identification of fungal and viral infections.
⚫ Blood Banking and Serology
⚪ The blood banking analysis includes the
blood type determination, cross matching
procedures and other special procedures like
blood donor screening and blood letting. On
the other hand, serology and immunology
emphasizes the antigen-antibody reactions
such as Dengue test, Hepatitis, COVID
Antigen test.
⚫ Histopathology
⚪ Histopathological analysis includes tissue
handling, processing (automated and
manual methods), and staining through the
use of the microscope, microtome, and
other special apparatuses.
[The Nature of Medical Technology]
THE MULTIFACETED NATURE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
⚫ Substantial Procedural - A procedure of scientific
activities: wide range of technologies
⚫ Investigative Complicity - A paramount field of
scientific investigation: wide range of laboratory
investigations
⚫ Intermedical Procedural Interference - An
intervention in the medical procedures: serves as
the clinical eye in diagnosing treating diseases and
infection
⚫ Assiduous Partner - An explicit application of
science and technology: embraces the techniques
and procedure laid down by science and technology
⚫ Circumstantial Medical Evidences - Evidentiary
information in medicine: provides proof of the
findings and prognosis
PRELUDE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TO BIOMEDICAL
RESEARCH
⚫ Instrument Selection, Operation, Maintenance and
Troubleshooting
 ⚫ Utilization of a computerized information system
for data input, retrieval and analysis
⚫ Automation and computer literacy
⚫ Quality control, quality assurance and performance
improvement
⚫ Using a set of standard, control and pooled
sera to ensure reliability
⚫ Inventory control
⚫ Ensure the flow of reagents, instruments,
equipment
⚫ Clinical trials
⚫ Proving the efficacy and effectiveness
[The Nature of Medical Technology]
⚫ Investigating Nosocomial Infections
⚫ New Discoveries Through Research
⚫ Including Medical Technology in Public Health
Education Through Seminar/Workshops
⚫ Extending services to molecular engineering
⚫ Pioneer in Laboratory Medical Diagnostic Services
⚫ Evaluating the efficacy of drug treatment through
TRENDS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
microbiological analysis
⚫ Engaging in blood donation and bloodletting services
for the public
LIMITATION OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
⚫ Laboratory diagnosis
⚫ Biological and Medical Research
⚫ Prevention and Control of Diseases and infection
⚫ Innovative Techniques, and Technology
[Characteristics of Medical Technology]
⚫ Sensitivity to the Demands of Time (Sensuous and
Flexible)
⚫ High priority for rendering health services
(Preferential Health Servant)
⚫ Active subject of innovative technologies.
(Adventurous and Self-fulfilling)
⚫ Invites individuals to learn the new technologies
(Informative)
⚫ Greater focus on research to come up with new
discovery (Research-oriented)
⚫ Deeply committed to promote the wellness and
welfare of mankind (Health Promoter)
⚫ Concerns with students who are interested to
acquire profound knowledge and skills of biological
and medical sciences (Educative)
⚫ Idealistic field of Laboratory Medicine (Medicinal
-Mediator Paradigmatic)
⚫ Focuses on providing reliable and accurate
laboratory findings (Self-conscious and Perfectibility)
⚫ Operational Drive
⚪ Chemical suppliers or manufacturers are
focusing on one minute laboratory results
using automation, in order to compete
against the full spectrum of procedure as
alternatives instead of long tedious chemical
procedures.
⚫ Outcome Drive
 FUNCTIONS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
⚪ Medical Technology solutions are being
developed, from different scientific ⚫ Scientific Function
disciplines, at such a pace as to quickly
⚫ Production of test data
establish themselves, in a broad enough
consensuses, as new gold standards. ⚫ Monitoring the accuracy, precision and utility of
laboratory testing
FOREFRONT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
⚫ Evaluation and implementation of new laboratory
⚫ Efficiency in Works and Services
methods
⚫ Globally Competitive Medical Technologists ⚫ Management Function

DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ⚫ Technical

⚫ Fiscal

⚫ Human Resources

⚫ Educational Function

==RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND SELF-ASSESSMENT==

Read each line carefully and determine what is being
described. Questions are about the evolution of Medical
Technology
1. He discovered the Law of Heredity

2. It is the year when Landsteiner discovered the ABO

FUTURE PRIORITIES OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY blood group systems.
⚫ Guarantee the quality of laboratory tests
irrespective of where they are performed
⚫ Improvement in the quality of services 3. He was a well-known bacteriologist who took pain in
preserving the first public health laboratory in
⚫ Improvement in clinical outcomes Manila.
⚫ Perform joint/clinical laboratory research projects
 4. He invented the X-ray

5. It is the very first school that offered bachelor’s

degree in Medical Technology.

Sources:

1. Suba, Sally (2014), Introduction to Medical

Technology with Science, Technology and Society;
Cengage
2. Benitez, P. et. al. (2018), Principles of Medical
Laboratory Science 1; C&E Publishing