About Comparative Clinical Pathology

Clinical pathology deals with the diagnosis of diseases which are derived from laboratory results involving bodily fluids. This can be blood, urine or sputum. The job of a clinical pathologist is to ensure the accuracy of the specimens in the lab.

Qualifications and Education

In the United States you must be certified through the American Board of Pathology in order to work as a clinical pathologist. This is the board that distributes and approves the licenses for physician specialists. After completing internship and residency, a clinical pathologist can choose to work in the chemistry, hematology or microbiology field. In other countries, such as Europe and Asia, it is not required to be a doctor in order to be a clinical pathologist. Those that are current pathologists from another country moving to the United States must complete a two-year residency program before they can apply for a license in clinical pathology. Individuals wishing to work in the field of pathology need to have a strong science background and be mathematically inclined.

Work Setting

Clinical pathologists spend a majority of their time working in a lab. The work that is done depends on the are of pathology that is done. There are three areas of specialization which include chemistry, microbiology and hematology. Laboratories that focus on chemical pathology run tests to measure functions of hormones as well as the immune system. They also evaluate how different drugs interact and affect these systems. Those working in hematology labs deal with blood banks to process donated blood so that it can be distributed to those in the community who need it. In microbiology a clinical pathologist studies the effects of diseases on the body and ways to find cures for them.