Laboratory Week recognizes workers behind the scenes Published April 23, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Christina Howell 3rd Medical Support Squadron ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- National Medical Laboratory Week, April 23-27, honors more than 280,000 medical laboratory professionals across the nation who perform and interpret laboratory tests, saving lives and keeping people healthy. Pathologists, histology technicians and laboratory technicians at the 3rd Medical Group are among the many people being honored for their work. Using state-of-the-art technology and instruments, laboratory professionals help prevent diseases by detecting unknown health problems and diagnosing and treating existing conditions by giving accurate, timely test results. Laboratory test results comprise an estimated 70 percent of the patient's medical records and are vital to the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and diseases. In the clinical laboratory, diagnostic testing occurs on blood and other body fluids, ranging from pregnancy testing to drug and alcohol screening. The anatomic pathology laboratory staff performs diagnostic workups on tissue specimens, which are vital to the detection of cancers. The 3rd Medical Group laboratory also contains the Associate Armed Forces Medical Examiner for the Alaska district, which has shared responsibility with the state medical examiner for forensic autopsies for active duty members from all services. The 3rd MDG laboratory staff also had the additional responsibility to serve outside the laboratory setting in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. While serving in OIF and OEF, they are assigned to medical deployment teams, where they perform testing to support the medical providers caring fro United States, coalition, and host national forces. The laboratory staff also supports Blood Transshipment Centers Worldwide. The BTC are located in the area of responsibilities and are responsible for ensuring the blood is shipped and available to treat the wounded in the entire OIF and OEF area of responsibility. Anatomic pathology members also assist with remains recovery at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, in the event of a contingency. Within the laboratory, these highly-trained professionals may work in chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, microbiology, histology or the blood bank. The results of the laboratory test often identify the presence of disease in its earliest stages, when the possibilities of a cure are greatest and when treatment is least costly. Laboratory medicine is critical to the providers so they make the proper diagnosis and patients receive proper treatment. The men and women of the 3rd Medical Support Squadron laboratory team strive to provide the best possible care for all beneficiaries.