About Clinical Biochemistry Department

The department of Clinical Biochemistry provides advanced and highly specialized clinical laboratory services to patients mainly within Sultan Qaboos University hospital and, whenever needed, to patients within other local hospitals as well. The laboratory carries out many general and specialized biochemical tests that test various organ and tissue functions as well as blood/ fluid proteins, hormones, enzymes, carbohydrates and lipids. Our Biomedical scientists professionals test for metabolic intermediates such as amino acids, organic acids, and acyl-carnitines, as part of biochemical metabolic laboratory services provided to patients . We also provide therapeutic drug monitoring services and drugs of abuse levels as part of our clinical toxicology laboratory services. All these services are provided, under the same roof, with state-of the art technology and expertise. All tests are done by well trained Biomedical Sciences ( BMS) professionals and are subject to stringent internal and external quality control measures. Abnormal results are verified and interpreted ,whenever required, by trained and professional Clinical Biochemistry consultants. Specialized tests and dynamic endocrine tests are also interpreted by consultants. The department is an accredited and recognized center for the training and development of clinical biochemistry residents from the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB), as well as, medical students and medical laboratory sciences students from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, both foreign and domestic. We receive and train, on a monthly basis, various BMS applicants/ graduates from various training institutes and universities all over the Sultanate, including SQU itself. We conduct and participate actively in various and unique research related-activities. Our research activities involves collaboration with students, nurses, biomedical scientists, physicians and other health care and academic professionals. Our various research activities encompass and involves other departments , colleges and hospitals whether local, national, regional or international.

Vision

We aspire to be known as an outstanding provider of Clinical Biochemistry laboratory services locally and regionally. Our commitment is to provide our patients with the best diagnostic and therapeutic services possible that is in par with international standards. We are committed to outcome based teaching, continuous training , improvement and research within the department to achieve our collective goals.

Mission

The department mission is to provide a consultant-based advisory service supported by adequate scientific and diagnostic facilities monitored by internal and external QC programs. We shall contribute to the health and well-being of our patients by providing high-quality laboratory testing and outstanding service. Our knowledge and experience will enable us to support the existing laboratory service and adopt new and innovative technologies. Being part of a teaching hospital we are committed to provide teaching of the highest quality to Medical students, Medical Laboratory Sciences students , MSc. Students and Oman Medical Specialty Board ( OMSB) residents.

Services

The department of clinical Biochemistry offers three main domains of services: diagnostic, therapeutic and educational.

Diagnostic:

General

• Reception , sorting and proper storage of various patient samples.
• Core Lab: Analysis of samples for various general chemistry tests such as: electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, high and low concentration proteins, tumour markers, lipids, lipoproteins and carbohydrates.

Specialized

• Specialized protein , hormones and carbohydrate section:
  • Serum and Urine protein electrophoresis/immunofixation
  • Plasma / Urine HPLC Catecholamines
  • Urine Porphyrins and Porphobilinogen screen
  • Urine reducing sugars and Thin Layer chromatography (TLC)
  • Renal stones analysis ( Infra-red spectroscopy)
• Metabolic Section
  • Plasma amino Acids ( HPLC)
  • Acyl carnitines, amino acids ( TMS)
  • Organic acids ( GC)
• Toxicology Section
  • Therapeutic drug levels ( Immunoassay)
  • Drugs of abuse levels ( Immunochromatography and immunoassay)
• Point of Care Patient services
  • Blood gas machines in the Intensive care units ( ICU), Pediatric ICU ( ICU), Neonatal unit ( NU), Emergency department ( ED) and Operating Theaters ( OT).
  • Sweat Chloride testing for cystic fibrosis ( screening and confirmatory test).

Therapeutic services:

•  Specialized Lipid Clinic ( Timing: Thursdays: 8 am to 3 pm ).
• Specialized Lipid Dialysis Unit : ( Operating time: Mondays and Wednesdays : 8am to 3 pm).

Educational Services:

•  Involved in training and education of Medical students, MLS students and MSC students.
• Recognized center for the training and education of OMSB residents from both Biochemistry and other residency programs.
• Accepting and training new graduates and trainees from various educational institutes pertaining to biomedical and laboratory sciences all over the Sultanate.