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Chemical Pathology

Chemical Pathology

Chemical Pathology as a sub-domain 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.

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