Now the Clinical Laboratory is a comprehensive department that combines sampling center, clinical basic laboratory, biochemical laboratory, immunological laboratory, microbiological laboratory and molecular laboratory. It also owns molecular diagnosis center of Qilu Hospital. Following the guidance of “scientific management and innovative development”, the Department of Clinical Laboratory has kept top level in China in the field of medical services, scientific researching and modern management. It has been ranked top ten of “the best specialist reputation of Chinese hospitals” ever since the specialty of clinical laboratory was included. The department of Clinical Laboratory has studied non-invasive tests for tumor markers and its clinical practices since the 1990s. In recent years, by leveraging China’s first batch of platforms such as the “High-Throughput Sequencing Platform for Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment,” the department has made advances in screening and identification of molecular targets associated with malignant tumor development and progression. It also developed a detection technique that has been trademarked, which has been translated into clinical practice. It developed a standardized protocol to directly quantify circulating RNAs and first reported the role of exosomal long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HOTTIP in the diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer. In addition, it developed a novel kit for detecting serum-based exosomal miRNAs or lncRNAs in colorectal cancer. The department will continue to strive for progress in cancer diagnosis.

The Department of Clinical Laboratory has been authorized as master station of clinical diagnosis in 1996, and been authorized as doctoral station in 2002. Now the department has 130 technical personnel, including 32 members with doctoral degree, 7 post-doctoral members, and 15 members with experiences of studying aboard. In recent years, the department has undertaken 22 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects and more than 60 provincial projects, and published more than 300 academic articles in national and international journals, including more than 200 SCI papers. The department has earned one first prize for Technological Invention Award of the Ministry of Education, and 1 first prize, 7 second prizes and 5 third prizes for Science and Technology Progression Award of Shandong province. It has also patented more than 20 inventions in China. Members of the department has participated in the editing and publication of more than 10 textbooks and more than 20 academic books.