CORE LABORATORY (ROUTINE BIOCHEMISTRY, HEMATOLOGY AND COAGULATION)
CORE LABORATORY
Tests on proteins, lipids, enzymes, carbohydrate metabolism in blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and other body fluids are performed in the Core Laboratory located on the ground floor of our Tunus Street Central Building, where Biochemistry, Coagulation and immunoassay tests are performed together, Nearly 150 parameters, including electrolytes, all coagulation tests, thyroid hormones, fertility hormones, therapeutic drug levels, tumor markers, hepatitis tests and HIV testing, are studied with state-of-the-art autoanalyzers. The Biochemistry and Sample Separation and Storage sub-units within the Core Laboratory are accredited by TÜRKAK according to ISO 17025 standard. The department receives an average of around 600 samples daily and approximately 1500-2000 tests are run from these samples. Except for only a few parameters that are group work in the Core Laboratory, the results of the samples received by the department are ready to be reported within 3 hours at the latest. The aim of the structuring of this unit is to produce fast and reliable results, to ensure sample stability and safety (working from barcoded primary tubes without splitting and transferring the sample), and to use resources efficiently. As a result of the demands of our patients and physicians for fast results, a new formation was made in our laboratory and this unit was established.
Almost all of the tests studied are included in one or more external quality control programs.
This unit employs 5-6 operators during working hours. The unit also works on holidays and Sundays, with one operator on duty.
CBC-HEMATOLOGY URINE ANALYSES
In our unit located on the ground floor of our Tunus Street Headquarters, we perform Complete Blood Count, Peripheral Smear Examination, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and Complete Urinalysis.
Other tests performed in the unit include Blood group, Platelet and Reticulocyte count, Lupus cells research, Leukocyte alkaline phosphotase, Nasal smear evaluation, Sickling test, Methemoglobin, Urine Pregnancy test, Reducing substance in stool and urine, sterkobilinogen in stool, erythrocyte and leukocyte count in body fluids, Ham test, osmotic fragility test, sucrose hemolysis test, platelet function tests with aggregometer and Ristocetin cofactor activity.
In addition to the tests performed in our unit, peripheral smear examination, examination of bone marrow preparations and hematology consultation services are provided by our consultant hemotologist when necessary.
A fully automated blood count system with 27 parameters is used for complete blood count and peripheral smears that may contain pathological findings are evaluated microscopically. The quality of our results is monitored by internal and external quality control (CAP) programs.
Complete Blood Count and Peripheral Smear Tests performed in this unit are accredited according to ISO 17025 standard.
Urine pregnancy test and blood group results are ready for reporting within 15 minutes after the sample arrives at the department, while complete urinalysis and complete blood count results are ready for reporting within one hour at the latest. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate studies are carried out using an automated system, and with this system, 1-hour ESR results are obtained in 30 minutes.
There are 4 operators working in this unit during working hours. The unit also works on holidays and Sundays, with one operator on duty.
PROTEIN BIOCHEMISTRY SECTION
In this unit, nephelometry, electrophoresis, HPLC and radial immunodiffusion techniques are used to analyze specific proteins in serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and other body fluids.
The unit runs approximately 200 tests per day for more than 40 parameters. With few exceptions, nephelometric analysis results are available within two hours at the latest. The results of tests performed by radio immunodiffusion technique are prepared after 3 days due to technical requirements. The results of daily protein, lipid, LDH isoenzyme electrophoresis, serum immunofixation electrophoresis, hemoglobin electrophoresis, beta-thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy screening by HPLC are provided on the same day if the sample reaches the unit by afternoon. Immunofixation electrophoresis studies in urine and cerebrospinal fluids and ALP isoenzyme electrophoresis results are reported within three days at the latest.
All immunofixation electrophoresis, ALP isoenzyme electrophoresis results and other electrophoresis results with notable pathological features are reported with interpretations.
Since our laboratory is accepted as a reference laboratory by many physicians, most of the samples studied in the protein biochemistry department come from university and specialized hospitals and laboratories outside Ankara.
There are 3-4 operators working in this unit during working hours. Our unit does not work on holidays and Sundays.