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Clinical pathology (or clinical chemistry), according to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), 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.
Clinical chemistry is unique in that it typically produces more patient results than other subspecialties, and it’s a relatively uncommon profession with few individuals entering the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, due in large part to the fact that you are competing with individuals holding PhDs, clinical chemistry often has limited job opportunities.
The standard fellowship is one year.
Yes, clinical chemistry requires some on-call time.
The case volume in a large laboratory can reach millions of results per year, and the number of ancillary tests run depends on the specific center.
Clinical chemistry interacts with a variety of other clinical pathology areas, but the extent of that interaction can vary depending on the needs and preferences of the clinicians involved.
This question is largely not applicable.
While clinical chemistry theoretically interacts with patients in the coordination of patient results with clinical data, direct interaction with patients is not typically part of the profession.
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Chemistry Topic Center
Resources and educational material from the CAP in the field of clinical chemistry.
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Chemistry Case Discussions
Read educational exercises to mimic real-life laboratory situations.
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Clinical Chemistry Committee
Participating in a council or committee is a great way to be a part of the CAP community.
Be a Part of the CAP Community
Join the CAP to gain access to the tools and resources needed along your professional journey.