Sengkang General Hospital's Department of Pathology offers a comprehensive range of clinical and diagnostic laboratory services, providing vital information to clinicians for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various diseases. Our team of expert pathologists and laboratory scientists works closely with clinical colleagues to ensure exceptional patient care. Policies and procedures are in accordance with current best practices and regulatory requirements, ensuring the highest quality of services.
The Department of Pathology uses state-of-the-art equipment to offer a comprehensive range of laboratory tests.
Anatomical pathology is a field of medicine that focuses on studying organs and groups of cells within the body. It plays a crucial role when doctors take tissue samples from patients for analysis in a laboratory. Anatomical pathologists provide definitive diagnoses based on these samples, which helps clinicians give the most effective advice and treatment.
There are two main subdivisions in anatomical pathology. Histopathology involves microscopic examination of samples taken from whole tissues, often enhanced by special staining techniques and associated tests. Cytopathology, or cytology, focuses on studying individual cells. It is used to diagnose various conditions and diseases.
Laboratory testing which involves different techniques, such as microscopic examination and chemical analysis, can be used on other body fluids besides blood. These methods offer additional insights to complement information from blood tests, leading to a better understanding of a patient's health. By examining various body fluids, healthcare professionals gain a more holistic view of the body's internal processes, aiding in accurate diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
The Blood Banking & Transfusion Medicine section provides various blood components like red cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate, as well as, purified plasma-derived blood products. These are used for routine transfusions and emergency situations such as severe bleeding. The hospital keeps a ready supply of blood for emergencies.
To ensure safe transfusions, the section provides round-the-clock testing, which includes determining blood types (like ABO and Rh), checking for antibodies that could affect transfusion safety, and testing compatibility between donor and patient blood. They also investigate transfusion reactions and perform specialised tests for complex conditions before sending samples to national reference laboratories. The hospital blood bank assists SKH Blood Transfusion Committee to oversee transfusion quality and safety through audits and quality monitoring.
Clinical Biochemistry
The Clinical Biochemistry section offers 24-hour services for analysing the biochemical components present in blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and other body fluids. This comprehensive service encompasses a diverse array of tests providing valuable insights into the physiological and pathological conditions of patients, all aimed at supporting clinicians in the accurate diagnosis and effective management of a wide spectrum of diseases.
The Microbiology section offers a 24/7 service for the diagnosis of clinically relevant acute and chronic infections. A wide range of assays spanning bacteriology and mycology are performed on a combination of automated platforms and manual systems, to provide a comprehensive infection science service. In addition, the laboratory offers microbial surveillance tests on both clinical and environmental samples.
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The Haematology section plays a critical role by offering essential services such as routine analysis of blood cells, evaluating blood clotting functions, and screening for parasites that can be transmitted through the blood. These services are crucial for diagnosing various blood-related disorders and ensuring timely treatment.
The Molecular Diagnostics section offers routine and rapid molecular tests for the detection of a repertoire of infectious agents, monitoring of viral loads, and genotyping of viruses.
In addition, the laboratory also offers tests for pharmacogenetics and oncogene mutations.
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The turnaround time for test results can vary significantly depending on the specific tests requested for your sample. While some tests yield results within minutes, others may take several days. Certain tests may need to be sent to an external laboratory, extending the process to several weeks. Additionally, the interpretation of the results by your physician and any necessary consultations may also require additional time.
Once all the necessary testing has been conducted, fluid and tissue samples collected from patients are typically disposed after a designated timeframe.
The mission of the SKH Pathology Department is to provide reliable, timely, and insightful services to physicians and other healthcare providers for the benefit of the patient.
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