Laboratory medicine (also called “Clinical Pathology” by some) is a specialty in which pathologists provide testing of patient samples (usually blood or urine) in several different areas. One example of a test performed in the Clinical Chemistry lab is the determination of the level of enzymes in blood to see if a patient has had a heart attack or the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood of a patient with diabetes. In the Microbiology lab, the presence of bacteria and other microorganisms can be detected and information on treating them can be obtained. If you have ever had a “blood test” it was probably sent to Hematology, where blood cells are studied and diseases such as anemia are diagnosed. Finally, the Blood Bank and Transfusion service is where blood is collected, tested, separated into different components (red blood cells and platelets are two examples) and then sent out to be transfused into patients who need them.