Our Laboratory Services
We offer a range of laboratory services through our specialised medical fields. Our work in these different specialised fields is based on excellence and constant development. Our work is characterised by a strong desire to improve health as well as work together.
In this section:
Clinical Chemistry
Clinical Microbiology
Haematology
Blood Centre
Genetics
Sample Collection
Clinical Chemistry
Laboratory tests in clinical chemistry are used to diagnose, assess the risks and monitor the treatment of the most common diseases (such as heart and venous diseases).
We produce a wide range of tests in basic and specialised chemistry, such as endocrinology and metabolism, across the whole of Northern Finland. Our strengths include the diagnostics of metabolic diseases and the tandem mass spectrometry tests of hormones and certain medications. Tests in clinical chemistry are conducted across our region of operation, employing a variety of methods. We support local treatment chains with near-patient testing and smaller equipment, as well as hospitals with automated laboratory methods.
We have hospital chemists, SMOs, biomedical laboratory scientists, and laboratory assistants working in our specialised fields
Did you know that:
We conduct around 9,8 million laboratory tests per year, of which around 70% are clinical chemistry tests.
Clinical Microbiology
Clinical microbiology produces services for the diagnostics of infectious and autoimmune diseases as well for the prevention and monitoring of infections. We offer tests in bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, infectious serology, and auto-immunology. We employ a wide range of modern testing methods, which we are constantly renewing by taking advantage of developing diagnostic possibilities, in cooperation with doctors of infectious diseases and other clinical experts who treat infectious diseases.
Hospital microbiologists, SMOs of microbiology, and students specialising in microbiology from both groups work in the specialised field of microbiology. Biomedical laboratory scientist and assistants take care of the practical analytics and daily work at the laboratory. Most of the analytics at the laboratory of microbiology require a very comprehensive training and lots of expertise.
Did you know that:
During the year 2021 over 400 000 Covid samples were analysed at Nordlab. For comparison, before the pandemic the most high-volume microbiological testing was the testing of urine culture, with a rate of around 140 tests per year.
Haematology
Haematological laboratory tests are especially used to diagnose and monitor the treatment of blood cancers and other haematological diseases. This specialised field includes morphology and flow cytometry tests, and a wide range of haemostasis tests are available.
In hospitals, Nordlab maintains a selection of haematology tests according to the needs of the hospital and the service area affiliated with it. For the smallest locations, this usually means basic blood counts and certain coagulation tests that can be conducted using near-patient testing.
Professionals working in the specialised field of haematology include SMOs of haematology, hospital chemists, and biomdical laboratory scientists. In addition, we participate in the training of hospital chemists and SMOs.
Did you know that:
NordLab’s central laboratory in Oulu has a cell therapy laboratory for autologous stem cell transplants and CAR-T cell therapy.
Blood Centre
In the blood centre laboratories the necessary assessments of donor suitability for blood transfusions are conducted and the blood preparations are stored for use in a hospital and the service area affiliated with it. The Nordlab affiliated with the Oulu University Hospital also conducts demanding donor suitability assessments for blood transfusions, for instance the identification of blood group antigens. The blood centres are in close cooperation with the Finnish Red Cross (SPR) Blood Service.
The laboratory nurses at the blood centre conduct the necessary donor suitability assessments for blood transfusions mostly by using automatic equipment. Additionally hospital chemists and laboratory doctors with expertise in blood transfusion treatments work at the blood centres.
Did you know that:
In Oulu the neighbour of the NordLab blood centre is the SPR Blood Service’s distribution centre, which services all blood transfusion treatments in Northern Finland.
Genetics
Nordlab’s specialised field of genetics studies both congenital genetic changes as well as those caused by various cancers. Our selection of tests include chromosome and FISH tests, molecular karyotyping, and DNA tests, including sequencing tests of the new generation.
We have hospital geneticists, SMOs, andbiomedical laboratory scientists working in the specialised field of genetics. We participate in the training of hospital geneticists and SMOs.
Did you know that:
Conducting tests at a laboratory of genetics can take up to several weeks, including all the stages involved. These laboratory tests require a good deal of “handiwork”.
Sample Collection
The following kinds of samples are collected by Nordlab:
- Blood sample collection
- Electrocardiograms
- Spirometry
- Urine and stool sample collection
- Sample collection for those with a private doctor’s referral
The collection of gynaecological or fungal samples are not currently included in Nordlab’s range of services.
Sample collection is the basis for all laboratory services, as reliable laboratory analyses can only be conducted on samples that have been correctly collected. We are proud of our robust excellence and expertise in collecting samples. All sample collectors at Nordlab are highly skilled.
Nordlab actively participates in the studies of new healthcare professionals by offering internships in sample collection to bio-analysts and practical nurses, as well as to a certain extent to nurses. In other words, we may have future healthcare professionals just starting their career collecting samples.
Did you know that:
Around 1,3 million blood samples are collected at NordLab every year!