AF Stripes & Samples--Medical Samples

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, checks the growth progress of bacteria cultures using a magnifying lamp inside a bio-safety examining cabinet May 22, 2013, at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Air Force medical lab technicians go through a four month-long training course at Sheppard AFB, Texas, for the first phase of their technical training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Positive ID before sampling

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, helps members of the 319th Security Forces Squadron in-process May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Lab patients must provide proper identification, such as a military ID before providing a medical sample. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Lab samples: Taking a closer look

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, checks the growth progress of a bacteria cultures using a magnifying lamp inside a bio-safety examining cabinet inside the medical laboratory on May 22, 2013, at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Medical lab technicians grow various cultures of bacteria to test the effectiveness of chemical dyes, which are then used to identify various types of illnesses in laboratory samples. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Safety is in your hands--literally

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, prepares to take a blood sample from a patient May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Rubber gloves are used by lab technicians in order to safely handle medical patient samples, such as urine or blood. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Will it be the left arm or the right arm?

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, wraps the left arm of retired Master Sgt. Stephen Tyler with a rubber band prior to taking a blood sample May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Rubber bands restrict blood flow in the arm, which cause veins to dilate allowing lab techs to select the most suitable vein to draw a blood sample from. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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You can look away if you’d like

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, prepares to take a blood sample from retired Master Sgt. Stephen Tyler May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Lab technicians usually ask patients what side they prefer to be injected as a way of making patients feel more comfortable. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Microscopes in medical labs

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, adjusts the focus on microscope May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The base medical laboratory services are accredited by the College of American Pathologists. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Ample supply of samples

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, carefully places a medical sample back into a test tube rack May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The base medical laboratory processed about 20,000 patient samples in 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Biohazard baggies

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, carefully places two more medical samples into a bin for shipment May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The base medical laboratory complies with federal regulations and laws for medical sample handling by using plastic bags with warning labels such as the biohazard symbol. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Ice cold package

Staff Sgt. Thomas C. Sullivan Jr., 319th Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, prepares medical samples for shipment in a box containing dry ice May 22, 2013, at the medical laboratory on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Dry ice is frequently used to preserve medical samples that must remain frozen or cold during shipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

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Day in the life of an Air Force medical lab technician

Published May 28, 2013

News Search

AF Stripes & Samples--Medical Samples

Positive ID before sampling

Lab samples: Taking a closer look

Safety is in your hands--literally

Will it be the left arm or the right arm?

You can look away if you’d like

Microscopes in medical labs

Ample supply of samples

Biohazard baggies

Ice cold package