The Pathology Report Screening Tests for Common Diseases
Pathology is the study of disease. A pathologist, who is a
medical doctor, looks at the causes of disease, how diseases
progress, and how diseases affect the body. However, instead of
examining the patient physically, a pathologist examines body
fluids and tissue samples from that patient to help the primary
doctor make a diagnosis. Most people have had blood and urine
tests done during their lifetime. These tests are analyzed by
pathologists to help determine the next step in a patient's
treatment plan. Lab tests of almost any nature are done to
establish or confirm a diagnosis; rule out diagnoses; help
determine a treatment plan; monitor a disease and how it
responds to treatment; or screen for any underlying disease or
risk factors. Lab tests are done in both independent and
hospital-associated labs, which are under direction of
pathologists. Medical labs can be categorized as "clinical
pathology" or "anatomical pathology." Clinical pathology is the