Koritz Clinic Laboratory keeps Airmen healthy

Senior Airman Lisa Jackson, 14th Medical Support Squadron Laboratory Technician, reads the results from a chemical analyzer May 22, 2017, at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Although the lab has special equipment, they still use outside resources such as LabCorp, a local civilian lab, to ensure correct and accurate results. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Beaux Hebert)

Koritz Clinic Laboratory helps keep Airmen healthy

Senior Airman Lisa Jackson, 14th Medical Support Squadron Laboratory Technician, draws blood from 2nd Lt. Patrick Finn, 14th Student Squadron Student Pilot, May 22, 2017, at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Lab technicians must be good multitaskers and have great attention to detail to provide accurate results for their patients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Beaux Hebert)

Koritz Clinic Laboratory helps keep Airmen healthy

Second Lt. Patrick Finn, 14th Student Squadron Student Pilot, prepares to give a blood sample May 22, 2017, at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The lab technicians do their best to keep patients calm and relaxed while taking blood samples. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Beaux Hebert)

Koritz Clinic Laboratory keeps Airmen healthy

Published May 25, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Beaux Hebert
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- It is inevitable Airmen will sometimes get sick.

When they do, the 14th Medical Support Squadron’s Laboratory Flight is responsible for identifying what illness is stopping Team BLAZE from Producing Pilots, Advancing Airmen and Feeding the Fight.

The mission of the Lab Flight is to ensure the 14th Flying Training Wing’s Airmen are healthy and able to work by providing doctors with accurate tests including bloodwork and urinalysis.

“As most missions, ours is supporting the pilots from a readiness standpoint,” said Tech. Sgt. Holly Lindsey, Laboratory Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. “We also help doctors determine if a flyer is fit to fly.”

The lab uses a variety of technology to analyze samples, such as a chemical analyzer, which helps doctors see if there are heightened or lowered levels of chemicals in a test.

Although the lab has special equipment, they still use outside resources such as LabCorp to ensure correct and accurate results. They also use bigger bases’ medical facilities.

“LabCorp is our local civilian lab,” Lindsey said. “We have a courier who picks up samples daily which has multiple facilities.”
Even with this equipment, lab technicians have to be highly trained and skilled at their craft.

“You have to be a good multitasker and attention to detail is huge,” Lindsey said. “Sometimes we have to enter the results manually. For example a 10 and a 100 can be the difference between a normal result and a critical result.”

The Laboratory Flight plays a key role in the health care for Team BLAZE Airmen. For example, they conducted 28,000 tests in 2016, an average of 76 test per day.

Even though needles might not be a person’s best friend, the 14th MDSS Laboratory Flight will continue to keep Columbus Airmen, their families and all other BLAZE members healthy.