19th MDSS lab

Tech. Sgt. David Bates, the 19th Medical Support Squadron lab noncommissioned officer in charge, performs a quality control check on a VITEK 2 compact incubator June 2, 2014, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The machine identifies micro-organisms helping doctors determine which antibiotics to use for patient treatment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit)

19th MDSS lab

Senior Airman Noah Chu, a 19th Medical Support Squadron medical lab technician, streaks isolates for growth of micro-organisms June 2, 2014, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The process consists of at least 20 variations of micro-organism swabs each day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit)

19th MDSS lab

Senior Airman Kimberly Chu, a 19th Medical Support Squadron medical lab technician, runs chemistry tests through the Dimension RXL Max June 2, 2014, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The machine can run up to 60 vials of blood at a time and has the ability to test for up to 37 different in-house chemistry tests at once. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit)

19th MDSS lab

Senior Airman Kimberly Chu, a 19th Medical Support Squadron medical lab technician, tests throat cultures for Strep-A at the base lab June 2, 2014, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The rapid strep test takes only five minutes to complete in the lab. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit)

19th MDSS lab

A patient has blood drawn at the base lab May 30, 2014, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The 19th Medical Support Squadron clinical lab provides support to military active-duty, Guard, retirees, reservists and their family members during normal duty hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit)

Photo Essay: 19th MDSS lab draws first blood

Published June 9, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The 19th Medical Support Squadron hosts Little Rock Air Force Base's clinical laboratory. From drawing blood and streaking agar plates to growing micro-organisms and conducting inventory, the base clinic lab multitasks throughout the day, ensuring any test results are accomplished and provided to doctors in a timely manner. The Airmen at the base lab have the ability to perform up to 37 different types of in-house chemistry tests and can run 60 vials of blood through any or all of these tests at one time.