HISTORY OF MEDICAL

TECHNOLOGY
 HISTORY

Knowledge about the past

Helps us understand the present
Shapes the way we view the present
 Ancient times

Medical diagnosis started from the

days of Imhotep ( modern figure in
ancient Egyptian medicine)
 BEGINNINGS

In the year 460 B.C. when the Greek,

physician Hippocrates also known as the
father of medicine formulated the famous
Hippocratic Oath, the code of ethics
for practicing physicians.
 BEGINNINGS

Hippocrates described four "humors"

or body fluids in man namely- the blood,
phlegm, yellow bile and black bile.
These four humors or body fluids
were felt to be the source of a person's
disposition and disease in ancient times.
 BEGINNINGS

He also wrote a book on “ uroscopy”

during the “ middle ages”.
 VIVIAN HERRICK

Traced the beginning of MT back to

1500 BC when intestinal parasites such
as Taenia & Ascaris were mentioned.
A large mass of Ascaris coming from the
intestinal tract
 EBERS PAPYRUS

A book for
treatment of diseases
contains description
of the three stages of
hookworm infection.
 RUTH WILLIAMS

*A Medical Technologist
An author of the book “ An
introduction to the profession of medical
technology”.
He believes that medical technology
began from the MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1096-
1438) as supported by the fact that
urinalysis was a fad.
 RUTH WILLIAMS

Early Hindu doctors made the

“SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATION” that the urine
of certain individuals attract ants, and that
such urine has a sweetish taste.
QUACKS, calling themselves doctors
reaped fortunes from diagnosing diseases
by the appearance of the urine.
 Chemical testing progressed from “
ant testing” and “ taste testing” for
glucose. The analysis of urine was actually
the beginning of laboratory medicine.
 ANNE FAGELSON

She prefers to date medical

technology from the 14th Century when a
prominent Italian physician at the
University of Bologna employed one,
ALESSANDRA GILIANI to perform tasks
now under the domain of the medical
technology.
UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA
 ANNE FAGELSON

Unfortunately, this young lady

died from a laboratory acquired
infection.
 ANTON VAN LEEUWENHOEK

Invented and Improved the

compound microscope
The first to describe red blood cells, to
see protozoa, and to classify bacteria
according to shape.
Invention of the microscope led to the
rapid progress of microbiology and
pathology.
Leeuwenhoek’s Microscope
 MARCELO MALPHIGI

Desribed as the “GREATEST” of the

early microscopist.
His work on embryology and
anatomy definitely marked him as “THE
FOUNDER OF PATHOLOGY” and father
of microscopical anatomy, histology
and embryology.
 RUDOLPH VIRCHOW

One of the youngest

medical specialists
He founded the
Archives of Pathology in
BERLIN in 1847.
 HERMANN FEHLING

Performed the FIRST QUANTITATIVE

TEST in URINE SUGAR in 1884.
 MIDDLE OF 15 th CENTURY

Aniline Dyes were used in staining

microorganisms
Bacterial staining and microscopic
study on bacteria were made possible.
ANILINE DYES
JEAN BAPTISTE van HELMONT

Introduce the gravimetric

analysis of urine
 THOMAS WILLIS

Pioneered the best qualitative

analysis of urine
Describe the sweet taste of
the urine for the differential
diagnosis of diabetes mellitus
and diabetes insipidus
 FREDERICK DEKKERS

Discovered the presence of

albuminuria ( coagulation
of albumin and heat and
acetic acid test)
20th century; Alexander Fleming

In 1928, he accidentally

discovered penicillin from
penicillium molds
Karl Landsteiner in 1900

Discovered the human blood type

( ABO group)
Studied bleeding in newborns and
contributed to the discovery of Rh
factor
Dr. Charles Richard Drew

Researched in the field of blood

transfusion, developing improved
techniques for blood storage, and
developed a large scale blood
banks early in world war II
 The practice of medical technology became
known to Germany, Greece, Japan, Turkey,
England and the US
 To date, there are many personalities,
industries and corporate bodies that
continually develop techniques, machines and
procedures
 History of Medical
Technology in United
States of America
Dr. William Welch

 Graduate of the
college of physicians
and surgeons in New
York
 Studied pathology and
bacteriology in
Germany
 Gave the first
laboratory course in
the American Medical
school
He also established a
laboratory at Bellevue Hospital
Medical College
Became the first professor of
pathology at John Hopkins
University
Bellevue Hospital Medical
College
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
John Hopkins Laboratory
 DR. WILLIAM OSLER
He opened the
first clinical
laboratory in 1896
at JOHN HOPKINS
HOSPITAL with Dr.
Simon Flexner as
resident pathologist
of the laboratory.
In this laboratory, routine
examinations were carried out,
special attention being given
to the search for malarial
parasites in the blood.
William Pepper Laboratory

Opened at University of
Pennsylvania in the same
year
Clinical laboratories were
also found in Baltimore, New
York and many cities in US (
based on “comac article”)
One of the evidences that clinical
laboratories were established in 1896
was the 1900 census which listed:
100 technicians ( all males)
3,500 technicians in 1920
1922, many technicians were
employed in hospital clinical laboratories
1915

State legislature of Pennsylvania

enacted a law requiring all
hospitals and institutions to have
adequate laboratory and to
employ full time laboratory
technician
 DR. JAMES TODD

He wrote the book : A MANUAL OF

CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS which was then
retitled “ CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS BY
LABORATORY METHODS” , in its 6th
Edition by Dr. Todd and Dr. Arthur
Sanford.
The book became the standard
reference for laboratories
 Previous versions: “Clinical Diagnosis
and Management by Laboratory
Methods” 19th ed., 20th ed, by John
Bernard Henry et.al.
 At present it is now
being published as
“Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis
and Management by
Laboratory Methods” 22nd
edition by Richard A.
McPherson & Matthew R.
Pincus (2012)
Dr. Arthur Sanford
John Bernard Henry
World War 1

Marks the growth of clinical

laboratory and produced great
demand for technicians
Practicing physicians with the
knowledge of lab work teach their
assistants to do some tests
University of Minnesota

One of the first schools for training

workers
Offered “ Courses in Medical
Technology for Clinical and
Laboratory Technicians”
First to offer a degree level
program
University of Minnesota
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

In 1920, clinical lab became distinct

administrative units of service directed
by a chief physician. It consisted of four
or five sections: Biochemistry, Clinical
Pathology, Bacteriology, Serology/
Immunology & Radiology in which each
section is staffed by one trained
technologists.
 In 1921, Denver Society of Clinical
Pathologists was organized
In 1922, courses for Medical
Technology & lab Technicians were
offered and the American Society of
Clinical Pathology (ASCP) was
founded.
 In 1923, the University of
Minnesota offered training to
laboratory workers.
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

In 1928, ASCP established its Board

of Registry which developed the Code of
ethics for technicians and technologists:

“I shall agree to work under the supervision of a

physician, refrain from making written or oral diagnosis,
& refrain from advising physicians on treatment options
w/out the supervision of a physician or pathologists”
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

In 1932, American Society of Clinical

laboratory Technicians, precursor of the
American Society of Medical Technology,
is founded.

In 1935, ASCP Board of Registry

required a college degree for a medical
technology certification.
 WORLD WAR II

There are marked effects in

laboratory medicine. The use of
blood increased and the “closed
system” of blood collection was
widely used.
 WORLD WAR II

Instrumentation advanced and

these instruments paved the
measurement of the intensity of color
produced.
Automated equipment appeared
and quality control programs became
common.
1940

The United States required a 2-

year collegiate education and
12 month actual training in
laboratory for actual practice.
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

In 1950, Medical Technologists sought

governmental recognition of their
educational qualifications through
licensure laws & position reclassification in
the Civil Service.
In the same year, a standard
curriculum was formalized in preparation
for bachelor’s degree.
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

In 1967, the Clinical Laboratory

Improvement Act of 1967 was enacted
which governed the minimum quality
requirements for clinical laboratories
engaged in interstate commerce.
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

Also in 1967, National Committee

for Clinical Laboratory Standards
(NCCLS) was formed
In 1977, it was accredited by the
American National Standards Institute &
subsequently became the home of
National Reference System for the
Clinical Laboratory.
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

In 1975, MTs were required to have

a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent,
& if not, take a proficiency exam
administered by Department of Health,
Education & Welfare (HEW).
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

Requirements for HEW exam: high

school diploma & 4 years of laboratory
experience.
Tests included: Hematology, Blood
Banking, Clinical Chemistry and
Microbiology.
 QUALITY MOVEMENT

In 1992, Clinical Laboratory

Improvement Amendments of 1988
were implemented which states that All
lab are required to have a certificate
issued by the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) in which
laboratories must have adequate QC
programs and pass proficiency tests.
THANK YOU! :D