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Fairchild Air Force Base

Let’s get clinical: lab techs keep Fairchild healthy

Staff Sgt. Jessica Portilla, 92nd Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, observes a pseudomonas plate in the lab at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Feb. 8, 2013. Portilla plated this strand of pseudomonas for quality control to make sure the analyzers are working properly in the laboratory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Pollock)

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Let’s get clinical: lab techs keep Fairchild healthy

Published Feb. 13, 2013
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The laboratory at the 92nd Medical Group doesn't only draw blood; in fact drawing blood is only five percent of what they actually do. The other 95 percent happens behind closed doors in a quiet corner of the clinic. A typical day in the lab might consist of testing a patient's blood for their annual physical health assessment, or growing and observing bacteria. After they draw the blood the other 95 percent of what they do comes into play. The lab techs either push the blood samples through an analyzer to get quick results, or they observe the blood sample through the microscope.

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