Clinical laboratory scientists collect, test, and analyze patient samples to diagnose and treat disease. They use biomedical techniques, instrumentation, and computers to perform tests on blood and body fluids. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited clinical laboratory science program is required to become certified in the field. Clinical laboratory scientists do not typically refer to Ph.D. or MD-level scientists doing clinical research.
A clinical laboratory scientist works in a hospital or clinical laboratory. Their job is to collect, test, and analyze patient samples to diagnose and treat disease. Sometimes called a clinical laboratory technician or medical technician, a clinical laboratory scientist performs tests ordered by physicians to provide information about a patient’s health. Doctors use this information to diagnose, prevent, and treat disease.
Clinical laboratory scientists often use sophisticated biomedical techniques, instrumentation, and computers to perform tests on blood and body fluids. For example, scientists in clinical laboratories use microscopes to examine and identify different types of cells. They also use diagnostic kits to detect chemicals in the blood. Excellent sterile technique and manual dexterity are required in order to maintain safe conditions in an environment where blood and other bodily fluids are present. A clinical laboratory scientist also has access to confidential medical information and must keep that information confidential.
Examples of the types of tests that a clinical laboratory scientist might perform include determining the amount of cholesterol in a patient’s blood sample, checking for changes in the appearance of cervical cells, detecting drugs of abuse in the bloodstream, or detecting of bacteria in the urine. These tests are essential in diagnosing and treating heart disease, cervical cancer, and bladder infections, and in detecting drug abuse. A large number of diseases and disorders depend on accurate laboratory tests for their diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Indeed, a laboratory is a critical part of modern hospitals and clinics.
Clinical laboratory technicians complete an Associate degree or certificate program focusing on the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical laboratory science. Someone with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited clinical laboratory science program can become certified in the field and work as a clinical laboratory scientist. Training in a bachelor’s degree program will include courses that are more in-depth than technician classes, as well as business and education courses. Universities with academic medical centers often have degree programs in clinical laboratory sciences.
The term clinical laboratory scientist generally does not refer to a Ph.D. or MD-level scientist doing clinical research. Clinical research involves using patients in academic research to study problems related to health and medicine. Clinical research can be done in a laboratory or clinic, but it is typically not done in a hospital laboratory – the workplace of a clinical laboratory scientist. A hospital laboratory primarily serves the purpose of running tests on samples from patients in that hospital.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
