Clinically Laboratory Specialists was originally published on College Recruiter.
Clinical laboratory testing is crucial to the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Nearly every test that is run in a hospital, private laboratory, or government health facility is performed by a laboratory specialist.
Clinical laboratory specialists include both clinical laboratory technicians and technologists.
- Clinical laboratory technicians use microscopes, laboratory equipment, chemicals, and computers to perform laboratory procedures. Generally working under the supervision of laboratory technologists or managers, technicians also collect blood specimens and prepare culture media. They conduct tests and prepare reports for clinical technologists or physicians. Clinical technicians sometimes specialize: for example, histology technicians cut and stain tissue specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists; phlebotomists draw blood.
- Clinical laboratory technologists perform more complex laboratory tests and procedures than technicians. In small laboratories, technologists perform many types of tests, while those in large labs generally specialize in one of several different areas:
- Clinical chemistry technologists analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids.
- Microbiology technologists examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms.
- Blood-bank technologists collect, type, and prepare blood and its components for transfusion.
- Immunology technologists examine responses of the human immune system to foreign bodies.
- Cytotechnologists prepare slides of body cells and microscopically examine the cells for abnormalities which can signal the beginning of cancerous growth.
Most clinical laboratory specialists work in hospitals, but they also work in private practices, research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and universities. In large hospitals or laboratories that operate continuously, laboratory specialists usually work all shifts. Sometimes, specialists have to be “on call” in case of an emergency. More than half of the 302,000 medical specialists work in hospitals. Most others work in laboratories and doctors’ offices. A small number work in blood banks, research and testing labs, and in the federal government.
Laboratory technicians have an associate’s degree in medical technology or its equivalent. Laboratory technologists usually have a bachelor’s degree with a major in medical technology or in one of the life sciences. Clinical laboratory specialists need good analytical judgment and the ability to work under pressure. Close attention to detail is essential because even small differences in test substances or numerical readouts can be crucial for patient care.
Career outlook The future for students interested in becoming laboratory specialists is good.
The number of laboratory tests will increase as the population grows and ages and as new tests are developed. Offsetting this growth, however, is the trend for testing procedures to be completed by fewer employees.
In 2004, the median salary for full-time lab technicians was $32,820. Full-time laboratory technologists earned a median salary of $47,610.
If you’re interested in a career that involves lab work and research, you should investigate the possibility of becoming a clinical laboratory specialist.
For more information on becoming a laboratory specialist, contact the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Ste. 300, Bethesda, MD 20817, 301-657-2768; you can also visit them on-line at www.ascls.org.
Article courtesy of www.careersandcolleges.com
