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Clinical Laboratory Technician Jobs - What is the Job of a Clinical Laboratory Technologist? What Do Careers in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Involve?
Clinical laboratory technicians are responsible for detecting in diagnosing illnesses. They are sometimes called clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists, or even clinical laboratory technicians.
The primary role of clinical lab technicians is to take samples of bodily fluids and sells and analyze them. Clinical laboratory techs are responsible for detecting diseases, analyzing particular components of blood, matching blood types for transfusions, and testing for drugs in the bloodstream.
Most equipment that clinical lab techs use is automated and computerize, and they must know how to analyze the results properly, in order to relay this information to licensed physicians.
Increased automation has turned the profession of clinical lab technologists into a more analytical pursuit, where clinical lab techs are analyzing bodily fluids for chemical content or transfusion samples.
In small laboratories, laboratory technicians will perform a wide variety of tests, while in small labs they will learn to specialize in to one particular area. Microbiology technologists are responsible for microorganisms, blood bank technicians are responsible for detecting blood types for transfusions, and clinical chemistry technicians are responsible for analyzing the contents of bodily fluids. Immunology technicians are responsible for examining components and human immune system.
Cytotechnologists prepare body cells and examine them for abnormalities under a microscope. Molecular biological technologists will perform nucleic acid testing on samples of cells.
Clinical laboratory technicians will also perform less complicated tasks than medical technologists. Laboratory technologists have more responsibilities and accountability, and all lab technicians prepare specimens and operate automated equipment.
Working Conditions for Laboratory Technicians - How is the Working Environment for Laboratory Technician Employment?
The working environment of clinical lab technicians and lab technologist jobs will vary depending on the setting that they work in. In a large hospital or medical facilities, medical laboratory technicians will work night and evening shifts in order to service all patients, while in small medical facilities, a 40 hour workweek of normal hours is common.
The working environment of laboratory technician employment is usually clean due to the need for sterility in order to prevent contamination of samples, and few hazards exist for laboratory personnel jobs.
Clinical Lab Technologist Education - How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician - How to Receive Medical Laboratory Technician Training
Clinical laboratory technician education and training usually requires a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, or a degree in a similar discipline such as biochemistry or biology. Most hospitals offer programs for medical technician training.
An undergraduate degree program for laboratory technicians and technologists training usually includes chemistry, mathematics, biology, biochemistry, in microbiology, and laboratory technicians are required to have at least an associate’s degree.
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences is largely responsible for certifying medical laboratory technologists and medical technicians, and approves 470 programs across the country.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist Certification - How to Become Certified in Laboratory Technician Careers
A few states require that technicians and technologists working in laboratories obtain licensure from the state. Laboratory technician certification is available from the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the National Credentialing Agency, and the American Medical technologist association. All of these organizations have different criteria in order to receive accreditation.
Other skills that medical technologists and technicians should have include the ability work and the pressure any strong mind in order to solve problems. Paying attention to details is important as a minor mistake can result in improper treatment or no treatment for a patient who suffers from an illness.
Most laboratory technicians start out as techs, and eventually graduate to become laboratory technologists Lab technicians careers can advance further and become laboratory managers and hospitals, or run their own small laboratory facility. Those laboratory companies which manufacture home testing kits also require technologists and laboratory technicians in order to evaluate and maintain the integrity of their product.
Outlook for Clinical Laboratory Sciences - What is the Future of Laboratory Technician Employment?
Over the next decade, the work of clinical laboratory technician careers should grow by about 14%, which is a sizable amount of growth above average. Laboratory testing is much more affordable catching diseases and illnesses early, as opposed to waiting until symptoms emerge. Proper testing for illnesses and disease will continue to grow in popularity for the foreseeable future.
Anyone hoping to enter the field as a laboratory technologist or a lab tech should have no problem finding employment, as the amount of laboratory jobs are greatly outstripped by the amount of job seekers.
Medical Laboratory Technician Salary Pay Scale - How Much Do Medical Laboratory Jobs Earn?
In 2006, medical laboratory technologists and clinical laboratory technicians earned a median salary of $49,700. Those lab tech jobs working for the government had the highest median rate of pay at $57,360, while those employed in ambulatory healthcare services as a laboratory technician had the lowest median salary at $29,560.
Medical laboratory techs working in medical laboratories jobs had a median salary of $50,750, and those working for hospitals had a median salary of $49,930.
The highest rate of pay for clinical lab technician jobs came from surgical hospitals, and an annual rate of pay at $34,200.