Chemical Pathology (PTH)
Specialty Description
Chemical pathology is the practice of pathology devoted primarily to the use of biochemical and molecular techniques in the laboratory diagnosis and management of human disease. Chemical pathologists advise clinicians on the selection and interpretation of clinical chemistry tests, and are capable of managing and directing the clinical chemistry section of the clinical laboratory. In addition, chemical pathologists may be responsible for laboratory administrative and management requirements and practices, patient preparation and specimen collection, calculations and statistics, quality control, instrumentation and equipment, analytic methods and techniques, diagnostic application of laboratory data, screening and home-testing procedures, drug testing, and patient care decision-making and consultation. Chemical pathologists may also help to diagnose disorders of metabolism, electrolyte and acid/base disorders, serum and coagulation abnormalities, chemical disorders and clinical aspects of organ and system diseases, and substance use disorders and overdose (1).