Welcome to the Department of Chemical Pathology at the University of the Free State
Chemical Pathology (also known as Clinical Biochemistry) involves the qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological fluids such as blood, serum or plasma, urine, or tissues for specific chemical constituents or physiologic processes. This discipline overlaps with metabolic medicine, a clinical specialty involved with the management and treatment of patients with disorders of metabolism.
Our National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) clinical chemistry laboratories have become increasingly automated, molecular biology technologies have entered the diagnostic arena, and chemical pathologists have become more clinically orientated.
Vision
Our vision is to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic pathology services while providing excellence in chemical pathology research and education.
Mission
We provide diagnostic services in chemical pathology to the public and private health sectors, conduct laboratory research, teach and train medical technologists, medical technicians, medical scientists, registrars and pathologists who will make a significant contribution to the field of chemical pathology in South Africa.
The teaching and training component services undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, along with postgraduate medical science students specialising in chemical pathology.
The department actively participates in clinical interface for consultation and teaching activities at the Universitas Academic Hospital Complex.
The department is actively involved in phase II and III teaching of undergraduate UFS medical students.
On the postgraduate level, we train MMed candidates in Family Medicine and Anaesthetics.
Jointly with the NHLS, we offer programmes to prospective qualified medical practitioners who wish to become registered chemical pathologists.
To prospective candidates with a Baccalaureus (i.e. Bachelor's) degree in the natural sciences, we offer the B Med Sc (Hon) course leading onto the M Med Sc and PhD qualifications.
The staff members of chemical pathology engaged in applied research to create new diagnostic clinical laboratory tests to screen, diagnose or monitor disease, disease processes, or treatment of diseases.
Our department delivers a comprehensive clinical chemistry laboratory service to the Universitas Academic Hospital Complex and its outreach NHLS sites in the Free State Province (7 laboratories) and the North West Province (12 laboratories).