About The Owner

Judy Stranak, MAEd., MT(ASCP)SH has been in the field of medical technology since 1968. She possesses a B.S. degree in chemistry and biology from Murray State University and MT(ASCP) from Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis. During her 37 years of lab experience she has worked at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in Endocrinology, Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC plus 27 years as a hematology specialist, blood bank technologist, lab supervisor, and consultant in Jackson, TN. In addition to her primary work listed, she has taught in the MLT program at Jackson State Community College, taught parisitology at UT Memphis Allied Health Programs and serves as an adjunct professor at Union University teaching biology labs. Other professional experience includes several publications and internet tutorials in medical technology. She has completed an M.A. Ed degree in education with an emphasis in allied health education plus 12 hours in research and statistics beyond the masters.

My Role as a Laboratory Consultant

The role of the laboratory consultant is one of many “hats”. The consultant may give the recommendation to the physician or sales representative with the respect of the “best fit” analyzer, and suggest a test menu that is financially sound based on volumes. The consultant gives the client information on the importance of service agreements; standing orders for the client based on usage number provided. The site evaluation and the recommendation for the analyzer placement, LIS, refrigeration, processing areas, and phlebotomy is of utmost importance to both physician and sales representative. The consultant will certainly be most helpful in assisting the client with the applications for state and federal (CLIA) licensure. Last but certainly not least the testing personnel must be trained for competency and manuals must be produced for maximum proficiency. To coordinate the entire picture of successful lab practice it makes sense to hire someone who is experienced to do all of this!!!

The laboratory is a place that safety must be practiced and well as KNOWN. Therefore, the experienced laboratory consultant must be well versed in OSHA regulations and how to compile assay manuals required by utilizing disc and CD templates, package inserts, manufacturer literature or policy and procedure manuals. A consultant helps with the listing of all ancillary supplies needed by the client to begin testing; with the manufacturer and catalog numbers when available. The coordination by the consultant with the sales vendors for items necessary for installation and validation of analyzers comes invaluable to clients and vendors. It is important to ensure that all linearity kits are ordered for the validation of reportable ranges.

These are only a few of the many things that a laboratory consultant can help the vendor and clients to REMEMBER!

Judy