Medical laboratory technicians perform diagnostic tests in laboratories, including preparing patient samples, testing bodily fluids for bacteria and viruses, and examining cells and tissues for signs of disease. They may specialize in microbiology, immunology, hematology, histology, or cytology. Skills required include problem-solving, analytical, fine motor, hand-eye coordination, record-keeping, and multitasking. The job description may vary depending on the size of the laboratory.
A medical laboratory technician typically works in a laboratory, performing diagnostics and other types of tests that provide important medical information about people with injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions. The role of the medical laboratory technician is demanding and requires both general and specific skills.
Regardless of the type of laboratory they work in, the medical laboratory technician tends to have a very similar type of job description, although the types of tests they routinely perform are often different depending on the specific nature of their job. Medical technology jobs often involve such tasks as preparing patient samples for examination, testing blood and other bodily fluids for the presence of bacteria and viruses, screening blood for diagnostic markers of disease, examining cells and tissues for signs of disease, and testing bacterial samples for antibiotic sensitivity.
One thing that can set these types of medical jobs apart is the size of the lab an individual works in. For example, someone who works as a clinical laboratory technician in a smaller laboratory is more likely to have a general job description and will likely perform several different types of tests as part of a typical day. On the other hand, a medical laboratory technician working in a large laboratory is more likely to specialize in one or more types of diagnostic or analytical tests, or in a specific scientific field.
Medical laboratory technicians have several specialization options. Microbiology typically focuses on diagnosing diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, while immunology involves testing patient samples for signs that indicate immune function or dysfunction. Hematology is the study of blood, and a technician working in this specialty is usually involved in testing blood samples from patients for signs of diseases and blood disorders. Still others specialize in histology or cytology and focus on examining tissues and cells for signs of disease.
Wherever they work, and however they wish to specialize, a medical laboratory technician must possess certain skills and personality traits to be successful on the job. Excellent problem solving and analytical skills are extremely important. The ability to focus on repetitive tasks and follow strict protocols without losing focus, good fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and good record keeping skills are also vital for a clinical laboratory scientist. Finally, the ability to multi-task is crucial because people working in medical laboratory technician jobs often have to perform several different types of tasks during the same period.
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