What better date to hold the quarterly Armed Services Blood Program military blood drive than on the start of National Medical Laboratory Professionals week?

Laboratory Department staff members assigned to Naval Hospital Bremerton are being recognized throughout April 24-30 for their numerous behind-the-scenes contributions to the overall mission of NHB of providing the highest quality of patient and family centered care.

"It's good to take the time to come together and celebrate a tradition like this because we don't always take the time, especially for behind-the-scenes work that is done. You are appreciated here for what you do. Thank you all for what you do," said Capt. Kimberly Zuzelski, NHB executive officer.

The 33 enlisted personnel, 12 civilians, one lab officer, and two pathologists assigned to NHB's Laboratory, including several at Madigan Army Medical Center with the (Armed Services) Blood Bank Donation Center, and at Branch Health Clinic Everett, handle approximately 3,236 lab studies daily.

"Approximately 70 percent of medical decisions made in patient care can be attributed directly to the results from what we do," said Lt. Michael Messick, NHB Laboratory officer and Ft. Wayne, Indiana, native.

Messick cites that 'Lab Week' is significant because it's an entire showcase their profession and capabilities.

"Which includes all the professionals that comprise the lab staff - admin support, phlebotomists, medical technicians, medical technologists, cytotechnologists, histology technicians, pathologists - and of course to have some fun," Messick said.

The list of all the specific jobs/duties/responsibilities handled by the Med Lab technicians includes: collecting blood or body fluids from patients; accessioning patient samples to allow automated equipment and laboratory information systems to analyze, interpret, and result provider ordered testing; processing patient samples to allow ordered tests to occur; performing testing in chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, microbiology, immunohematology (blood banking), serology, histology, and cytology; collating and verifying testing results; certifying the authenticity of results and release them to the health care providers; conducting quality control and quality assurance initiatives to ensure the continued accuracy and precision of reported results; and equipment maintenance in every area listed above.

According to Messick, National Medical Laboratory Professionals week really helps make the laboratory staff stand out.

"We have an awesome team that is dedicated to supporting our clinicians and their care of our patients by providing timely and accurate results to the providers. We embody this year's slogan, 'Solving Patient Cases One Test at a Time,'" said Messick.

Besides obtaining and receiving patient samples - everything from blood to tissue - and processing them, areas of specialty include: Phlebotomy, the act or practice of opening a vein by incision or puncture to remove blood as a therapeutic treatment; Chemistry, the study of the chemical processes in living organisms; Urinalysis, an examination of the urine to determine the general health of the body and, specifically, kidney function; Hematology, the study of the nature, function, and diseases of the blood and of blood-forming organs; Microbiology, the branch of biology dealing with the structure, function, uses, and modes of existence of microscopic organisms; Serology, the science that deals with the properties and reactions of serums, especially blood serum); Histology, the branch of biology dealing with the study of tissues; Cytology, the study of the microscopic appearance of cells, esp. for the diagnosis of abnormalities and malignancies; Pathology, the science or the study of the origin, nature, and clinical course of diseases; and Blood Bank (management) of the packed red blood cells and/or plasma which is typed, processed, and stored for future use in transfusion.

On Monday, the start of the traditional work week, the Armed Services Blood Bank collected 35 units of blood.
The NHB Laboratory has been intricately involved with the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Pacific Northwest since being the host site for the center in 1993 after being originally located in Fort Ord, California, before the U.S. Army base closed.

Compiled statistical evidence shows that approximately one patient out of seven who enter a hospital like NHB will need blood. That's stateside-relevant data, completely separate to Afghanistan, where NHB still has staff members currently deployed.

More than 150,000 units of blood have been transfused on the battlefield in the last 12 years. Along with battlefield needs, blood and blood products are needed to support all active duty, retirees and military families, from cancer patients to surgical patients. Forty or more units of blood may be needed for a single trauma victim.

One pint (or unit) of blood can save up to three lives, and that unit can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate. The red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues. Plasma is a mixture of water, protein and salts, and makes up 55 percent of actual blood volume. Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and forms of cancer the chance to live. Cryoprecipitate is collected from plasma that has been frozen, then thawed, and acts as a coagulation agent.

There is never any real down time in the laboratory. Laboratory personnel continually work around the clock to support the Urgent Care Clinic and all inpatient clinics and departments. The Lab is open to beneficiaries for specimen drop-off around the clock and for outpatient specimen collection Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

NHB's Laboratory has also been fully accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). It is also licensed and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For more news from Naval Hospital Bremerton, visit http://www.navy.mil/.