The laboratory department falls under the diagnostic division of the hospital. The main activities of the laboratory are diagnosis of diseases from patient samples, training of students from universities and middle colleges taking medical laboratory b courses, research and participation in disease surveillance. It is further subdivided into the following sections;

Clinical chemistry

Haematology

Parasitology

Microbiology

Immunology

Histopathology

Emergency lad

Memorial wing laboratory

PMTCT laboratory

All these sections are open from 8.00a.m to 5.00p.m EXCEPT the emergency lab which runs on a 24hrs basis.
These laboratories carry out both routine tests and specialized tests.

WORK FORCE
The laboratories are managed by a well trained competent youthful workforce of 168 staff.

Biochemistry Lab
The section offers the following tests

Liver function tests (LFTs)

Renal function tests (RFTs)

Cardiac enzymes

Lipid profile

Pancreatic enzymes

Blood alcohol

Occult blood in stool

Bence jones proteins

Creatinine clearance

Uritic acid

Calcium levels

Phosphorus/magnesium

Blood gases

Glucose tolerance tests

Haematology Lab
There are two hematological counters which have been validated and give up to 19 parameters. This lab does the following tests;

Full haemogram (including erythrocyte sedimentation rate)

Peripheral blood films

Bone marrow studies

Coagulation studies

Immunology lab
 This laboratory has a total of 6 staff and does the following tests;

HIV tests

Widal tests

Syphilis tests: - VDRL, RPR and TPHA

Brucella test

Anti streptolysin O test (ASOT)

Rheumatoid factor

Pregnancy test

Hepatitis B surface antigen

Hepatitis C virus test

Thyroid stimulating hormone

Triiodothyroxine hormone (T3)

Tetraiodothyrixine hormone (T4)

Alfa feto proteins

Fertility hormone:- festosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, leutinising hormone, estradiol, prolactin and progesterone

Prostate specific antigen (PSA)

Anti nuclear Antigen (ANA)

Microbiology Lab

This lab has a total of 10 qualified staff. It carries out the following tests;
i. Culture and sensitivity for

Blood

Pus

Aspirates

CSF

Sputum (both ordinary and mycobacterial)

Urine

Stool

Catheter tips and other tips

ii. Cryptococal antigen (CRAG) 

Parasitology Lab
 It has a total of three qualified staff and performs the following tests;

Stool for ova and cysts

Urine for urinalysis

Blood smear for malaria parasites

Blood for form ol gel test

Histopathology lab
This lab handles biopsies and autopsies from the hospital and also from other hospitals in western province of Kenya. It has a total of six competent staff and two pathologists.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance Program In The Laboratories

The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital staff are dedicated to quality control and quality assurance. In this, the laboratories have well established internal and external quality control programs.

Internal quality control
In all the laboratories, the use of controls and standards is mandatory for all the tests done. Apart from the controls and the standards, samples are counterchecked using other machines available in the hospital laboratories.

External Quality Control
The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital laboratories have external quality programs among which are;

American Proficiency Institute. The institute sends at least three test events per year to be analyzed by various sections and the results sent back for evaluation.

HUQAS – this is quality assurance program by HUMAN. It is mainly on biochemistry tests.

In both programs, the laboratory has consistently performed well.
Apart from the above the laboratories have been receiving blind specimen from NETSPEAR (Network for Surveillance of Pneumococal disease in East African Region).