Clinical Pathologists - Bethesda, MD

What is Clinical Pathology?

Clinical pathology is a specialty that studies samples of body cells to diagnose and monitor medical conditions. Clinical pathologists perform laboratory testing procedures to examine and interpret patients' samples. Clinical pathologists conduct a broad range of diagnostic tests, from routine blood sugar tests to molecular screenings. Clinical pathologists are doctors who have completed additional training in pathology and play a critical role in the medical system by providing or confirming diagnoses so that patients are more likely to receive appropriate care. Clinical pathologists may also conduct research that leads to a greater knowledge of diseases, facilitating the development of new and improved treatments.

Clinical pathology is divided into several areas, or subspecialties. each of which focuses on a specific type of test or group of diseases. Clinical pathologists may specialize in a variety of areas of clinical pathology, including:

Microbiology pathology, diagnosis and testing for infections
Hematopathology, diagnosis and testing for blood and bone marrow disorders
Chemical pathology, diagnosis and biochemical testing for disorders
Molecular genetic pathology, diagnosis and testing for genetic mutations and diseases
Blood banking pathology and transfusion medicine, diagnosis and testing for blood donations

Physicians may submit specimens from patients that are at risk of having a disorder for analysis. Such samples may be collected through blood draw, biopsy (small amount of removed tissue), and fine needle aspiration (fluid drawn from a thin needle), among other techniques. Clinical pathologists may use microscopic examination to visually analyze patient samples. More advanced techniques clinical pathologists may use include:

Immunofluorescence, a test where fluorescently dyed antibodies added to specimens can reveal antigens and cellular traits
Cytochemistry, a test where parts of the cell are identified
FISH, or fluorescence in situ hybridization, a test where genetic fragments of disease are identified
Microbial stains and cultures, a test where small samples or smears are dyed to emphasize cell structure and form during microscopical examination

Clinical pathologists may work alongside physicians, clinical scientists, pathology lab technicians, clinical laboratory technologists, and other medical professionals.