Clinical Chemistry

Clinical chemistry is the laboratory medicine discipline of measuring the concentration of electrolytes, metabolites, enzymes, specific proteins, drugs of abuse, and drugs of interest in blood and biological fluids produced by the body. Laboratory tests provide crucial diagnostic information that helps physicians make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Benefits offered

The variety of analyses available in clinical chemistry is such that this discipline covers many areas of medicine, such as cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, oncology or gynecology. The Clinical Chemistry Service coordinates analytical activity in the different hospitals offering more than 250 different analyses. Analyses are automated and performed with the same analytical technique in all hospitals, thus providing comparable high quality results at all sites. The performing laboratories are accredited according to ISO 15189.

Public declaration use devices manufactured and used in-house (in-house methods) in accordance with Article 5(5)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices for in-house production of IVDs in healthcare facilities.

The Clinica di Medicina di Laboratorio of the Istituto di Diagnostica Integrata della Svizzera Italiana declares that all tests performed with reagents or products, whether of its own production or purchased commercially, meet the provisions for in-house production and the relevant requirements of IVDR (EU) 2017/246 (Annex I "Essential Safety and Performance Requirements") and the Medical Devices Regulation (EU) 2017/745. For products that do not fully meet the applicable general safety and performance requirements, appropriate justification is provided. Methods of analysis of analyses performed wholly or partly by in-house methods are marked as such in the laboratory's list of analyses.

Depending on importance and urgency, some analyses, may also be performed near the patient's bedside using POCT equipment. The quality of these results is constantly verified by the Institute.

Useful information

  • Urgent and triage analyses are offered at St. John's, Civic, La Carità and Blessed Virgin locations and are performed 24/7.
  • Non-urgent analyses are centralized at the St. John's laboratory and at the Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory (BFC) in Bellinzona.
  • Analyses are taken at all sites and distributed to the performing laboratories by two daily transports.
  • Laboratory specialists are available for any information related to the performance and interpretation of the analyses performed. The Service is also available for any clinical research projects.
  • The Institute of Laboratory Medicine is FAMH "A" training post for Clinical Chemistry.

Workshops

Laboratory of Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology

Activities

The laboratory aims to be a cantonal center of expertise in Biochemistry and Pharmacology that serves clinicians for their routine or research medical needs. Fundamental is the continuous updating of analytical methodologies to status artis in collaboration with national laboratories in the field; The laboratory offers itself as a research hub by activating national and international collaborations in the field of Biochemistry or Pharmacology.

Analysis

  • Performance of Clinical Biochemistry analyses (proteins, peptides and endogenous organic and inorganic molecules)
  • execution of Clinical Pharmacology analyses (proteins, peptides and exogenous molecules, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic, capable of inducing functional changes in a living organism)

Supervision of the activity is provided by the Service Chief and FAMH Laboratory Manager in Clinical Chemistry.


Laboratory head: Cantù Marco

Hospital laboratories

Comprehensive and personalized care
The Laboratories work closely with the various EOC Departments and Institutes to provide comprehensive and personalized care for patients. The analytical program of the Hospital Laboratories is carried out largely with the help of specialized instrumentation; the remainder is performed manually. The staff is highly qualified, with expertise in the clinical area that enables them to validate the results provided to the clinician and in the technical area to ensure the proper functioning of the instrumentation. In this context of high technology and expertise, courtesy and respect for patients and colleagues have always been our daily priority.

Activities
The Laboratories offer a wide range of services including all basic analysis in emergency medicine, triage diagnostics, routine medical activity as well as limited activity in the microbiological field. The analytical program includes analyses of clinical chemistry, hematology, basic/specialty coagulation, hemogasanalysis, immunohematology, etc.; the complete list of prescribable analyses can be found in the Analysis Vademecum. Ospedali Regionali laboratories run a common analytical program. Area Hospital Laboratories (Acquarossa and Faido) perform a reduced analytical program adapted to cover the most urgent needs.


Useful informationUsefulinformation
Urgent and triage analyses are offered at the San Giovanni, Civico, La Carità and Beata Vergine sites and are performed 24/7. Non-urgent analyses are centralized at the San Giovanni laboratory and at the Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory (BFC) in Bellinzona. Analyses are taken at all sites and distributed to the performing laboratories by two daily transports. Laboratory specialists are available for any information related to the performance and interpretation of the analyses performed. The Service is also available for any clinical research projects. The Institute of Laboratory Medicine is FAMH "A" training post for Clinical Chemistry. It is necessary to book an appointment to perform analyses.

Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona, San Giovanni laboratory manager: Daniele Giottonini
Laboratory manager Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona, Acquarossa: Daniele Giottonini
Laboratory manager Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona, Faido: Daniele Giottonini
Laboratory manager Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Civico: Giorgio Dal Bò
Head of laboratory Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Italiano: Giorgio Dal Bò
Head of laboratory Ospedale Regionale di Mendrisio: Borsani Nicola
Locarno Ospedale Regionale laboratory manager: Paola Guglielmetti

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The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.
The original version is the page in Italian.