Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Additional Information
Duties
Technicians and technologists in clinical laboratories often perform the following duties:
- Records the results of tests on bodily fluids such as blood or urine in order to determine whether they are normal or abnormal.
- Identify the number of cells, the cell shape or the blood group, blood type, and compatibility with different blood types in blood samples for transfusions.
- Work using microscopes and cell counts, both of which are high-tech instruments.
- Take use of automated technology and electronic tools that can simultaneously run many tests.
- Create a patient's medical record by logging the results of diagnostic testing.
- Talk to doctors about the results of laboratory testing and procedures.
Physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals use technicians and technologists to carry out their orders for tests and operations. Technicians, on the other hand, carry out simple tests and processes in the laboratory. While technologists may prepare specimens and conduct extensive manual examinations, technicians may do regular procedures that are more automated. Similarly, Clinical laboratory technologists and laboratory managers often oversee the work of clinical laboratory technicians.
Many different sorts of tests are carried out by technologists in small labs, but they can also specialize in large labs. Types of clinical laboratory technicians with specific training include the following:
Immunohematology technologists, also known as blood bank technologists or immunohematology technologists, collect, categorize, and prepare blood and its components for transfusion.
Preparation and analysis of bodily fluids are performed by clinical chemistry technicians.
To detect irregularities that might indicate the development of a malignant tumor, cytotechnologists produce slides of bodily cells and study these cells under the microscope.
Technologists in the field of immunology study the immune system and how it reacts to external invaders.
Microbiology technologists carry out in-depth examinations of microorganisms in order to make accurate identifications.
Complex protein and nucleic acid assays are carried out on cell samples by a molecular biology technician.
Clinical laboratory technicians, like technologists, can work in several parts of the laboratory or focus on a single area. An illustration of a clinical laboratory technician in this role is the biotechnician, whose job is to prepare tissue samples for microscopic examination by pathologists.
For those who have worked in a certain field for some time or have obtained further training, technicians and technologists tend to specialize.
Education
Clinical laboratory technologists frequently need a bachelor's degree in medical technology or a closely connected field like biology. A clinical laboratory technician typically needs an associate degree in clinical laboratory science.
A bachelor's degree in medical laboratory technology or medical laboratory scientist requires a number of courses. Most students apply to the clinical component after finishing their undergraduate courses.
Coursework emphasizes laboratory skills like safety and administration, whereas clinical training takes place in a real-world setting like a hospital. Some two-year laboratory science programs need a bachelor's degree.
Most clinical laboratory technicians graduate with an associate degree in clinical laboratory science. Military and technical schools may provide medical laboratory technician certificate programs. The technician education covers each of the key laboratory specializations in depth.
To work in a medical laboratory, a student must excel in chemistry, biology, and arithmetic.
Licenses and certifications.
Several states need licensed laboratory personnel. Conditions vary by state and specialty. For specific criteria, contact state health departments, occupational licensing boards, or the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
Several states require certification for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians to be licensed.
Companies prefer qualified technicians and technologists, while it is not always required.
Medical laboratory technologists (MLT) and medical laboratory technicians (MLT) can get generic qualifications (MLT). To take a credentialing test, you must have completed an approved educational program. Information about credentialing criteria may be found at NACLS, AMEMT, and ASCP.
Importance Criteria
Tech know-how. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians must know how to use computerized lab equipment.
Particularized. Testing and procedures must be performed precisely by clinical laboratory technicians and technologists.
Dexterity. Hands-on skills are required for clinical laboratory technologists. Due to the small quarters, they work in, they must be able to handle needles and other fine scientific gadgets.
Pay
The median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $61,890 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,020, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $97,990.
Job Projections
Employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.