Around 60-70% of medical decisions are primarily based on Laboratory test results which makes the NICVD Clinical Laboratory an integral part of our institute. We offer a large number of tests in the areas of Biochemistry, Haematology, Microbiology, Molecular Pathology, Blood Bank and Transfusion.
Being well equipped and fully automated, our laboratory is supervised by highly qualified faculty and well trained technologists and technicians. Quality assurance through accuracy and precision in testing are maintained by consultants and superiors daily as well as by regularly participating in external programs such as the National External Quality Assurance Program Pakistan of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.
Clinical Chemistry – Cardiac Tropnin Assay
Haematology
Coagulation
Lipid Profile
Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs)
The Clinical Chemistry Section of our Lab deals with the biochemical basis of disease and biochemical tests for the purpose of diagnosis and management. It relates to all medical specialties bringing together science in medicine of cardiac patients. It involves receiving and processing sections, routine chemistry sections and special chemistry sections.
Blood and urine samples are received from the phlebotomy areas of the main lab, wards, CCU and emergency. These samples are processed prior to distribution of each sub-section for biochemical analysis. The tests are then performed through auto analyzers (Cobbas P/800)
The deduction and /or fall of CTA (CTn) play a key role in the earlier diagnosis of myocardial infarction. CTs are markers Myocardial necrosis and because of their high cardiac specificity, they are preferred biomarkers for diagnosis of MI.
This subsection deals with routine tests such as Complete Blood Count (CBC) which includes estimation of Hemoglobin, Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Platelets and Differential. About 600 CBC tests are performed in the NICVD lab per day.
The Coagulation section is well-equipped with latest automated coagulation analyzers, carrying out various haemostatic profiles within a very short span of time. More than 500 tests are performed in this section daily.
Lipid Profile is also known as Lipid Panel or Coronary Risk Panel. Related tests include Cholesterol, High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (LDL-C), Triglycerides, Direct LDL Cholesterol, Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and Cardiac Arrest Assessment.
A typical Lipid Profile includes:-
Total Cholesterol – [HDL+LDL+20% of Triglycerides]
HDL-C or Good Cholesterol as it removes excess cholesterol and carries it to the liver for removal
LDL-C or Bad Cholesterol as it deposits excess cholesterol in the walls of blood vessels which contribute to Atherosclerosis.
Triglycerides [fat in the blood]
ABG tests measure the acidity (PH) and levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood from an artery. This test is used to check how well your lungs are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide out of the blood drawn from an artery where oxygen and carbon dioxide levels can be measured. NICVD Lab performs more than 100 ABGs per day.
