Lab technician exemplifies Air Force Core Values Published April 20, 2009 ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Senior Airman Lindsay Lalla, 48th Medical Support Squadron lab technician, was nominated for the Liberty spotlight by her chain of command because she practices the Air Force core values. Hometown: Tuolumne, Calif. Department: Chemistry What is the function of the chemistry department? Chemistry is responsible for ensuring that your body is functioning properly - from processing your liver enzymes and ensuring your cardiac functions are normal, to reporting to the gynecologist how many weeks along you or a loved one may be in pregnancy. We also process many lipid and cholesterol panels, and with our keen sense and sight, we are able to tell whether or not you were truly fasting. What do you like most about working in the chemistry department? The chemistry department is the powerhouse of the laboratory because it is the place where the majority of samples are processed. As you celebrate National Medical Laboratory Professional Week, what does being a lab technician mean to you? Laboratory technicians may not be the ones holding the scalpel or the ones reviewing the symptoms in your charts, but we are key players in your diagnosis. Without the consistency and reliability of laboratory professionals, the pathway leading to your health would be hindered. Being a laboratory technician means paying attention to detail, being steadfast in the mission and putting your health above our needs. It means being a bit of an investigator and going to great lengths to ensure the best healthcare. Being a laboratory technician means getting accurate results to your physician 24/7, 365, every day of the year.