Chemical Pathology

Chemical Pathology as a sub-speciality within pathology extends across most medical specialities and involves the chemical analysis of bodily fluids (blood – whole blood, serum or plasma; urine; cerebrospinal fluid; and other fluids such as effusions, seminal fluid, sweat and amniotic fluid) to assist in the diagnosis of various disease processes. Laboratory medicine in general and Chemical Pathology in particular is therefore an essential tool to assist clinicians in the diagnosis of various disorders, as well as management and follow-up of patients.

The Chemical Pathologist, as a medical specialist with knowledge of general medicine as well as detailed specialised knowledge of laboratory methods, has a wide variety of functions within the clinical laboratory, including:

The clinical laboratory is an extremely useful tool in the diagnosis, management and follow up of a wide range of conditions. Despite the sophisticated nature of modern laboratory testing, the importance of strict adherence to basic guidelines cannot be overstated. As such, the patient can play an important role in ensuring the quality and therefore the cost effectiveness and value of the laboratory testing process by paying particular attention to the following aspects:

Examples of analyses performed within the Chemical Pathology laboratory:

• Water and electrolyte balance and kidney function
• Acid base balance
• Liver function
• Minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphate
• Proteins and enzymes
• Lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides and risk factors for heart disease
• Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and it’s complications
• Cardiac markers for detection of cardiac damage
• Iron and porphyrins
• Endocrinology, including:
  • Pituitary function
  • Sex hormones
  • Thyroid function
  • Adrenal hormones
• Tumour markers such as Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and various other markers used in the detection and management of cancer patients
• Inherited metabolic diseases
• Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
• Drugs of abuse testing
• Allergy testing

In addition, the Chemical Pathology laboratory performs specialised testing including:

• Occupational Health testing (monitoring of exposed workers)
• Insurance testing
• Environmental testing (water analysis, etc.)