What is clinical pathology?

Clinical pathology covers many lab functions. It is concerned with disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Clinical pathologists are healthcare providers with special training. They often direct all the special divisions of the lab.

This may include the following:

1. Hematology

2. Immunology and serology

3. Microbiology

Clinical pathology also includes maintenance of information systems, research, and quality control.

A clinical pathologist may be in charge of the blood bank in a hospital. This includes collecting and processing blood and blood products. Other duties may include looking at the causes of transfusion reactions and checking tissue compatibility for transplants.

Other branches of pathology include:

1. Anatomic pathology. The study of tissues, organs, and tumors.

2. Cytopathology. The study of cellular changes and everything related to cells.

3. Forensic pathology. Doing autopsies and legal pathology tests.

4. Molecular pathology. The study of DNA and RNA sequencing, genes, and genetics.