As part of the medical industry, we at AFC Urgent Care know the many players in our profession. We know about caring nurses, brilliant doctors and great support staff, but there are some members of our profession that can be overlooked. April 19-25 is Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, where we celebrate those often unsung members of the medical field — our lab technicians.

Medical lab professionals are the people behind the scenes, working to get patients results. Technicians collect samples and perform tests, helping to identify possible problems and giving patients peace of mind with quick test results. At AFC Urgent Care , our lab professionals do everything from complete blood counts to pregnancy tests.

Beginning in 1975 as National Medical Laboratory Week, the week later became National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in 2005, focusing on the people who work in laboratory testing. The week offers a chance to learn more about lab professionals and the vital work they do in the medical field.

At AFC Urgent Care , our clinics have on-site lab testing, which can give you a result within as little as 10 minutes for some tests. Our lab professionals work hard to get you expedited answers and discuss your results during your visit. Patients won’t need to wait by the phone or schedule a follow up appointment just to get results. This offers our patients a quicker diagnosis and more efficient treatment plan.

Some of the tests that can be performed in our labs include:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Evaluates overall health and detects problems like anemia, infection and leukemia. The test looks at red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet levels.
• Urinalysis: Urinalysis tests can check for pregnancy, kidney disease and diabetes and are used for drug screening. Cloudy urine can indicate a urinary tract infection, while extra protein in the urine may signal kidney issues.
• Cultures: These test for strep throat and the flu. They are easily and usually painlessly done with a simple throat swab.
• Chemistry: Our chemistry tests check for signs of dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities and liver function abnormalities. These panels often check the levels of sodium, potassium, proteins and glucose in the body.

During this week, why not schedule a checkup with us? You’ll be helping recognize our lab professionals and keeping your body as healthy as possible. A win-win!