Keesler Medical Center to celebrate laboratory professionals next week Published April 17, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Cory Gage 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron laboratory technicians at Keesler Medical Center join laboratory professionals across the nation to celebrate National Medical Laboratory Professionals week April 22-25. The observance recognizes laboratory professionals and the vital role they play in leading to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The celebration provides the profession with a unique opportunity to increase the public's awareness and appreciation of laboratory professionals. The theme of 2013 is "Laboratory Professionals Get Results." According to web sources, laboratory professionals represent the second largest sector among health-care workers following nurses. As much as 85 percent of the decisions about a person's diagnosis and treatment are based on laboratory test results, so both patients and doctors depend on the accuracy of those results. The laboratory works as the frontline of the public health system, protecting communities from emerging infectious diseases and antibiotic resistant bacteria.