Laboratory ABC
Molecules
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Adenosine triphosphate is the fuel that drives our cells. It is a molecule that stores and releases energy so that the body can carry out things such as muscle movements, nerve signals or the formation of proteins. The principle: when cells need energy, they use ATP....
Antibodies
Antibodies are fascinating helpers of our immune system - and indispensable tools in laboratory medicine. What are antibodies? Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are special proteins that our body produces to defend itself against intruders such as viruses,...
Cholesterol
Cholesterol - a term that almost everyone has heard before, often in connection with health, nutrition or heart problems. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that our body needs in order to function. It is found in every cell and helps, for...
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a powerful painkiller that is used in medicine, but also plays a major role on the illegal market. It belongs to the opioids, a group of substances that act similarly to morphine, but fentanyl is much stronger - around 50 to 100 times more potent than...
Hemoglobin
Haemoglobin is a term that is often used when talking about blood tests or health - for example in the case of fatigue or a diagnosis of anaemia. What is hemoglobin? Haemoglobin is a protein in the blood, more precisely in the red blood cells. It has a crucial task:...
Hormones
For many people, hormones are a familiar term from biology lessons or visits to the doctor, but what exactly are they, why are they so important and how are they measured in laboratory medicine? What are hormones? Hormones are chemical messengers that our body...
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element that many people know primarily from iodized salt in the kitchen. However, it plays a much greater role in laboratory medicine than you might think. It is used to detect diseases, make tissue visible and even kill bacteria. What is iodine?...
Lipid metabolism
Lipid metabolism encompasses all processes in the body that have to do with the formation, transportation, storage and breakdown of lipids, i.e. fats and cholesterol. Lipids are essential as they provide energy, build cell membranes and serve as hormones or signaling...
Microplastics
Microplastics are on everyone's lips - in the truest sense of the word. These tiny plastic particles, which are smaller than five millimetres, have become a major issue in recent years, including in Germany. They are everywhere: in the water, in the air, in the soil...
PFAS
PFAS - a term that has come up more and more frequently in recent years. This abbreviation stands for perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, a group of chemicals that is causing debate in Germany and around the world. They are extremely persistent, can...
Thrombopoiesis
Thrombopoiesis is a fascinating process in our body in which blood platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are formed. These small cells play a crucial role in blood clotting and help us to close wounds and stop bleeding. + It all starts in the bone marrow, the soft...
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is an inconspicuous but vital vitamin that plays a key role in the body - especially when it comes to blood clotting. It ensures that wounds can close and bleeding can stop. Vitamin K is therefore a recurring topic in laboratory medicine, for example in...
