Welcome to Our Lab Tech Resource Site

Most people associate the medical field with doctors, nurses, and surgeons. But there are other important members of the clinical staff that work behind the scenes: medical laboratory technicians and technologists.

Also known as clinical lab technicians, medical laboratory technicians perform diagnostic tests in clinical laboratories, and medical lab technologists perform slightly more in-depth tasks than technicians. They are both integral components of the clinical industry.

Without them, patients would have to wait a long time for their physicians to run the diagnostics on their blood and other fluid samples.

What it Takes to Become a Lab Technician

In general, medical laboratory technicians and technologists must possess an associate's or bachelor's degree, respectively, in order to work in their field. After earning such a degree, certification is also required in most states and by most employers.

Basic Education Requirements

Medical technicians and technologists require different levels of education. Typically, a medical technician must possess an associate's degree, and most medical technologists are required to have a bachelor's degree in some form of science, such as:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Microbiology

Bachelor's degree programs usually take four years to complete. Coursework should focus on the clinical laboratory, although some four-year programs require additional coursework in business management, computer science, and communications.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires that all laboratory technicians attain at least an associate's degree in order to perform diagnostic tests on human tissue. An associate's degree can be earned in two years. This timeline can be shortened, however, by taking summer school courses.

Alternatives to College

If you don't want to (or don't have the time to) attend college for two to four years, there are other avenues you can take to become a medical technician. Some medical technicians earn certificates from programs at hospitals, technical training centers, vocational schools or through the military. Medical lab technicians also can learn skills on the job, if an employer is willing to hire them despite their nonexistent educational backgrounds.

Certification Basics

In addition to earning an associate's or bachelor's degree, medical technicians and technologists should obtain a license and certification. Many hospitals and physician's offices require that their clinical laboratory staff be certified through an accredited organization, such as:

• American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)
• American Association of Bioanalysts Board of Registry (AAB)

ASCP Certification

There are a variety of certifications available from the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification. These include:

• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
• Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

To obtain MLT or MLS certification, you must provide proof that you meet the educational requirements, and then pass the ASCP examination. Recertification is due every five years.

Individuals who possess ASCP certification have access to a network of professional laboratory clinicians already working in the field. Newsletters, continuing education courses, and annual workshops allow members to stay current with industry standards and regulations. According to the ASCP those certified earn a higher overall pay compared with other certifications.

AMT Certification

The American Medical Technologists organization offers certification as:

• Medical Lab Technician (MLT)
• Medical Lab Technologist (MT)

To obtain certification, you must meet the qualifications outlined on the AMT Web site and pass the AMT exam.

AMT is an internationally recognized organization in the clinical laboratory industry. Currently, there are more than 40,000 AMT-certified professionals. AMT membership allows access to a career placement database for healthcare careers, continuing education programs, and educational workshops that keep members up to date with the latest industry trends.

AAB Certification

The American Association of Bioanalysts offers certification as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) in one or more of six technical disciplines:

• Chemistry (Clinical Chemistry, Endocrinology, Toxicology, Urinalysis, Radioimmunoassay)
• Hematology (Hemostasis, Coagulation, Hematologic Elements, Cell Identification and Parameters, Bone Marrow, Staining, Hematologic Abnormalities and Disease)
• Immunology (Serology, General Immunology, Antibody and Antigen Identification and Measurement)
• Immunohematology (ABO Grouping and Rh Typing, Unexpected Antibody Detection and Identification, Compatibility Testing)
• Microbiology (Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology)
• Molecular Diagnostics

The AAB also offer certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) in up to seven of the following disciplines:

• Chemistry (Clinical Chemistry, Endocrinology, Toxicology, Urinalysis, Radioimmunoassay)
• Hematology (Hemostasis, Coagulation, Hematologic Elements, Cell Identification and Parameters, Bone Marrow, Staining, Hematologic Abnormalities and Disease)
• Immunology (Serology, General Immunology, Antibody and Antigen Identification and Measurement)
• Immunohematology (ABO Grouping and Rh Typing, Unexpected Antibody Detection and Identification, Compatibility Testing)
• Microbiology (Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology)
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Andrology (Male Infertility, Semen Analysis, Sperm Function Tests, Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction, Anti-Sperm Antibodies)
• Embryology (Oocyte Identification and Fertilization, Micromanipulation, Embryo Culture, Cryopreservation)

To become AAB-certified, you must provide a college transcript, and you must be able to pass the examination. The certification process usually takes six to eight weeks. Certified AAB members have access to a job board and a network of other AAB members. Continuing education courses are offered for free to allow further learning in clinical laboratory procedures.

Technicians vs. Technologists

Medical technicians are often supervised by medical lab technologists. Technicians perform less complicated tasks, such as utilizing automated clinical devices to analyze specimens from medical patients. For example, a medical technician would use a microscope to determine if a toenail clipping contained fungal bacteria. Meanwhile, a medical lab technologist, performs more difficult procedures, such as examining fluid samples for bacteria, microorganisms, or parasites.

According to the American Medical Technologists (AMT) organization, medical technicians:

• Prepare specimens and operate automated analyzers.
• Perform manual tests in accordance with detailed instructions.

On the other hand, the AMT states that medical technologists:

• Microscopically examine blood and other body fluids.
• Make cultures of body fluid and tissue samples to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms.
• Analyze samples for chemical content or a chemical reaction and determine concentrations of compounds such as blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
• Type and cross-match blood samples for transfusions.
• Evaluate test results, develop and modify procedures, and establish and monitor programs to ensure the accuracy of tests.

Tools of the Trade

The clinical laboratory is full of devices that aid in the testing of samples: a microscope, cell counters, and automated medical equipment. Technologists and technicians both use such medical equipment on a daily basis. For example, a physician might a patient's blood sample to the lab where it will be tested by a technician or technologist. After testing the blood, the clinical lab staff can recommend levels of medication that a patient can take without possibly harming his or her health. The physician takes these results/recommendations and prescribes a safe dose of medication for the patient to take.

Daily Tasks

As with any other occupation, clinical and medical technician's daily assignments are determined by the employer (e.g. hospital, private physician's office, etc.). However, the nature of the occupation requires that medical lab techs pay close attention to detail in order to protect themselves against infectious specimen samples. Technicians work with viruses and parasites on a daily basis, so the ability to follow safety procedures and wear protective lab gear, such as goggles, gloves, and masks, is a very important aspect of the job.

Work Environment

The medical field is a 24-hour a day, seven days a week industry. Sick people do not take weekends or holidays off and neither do medical lab technicians. Whether employed in a hospital or a small private practice, technicians are expected to work morning, mid-day, and night shifts. Moreover, clinical technicians should be open to working odd shifts if required by their employer. Technicians also spend most of their work hours on their feet, so one should expect to be standing for the majority of the work shift.