Way back in 1930, medical
technologists only use microscope to examine specimens. They only depend
on what they could count and see on slides, but the tests back then were not
that accurate. There were many cases before where medical technologists were
inaccurate in their tests; example of these is when they are testing the blood
type, there are possibilities that they may have erroneous results if
underlying immunologic diseases are not detected prior to blood transfusion
which may lead to blood incompatibility causing internal bleeding or even
death.
As the year of modern technology arises
new medical equipment are also produced. Medical technologists also benefit in
the new clinical machines and devices developed which make testing of human
secretions fast, accurate and reliable.
Example of this are:
In laboratories, blood typing is usually
done manually where in ABO/Rh reagents are used. With the aid of Hematology
analyzer, a machine that performs multiple tests such as complete blood counts
and erythrocyte
sedimentation rate, faster and accurate results are made.
Accu Vein
Before, medical technologists only use
palpation for searching of vein in doing phlebotomy, due to technological advancement, a new device called Vein Locator (Accu Vein)
was invented. This helps phlebotomists to easily choose the right vein for
venipuncture and also for locating vein in obese patients and thin-veined
patients. Fortunately this device is being used in some hospitals here in the
Philippines such as St. Lukes Medical Center and Makati Medical Center.
Accu
Check
Patients
used to go to clinical laboratories to have their blood glucose level examined,
but now with the aid of portable blood-glucose testing device (Accu-Check) they
can easily monitor their glucose level at home.
Since new technologies are being released every day we can
see that the advancement of our machines are
fast. We know that communications
technology is helping healthcare providers improve patient care, and at its potential
for the future. But I know as the year goes by machines improved and there will
be a time that we can test our self easily without the help of medical
technologist.
