Expert Chemical Pathology: Your Key to Understanding Health
Visiting Chemical Pathologists:
Dr. Rajitha Samarasinghe and Dr. Tamara Herath
The Clinical Biochemistry section at Lanka Hospitals carries the highest workload among all medical laboratory services. It performs chemical analyses on blood, urine, and body fluids to assess a wide range of chemical constituents. These biochemical tests serve multiple purposes: screening for potential medical problems, identifying diseases, monitoring the course of illness, assessing prognosis, tracking long-term progress and providing early warnings of potential recurrence.
The tests include checking sugar levels (glucose), body salts (sodium/potassium), fats in the blood (cholesterol/triglycerides), proteins (like albumin and immune proteins), enzymes (that help digest food), hormones (such as thyroid and stress hormones), waste products from the body (like creatinine and urea), cancer-related substances (such as PSA for prostate cancer), heart health indicators (like troponin), important metals (such as copper and zinc), medications in the blood (like tacrolimus for transplants), long-term blood sugar (HbA1c), and vitamins (like B12 and D).
To provide comprehensive pathology reports, tests are grouped into organ- or function-specific profiles such as renal, liver, cardiac, lipid, and iron profiles. Dynamic endocrine function tests (e.g. short Synacthen test) are important tests which assist in diagnosing endocrine disorders at an early stage.
Accuracy and precision are hallmarks of a high-quality laboratory, and at Lanka Hospitals Laboratories, these standards are maintained through the use of fully-automated analyzers and certified reagents from internationally recognized suppliers. The laboratory staff is highly trained and works under the supervision of an experienced biochemist (MSc) and consultant chemical pathologists. Medical practitioners also receive support in interpreting complex case scenarios, aided by detailed clinical histories.
Lanka Hospitals Laboratories is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB), solidifying its status as the top medical laboratory in Sri Lanka, known for its exceptional service quality.
