Clinical chemistry is a fundamental branch of medical laboratory science that studies the chemical changes in bodily fluids such as blood and urine. This specialty is a cornerstone of medical diagnosis, contributing to disease detection, health assessment, and monitoring treatment effectiveness. ⸻ What is Clinical Chemistry? Clinical chemistry is the application of chemistry principles to the analysis of the components of the human body. These analyses include measuring the concentration of biomolecules such as: • Glucose • Cholesterol • Enzymes • Proteins • Electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) It also includes hormonal tests, drug analyses, and toxin level tests. ⸻ The Importance of Clinical Chemistry in Medicine Clinical chemistry plays a pivotal role in modern medicine, and its most important functions include: 1. Early Disease Diagnosis Clinical chemistry tests help detect diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and cancer, even before obvious symptoms appear. 2. Assessing the Efficiency of Vital Organs By analyzing liver and kidney enzymes and functions, physicians can accurately assess the performance of these organs. 3. Monitoring Treatment Effectiveness After treatment begins, chemical tests are used to measure improvement or deterioration of the condition and adjust the treatment plan based on the results. 4. Detecting Toxicology or Drug Overdoses Chemical tests can detect toxins or drug accumulation in the body. ⸻ Examples of Clinical Chemistry Tests • Glucose level test to diagnose diabetes. • Liver function tests (ALT, AST). • Urea and creatinine tests to assess kidney function. • Lipid profile to assess the risk of heart disease. • Thyroid function tests (TSH, T3, T4). ⸻ The Role of the Clinical Chemist Clinical chemists operate the equipment, analyze the results, and provide accurate reports to physicians. They also play a role in quality control and ensuring the accuracy of the results. Al-Mustaqbal University, the leading university in Iraq.