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Medical technologist
A medical laboratory scientist (MLS) (also referred to as a medical technologist, a clinical scientist, or clinical laboratory technologist) is a healthcare professional who performs chemical, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, and synovial fluid, as well as other specimens. Medical laboratory scientists work in clinical laboratories as well as hospitals, physician’s offices, reference labs, biotechnology labs and non-clinical industrial labs.
In the United States, a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), medical technologist (MT) or clinical laboratory scientist (CLS, California only) typically earns a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science, biomedical science, medical technology or in a life / biological science (biology, biochemistry, microbiology, etc.), in which case certification from an accredited training program is also required. Medical technologists who are certified and in good standing by a number of certification bodies, including the National Medical Laboratory Science Council or the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) are entitled to use the credential “MLS” after their names.
Subspecialties also requiring a four-year degree include cytotechnologists, who study cells and cellular anomalies, and histotechnologists, who work on the detection of tissue abnormalities and the treatment for the diseases causing the abnormalities.
In addition, there are also medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) who earn two-year degrees plus certification.
In the United States, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA ’88) define the level of qualification required to perform tests of various complexity. Clinical laboratory scientists, medical technologists and medical laboratory scientists are the highest level of qualification, and are generally qualified to perform the most complex clinical testing including HLA testing (also known as tissue typing) and blood type reference testing.
Most medical technologists are generalists, skilled in all areas of the clinical laboratory. However some are specialists, qualified by unique undergraduate education or additional training to perform more complex analyses than usual within a specific field. Specialties include clinical biochemistry, hematology, coagulation, microbiology, bacteriology, toxicology, virology, parasitology, mycology, immunology, immunohematology (blood bank), histopathology, histocompatibility, cytopathology, genetics, cytogenetics, electron microscopy, and IVF labs.
Medical technologists with such a specialty may use additional credentials, such as “SBB” (Specialist in Blood Banking) from the American Association of Blood Banks, or “SH” (Specialist in Hematology) from the ASCP.
In the United States, Medical Laboratory Scientists can be certified and employed in infection control. These professionals monitor and report infectious disease findings to help limit iatrogenic and nosocomial infections. They may also educate other healthcare workers about such problems and ways to minimize them.
Medical Technologists Who Add Value to Patient Care
IT IS ALWAYS INSPIRING TO LEARN THE STORIES OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS who spot opportunities to improve patient care, then take initiative to seize that opportunity and help patients get better. Such is the case of a medical technologist in a 25-bed rural hospital who now participates in dail…
Do Regulators Really Protect Patients, Consumers?
IMAGINE, FOR A MOMENT, THAT ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES had gone to Theranos during the past two years to get lab tests. Assume that your loved one was being tested for significant biomarkers that directly affected the care provided to your family member for significant health issues and that your loved o…
Might Lawsuits Come Next in Theranos Story?
CEO SUMMARY: Recent disclosures in the news indicate that an agreement between Theranos and Safeway has gone sour— after Safeway spent a third of a billion dollars to fulfill its part of the collaboration! Reporting by The Wall Street Journal c…
Lab Professionals Long Knew of Challenges at Theranos
CEO SUMMARY: As THE DARK REPORT has continually reported, pathologists and medical laboratory professionals in the San Francisco and Phoenix markets were aware for most of the past year that Theranos was not delivering to patients and consumers the specific lab testing services it regula…
Lab Professionals Knew of Challenges at Theranos
CEO SUMMARY: For most of the past year, pathologists and medical laboratory professionals in the San Francisco and Phoenix markets were aware that Theranos was not delivering to patients and consumers the specific lab testing services it regularly touted in news stories and at conferences…
Pathologists Exploring Use of Diagnostic Teams
CEO SUMMARY: In the search for ways to add more value to lab testing services, pathologists and lab administrators are considering organizing diagnostic management teams within their hospitals. Such teams focus on complex cases and include…
Is PAML to Be Sold? ‘No Comment!’ Say Execs
CEO SUMMARY: It is one of the 10 largest lab companies in the United States. Thus, if Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories in Spokane, Washington, were to be sold, it would trigger a major shift in the competitive market for lab testing service…
UCLA, Centre to Open Lab in China to Offer High Quality Testing
CEO SUMMARY: To fill the unmet demand for quality clinical laboratory testing in China, a partnership between pathologists at UCLA and Centre Testing International Corp. of Shenzen have built and will operate a lab facility in Shanghai. The new lab will open by late September and…
Hospital and LabCorp Hit with $50 Million Verdict
LAWYERS CALL IT A ‘WRONGFUL BIRTH.’ When no one spots an error in prenatal genetic testing processes, a wrongful birth can result, and that’s what happened in a case that ended last month with a jury award of $50 million to a family in Burien, Washington. Defendants Valley Medical Cent…
LabCorp, Bio-Reference Labs, Epic, OHSU, Alberta Health
LABCORP, BRLI ISSUE REVISED GUIDANCE OF LOWER EARNINGS IN RECENT WEEKS, at least two public lab companies have issued downward earnings guidance for 2014. These changes are based, in part, on expected reimbursement reductions from the Medicare program. It was December 10 wh…
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Volume XXXI, No. 6 – April 29, 2024
Laboratory managers will want to note that The Dark Report itself was targeted by the fraudsters who hit Change Health in a cyberattack. Also, one lab has some innovative methods of combatting the chronic staffing shortage, including hiring college graduates and students.
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