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page=972 According to the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), "a medical laboratory technician searches for basic clues to the absence, presence, extent, and causes of diseases. This skilled individual is responsible for performing laboratory tests efficiently and accurately for high-quality patient care." Medical laboratory technicians work in a medical laboratory, often under the guidance or supervision of a medical technologist (MT). The nature of the work is similar in that MLTs also work with laboratory equipment, helping to prepare and analyze slides and specimens of human blood, tissue, or other cells. Medical Laboratory Technicians help to support the work of medical technologists, to help identify abnormalities in the samples such as malignancies, bacteria, parasites, or genetic abnormalities. Medical laboratory technicians also may assist in blood-typing, or other routine blood tests. Medical laboratory technicians do similar work but at a less complex level as medical technologists, as educational requirements for medical laboratory technicians are less than the requirements for medical technologists. Educational Requirements for Medical Laboratory Technicians:

To prepare for a career as a medical laboratory technician, it helps to start by getting a solid foundation in high school sciences biology, chemistry, math and computer science, according to the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP). After graduating from high school, successful completion of an associates degree is also required. (An associates degree consists of about two years of college coursework from a community college, technical or vocational school, or university.)

In addition to the associates degree, completion of an accredited training program for medical laboratory technicians. If an MLT goes on to obtain a bachelors degree, he or she can then advance to the medical technologist (MT) role with the "appropriate experience," according to the ASCP.

Salary for Medical Laboratory Technicians:

While the top 10% of medical lab technicians earned up to $50,250, the median annual salary for this career is $32,840, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website, visited April 2009. Additionally, the slightly higher paying MLT jobs are typically found in hospitals and universities, with slightly lower paying jobs found in medical laboratories of physician offices or small clinics.

What's to Like about Careers as a Medical Laboratory Technician:

Like other medical lab careers, demand for medical lab technicians is huge, according to the BLS and the ASCP. Over half of all medical laboratories in the U.S. are hiring! Additionally, medical laboratory technician jobs offer an opportunity to have a significant impact on patient care, without actually interacting with patients. While people skills are important in any job, MLT jobs do not require the level of interpersonal interaction or skills that other medical jobs require when direct patient care is involved.

If you are fascinated by science and technology as they apply to healthcare, you may want to be an MLT! Introduction to Medical Laboratory Careers:

Working in a medical laboratory could be an excellent career option for you if you are interested in a medical job that does not require direct patient care or continual patient interaction. If you are more interested in the science and technology aspect of the medical field, as opposed to direct patient care, a medical laboratory job may be for you! Additionally, if you are comfortable with computers, medical equipment, and have an excellent attention to detail, you could be very successful in a medical laboratory role. What and Where are Medical Laboratories:

Some medical labs are housed in medical facilities such as a large hospital or clinic. Other medical labs are corporate owned labs that charge medical facilities for processing labwork as an outsourced service. Other medical labs may be university or government owned labs that conduct research or analyze specimens for government healthcare providers. Therefore, as a medical laboratory professional, you could work as an employee of a corporation, a university, a government institution, or directly for a hospital or other healthcare facility. Work Environment for Medical Laboratories:

Medical laboratories are often well-lit, sterile environments with a lot of high-tech equipment for viewing and analyzing microscopic samples of human tissue or bodily fluids. Working in a medical lab may entail many hours of sitting or standing, peering into microscopes or utilizing biomedical equipment to process slides and specimens. Additionally, some type of computer

software will most likely be used for documentation purposes. Depending on the role and the type of specimens being handled in the lab, you may have to wear protective covering such as gloves, goggles, mask, or lab coat.

Examples of Medical Laboratory Jobs and Careers:

There are a variety of medical laboratory careers available at a variety of educational levels, from high school graduates, to doctorate level professionals. Therefore, salaries for medical lab careers vary accordingly. A few examples of medical laboratory jobs are:

Medical Lab Technician (MLT) Medical Technologist (MT) Cytotechnologist Pathologist Phlebotomist Histotechnician What is a Medical Technologist? Career Overview:

Medical technologists are one of many exciting and rewarding medical laboratory careers. According to the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), medical technologists perform a variety of tasks including everything from simple pre-marital blood tests, to more complex tests to uncover diseases such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and cancer. Although medical technologists do not often interact directly with patients, the work completed by medical technologists directly impacts patients lives. Physicians rely on the information provided by medical technologists to determine the diagnosis and treatment of their patients.

Also known as Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS), medical technologists operate complex electronic equipment, computers, and precision instruments. This equipment, such as high-powered microscopes,

and cell counters, is often worth millions of dollars. Therefore, the medical technologist must be savvy with technology as well as in science. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, (BLS), medical technologists analyze specimens of human blood and tissue under a microscope to look for bacteria, parasites, cancerous cells, or other microorganisms. They match blood for transfusions, check blood levels for chemicals, drugs, or other factors. Additionally, medical technologists evaluate test results, develop and modify procedures, and establish and monitor programs, to ensure the accuracy of tests. Educational and Training Requirements for Medical Technologists:

A medical technologist career requires at least a bachelors degree, preferably in a scientific field. Additionally, the completion of an accredited medical technologist program is also required. The program must be accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS). To prepare for a career in medical technology, you can start in high school, by studying hard to excel in key subjects such as biology, chemistry, math, and computer sciences, according to the ASCP.

You can major in a related subject to obtain a bachelors degree in an applicable science such as biology, microbiology or biochemistry. After completion of your undergraduate degree, the clinical and technical training in a medical technology program will further prepare you for a successful lab career as a medical technologist. If you are seeking a similar career that does not require a bachelors degree, you may want to consider a career as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT).

Certification as a Medical Technologist:

For optimum success, medical technologists should become certified in their field after completing all of the educational and training requirements. The ASCP offers a national certification exam that should be renewed every three years. This certifies that you are proficient in your field and allows you to use the initials MT(ASCP) after your name. Average Salary for Medical Technologists:

The median (mid-point) annual salary for Medical Technologists is about $49,700 according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), visited April 2009. (However, the data is dated 2006.) The top 10% of earners among medical technologists earned $69,260, according to the BLS. Work Environment and Job Opportunities:

Medical technologists can work in a variety of settings, including labs in hospitals, clinics, public health institutions, universities, or commercial independent laboratories. Medical technologists are in extremely high demand, according to the ASCP. While there is a shortage in all medical laboratory careers, medical technologists have the highest vacancy rate of all lab careers, at 10.4%. What is a medical laboratory science professional?

Medical laboratory science professionals, often called medical laboratorians, are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing laboratory information from laboratory analyses that assist Career Center ASCLSphysicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as in disease monitoring or prevention (maintenance of health). We use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and technology, computers, and methods requiring manual dexterity to perform laboratory testing on blood and body fluids. Laboratory testing encompasses such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Medical laboratory science professionals generate accurate laboratory data that are needed to aid in detecting cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, infectious mononucleosis, and identification of bacteria or viruses that cause infections, as well as in detecting drugs of abuse. In addition, we monitor testing quality and consult with other members of the healthcare team.

The medical laboratory science profession has more than one career track based on level of education: medical laboratory technician (2 years) and medical laboratory scientist (4 to 5 years). Medical laboratory technicians are competent in the collection, processing and analysis of biological specimens, the performance of lab procedures, the maintenance of instruments, and relating lab findings to common diseases/conditions. Medical laboratory scientists have a more extensive theoretical knowledge base. Therefore they not only perform laboratory procedures including very sophisticated analyses, but also evaluate/interpret the results, integrate data, problem solve, consult, conduct research and develop new test methods.

Essential Functions

In order to participate in a medical laboratory science educational program, students must be able to comply with program-designated essential functions, or request reasonable accommodations to execute these essential functions. Requirements include a sound intellect; good motor skills: eye-hand coordination and dexterity; effective communication skills; visual acuity to perform macroscopic and microscopic analyses, or read procedures, graphs, etc.; professional skills such as the ability to work independently, manage time efficiently, to comprehend, analyze and synthesize various materials, as well as to hold sound psychological health and stability.