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NEWS | July 24, 2008

Behind the scenes with Langley hospital lab techs

By Airman 1st Class Sylvia Olson 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Like the behind the scenes crew on a movie set, the laboratory technicians at the 1st Fighter Wing Hospital can fade into the background, but also like that crew the show wouldn't go on without them. Their tests ensure doctors can effectively diagnose and treat the more than 60,000 active-duty patients and their families served by the hospital here. 

"Our lab techs are an intricate part of Langley Air Force Base, every active-duty member that comes through the doors of Langley will end up in the laboratory," said Chief Master Sgt. Stephanie Powell, the superintendent for the 1st Inpatient Operations Squadron. 

The laboratory serves over 300 patients per day, with an average waiting time of fifteen minutes, according to Tech. Sgt. Laronda Harris, the non-commissioned officer in charge of Hematology. 

"Our main goal is to satisfy patients, provide a safe and comfortable environment for them and to ensure all that the blood is drawn and processed properly," said Staff Sgt. Amanda Mikesh, who was recently positioned as the non-commissioned officer in charge of laboratory customer service. 

Drawing blood may be the most visible aspect of a lab tech's job but actually is only a small part of the lab's mission. 

Lab technicians also perform iron and platelet level counts, blood typing and transfusion workups, rapid throat cultures and other testing on wounds and bacterial infections. 

"It's kind of like being an investigator," Sergeant Harris said referring to the many tests the lab technicians perform every day. 

"One of the challenges of working in the laboratory is that its fast-paced, it's hard to keep the patients moving through at a smooth pace while also working in the back doing all the testing," said Airman 1st Class Ashley Lemley, a lab technician who works in every section of the laboratory.

"You have to make sure you're on top of the game, that all your lab results are accurate and performed in a timely manner," said Sergeant Harris, "Every day there is a different challenge," she said. 

"We take our job seriously, there is little room for error," Sergeant Mikesh said. 

The laboratory also supports missions worldwide, a biological augmentation team which provides detections for any biological agents utilized against our forces and also a homeland defense team. 

"Our primary goal is making sure troops and their dependents are healthy," Sergeant Harris said, "The lab is a little part of the mission, but overall when we do our jobs correctly we help the Air Force." 

Editor's note:  The laboratory customer service desk is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The laboratory itself is manned 24 hours a day seven days a week and supports the Urgent Care Center as well as the inpatient units.