The clinical laboratory is a critical healthcare unit that forms the foundation for the diagnosis of diseases, monitoring of treatment processes, and preventive medicine practices. Accurate and reliable laboratory results directly influence the diagnostic process of clinicians and ensure that treatment decisions are made in a timely and precise manner. Modern laboratory medicine offers high accuracy rates through fully automated analysis systems, quality control programs, and international accreditation standards.
Biochemistry Laboratory
The biochemistry laboratory enables the evaluation of organ functions by measuring chemical components found in body fluids. Routine and emergency biochemistry tests are performed on fully automated analyzers and finalized in a short time.
The primary analyses performed in the biochemistry laboratory are as follows:
- Liver function tests: Evaluation of liver damage and functional capacity through ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin levels, and albumin measurement
- Kidney function tests: Monitoring of renal function through urea, creatinine, cystatin-C, and glomerular filtration rate calculation
- Lipid profile: Cardiovascular risk assessment with total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride, and lipoprotein(a) levels
- Diabetes monitoring: Glycemic control follow-up with fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin, and C-peptide measurements
- Electrolyte and mineral panel: Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron metabolism parameters
- Cardiac markers: Evaluation of acute coronary syndrome and heart failure with Troponin I/T, CK-MB, NT-proBNP, and myoglobin
- Thyroid function tests: TSH, free T3, free T4, anti-TPO, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies
Emergency Biochemistry Service
Samples arriving from the emergency department and intensive care units are processed under a priority protocol and finalized within an average of thirty minutes. Critical tests such as cardiac troponin, blood gas, lactate, electrolytes, and complete blood count are reported rapidly for urgent clinical decisions.
Microbiology Laboratory
The microbiology laboratory plays a central role in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and the determination of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Identification of causative agents of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, as well as antibiotic susceptibility testing, are performed in this unit.
- Culture and antibiogram: Isolation of the causative microorganism and determination of the antibiotic susceptibility profile in samples taken from blood, urine, sputum, wounds, and body fluids
- Molecular microbiology: Viral load measurement with PCR-based rapid diagnostic tests, Hepatitis B/C and HIV RNA quantitation, tuberculosis PCR, and respiratory viral panel
- Serological tests: Serological diagnosis of infections such as hepatitis panel, HIV, CMV, EBV, toxoplasmosis, rubella, and brucellosis
- Fungal culture and identification: Culture and antifungal susceptibility tests in the diagnosis of superficial and deep fungal infections
- Parasitology: Stool microscopy, parasite antigen tests, and malaria rapid diagnostic kit applications
Within the scope of the antimicrobial stewardship program, antibiotic susceptibility results are shared with infectious disease specialists to aim for treatment de-escalation and the prevention of resistance development.
Hematology Laboratory
The hematology laboratory provides critical data for the diagnosis and follow-up of hematological diseases through numerical and morphological analysis of blood cells. Basic tests such as complete blood count, peripheral smear evaluation, reticulocyte count, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are performed in this unit.
- Coagulation tests: Evaluation of coagulation disorders and anticoagulant treatment monitoring with PT, aPTT, INR, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and antithrombin III measurements
- Peripheral smear examination: Microscopic evaluation by experienced hematologists for the determination of anemia type, leukemia pre-diagnosis, platelet morphology, and parasite screening
- Bone marrow evaluation: Detailed examination of aspiration and biopsy materials for hematological malignancies
- Flow cytometry: Advanced analysis method used in leukemia and lymphoma subtyping, minimal residual disease monitoring, and immune deficiency evaluation
Pathology Laboratory
The pathology laboratory is the unit where disease diagnosis is established at the tissue and cellular level. Surgical pathology, cytopathology, and immunohistochemistry studies are evaluated by experienced pathologists.
- Surgical pathology: Macroscopic and microscopic examination of tissue samples obtained via surgery or biopsy, tumor staging, and surgical margin evaluation
- Frozen section: Enabling the surgeon to make immediate decisions through rapid histopathological evaluation of tissue samples taken during surgery
- Fine needle aspiration cytology: Cytological examination of cell samples taken from thyroid nodules, lymph nodes, and soft tissue masses
- Immunohistochemistry: Advanced staining techniques used for definitive determination of tumor type, hormone receptor status, and planning of targeted treatment options
- PAP smear and cervical cytology: Cytological evaluation within the scope of the cervical cancer screening program
Blood Bank and Transfusion Center
The blood bank is a vital unit that safely meets the blood and blood product needs of surgical interventions, trauma cases, hematological diseases, and intensive care patients. Strict quality control procedures are applied at every stage from the blood donation acceptance process to transfusion.
- Blood typing and cross-matching: Ensuring safe transfusion with ABO and Rh blood group determination, antibody screening, and compatibility tests
- Preparation of blood components: Production of erythrocyte suspension, platelet concentrate, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate
- Infection screening: Performance of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis screening tests on every unit of donated blood
- Transfusion reaction monitoring: Early detection and management of allergic, hemolytic, and febrile reactions
In cases of emergency blood needs, O Rh negative erythrocyte suspension and AB plasma stocks are kept ready at all times.
Quality Control and Accreditation Standards
The reliability of laboratory results is guaranteed through systematic quality control applications. Internal quality control materials are run in every analysis batch, and results are monitored with Levey-Jennings charts. Acceptability assessment is performed within the framework of Westgard rules.
Regular participation in external quality control programs allows for performance comparison with national and international laboratories. All pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes are conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures.
Sample Acceptance and Pre-analytical Process
Correct sample collection technique is essential for accurate results. The laboratory sample acceptance unit performs compliance checks on incoming samples. In case of pre-analytical errors such as hemolysis, lipemia, or clotted samples, the sample is rejected and a re-collection is requested. Sample identity is verified at every stage with a barcode tracking system, ensuring patient safety.
Hormone and Tumor Markers
Hormone level measurements in the diagnosis and follow-up of endocrinological diseases, and tumor markers in oncological monitoring are important areas of study in our laboratory:
- Hormone panel: Cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone, prolactin, FSH, LH, estradiol, testosterone, and parathormone measurements
- Tumor markers: Quantitative analysis of markers such as PSA, CEA, CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, AFP, and beta-HCG
- Vitamin and mineral levels: Vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, ferritin, and iron-binding capacity measurements
Within the Koru Hospital Laboratory, we provide fast and reliable diagnostic services in the fields of biochemistry, microbiology, hematology, pathology, and blood bank, in accordance with international standards, with our expert staff. With our high-technology analysis systems and meticulous quality control processes, we contribute to the effectiveness of the treatment process by delivering accurate results to our clinicians in the shortest possible time.