TAG:
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.
Mass Spectrometry Is Finding Larger Role in Clinical Labs
CEO SUMMARY: Mass spectrometry is a diagnostic technology that is transforming clinical labs and improving care at a rapid pace. The current generation of instruments is capable of supporting a faster time-to-answer and provides improved accuracy and specificity over many existing methods…
Two MTs Launch New Lab In Aberdeen, North Carolina
CEO SUMMARY: Although located in the same region as two of the nation’s largest laboratory companies, newly-created Triune Laboratory, Inc., is reporting steady growth and acceptance by physicians in the community. Founded by two medical technologists and partially funded by a pathologi…
NY Hospital Closed Due to Deficiencies in Lab
CEO SUMMARY: Lab executives and pathologists have long read about the deteriorating finances at many rural hospitals, along with their struggles to recruit and retain enough skilled laboratory staff. Now the closure of the laboratory at 37-bed E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur, N…
Lab Director Blows Whistle, NY Closes Hospital Lab
CEO SUMMARY: Unable to overcome problems at a rural hospital laboratory caused by the parent hospital’s financial problems and the inability of the hospital to recruit adequate numbers of lab staff, the laboratory director terminated his agreement with the hospital and notified the New …
Med Tech Finds “Grace” Aboard Lab of Mercy Ship
CEO SUMMARY: One intrepid medical technologist has spent almost two decades in volunteer service working in the clinical laboratories of hospital ships operated by Mercy Ships International. As the world’s largest hospital ship, the Africa Mercy contains six operating rooms, a 78-bed IC…
September 17, 2012 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Exome sequencing testing for cancer patients is now offered by the Cancer Genetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston, Texas. This clinical testing will be performed using next-generation gene sequencing technology. Pathologists at Baylor are among the first in…
Cleveland Clinic Lab Aims to Grow Reference Testing
CEO SUMMARY: In the national market for reference and esoteric testing, Cleveland Clinic Laboratories (CCL) is preparing to expand its presence. It has just moved into a $75 million state-of-the-art laboratory facility and wants to increase its outreach reference testing by four-fold with…
Ohio Lab Offers Lessons Learned from CAP 15189
CEO SUMMARY: For a lab looking to continually improve lab operations, becoming accredited to either ISO 15189 or CAP 15189 is an ideal challenge. After hearing from other lab directors about the benefits of becoming accredited to CAP 15189, the staff at Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohi…
GHSU Graduates Med Techs Using Distance Training
CEO SUMMARY: Many clinical labs experiencing a shortage of trained medical laboratory scientists (MLS) in their city continue to overlook how the use of distance training programs could help them attract and retain top-performers. Leaders of the clinical laboratory scientist (CLS…
‘Salary Power’ Helps Lab Recruit and Train New MTs
CEO SUMMARY: It was back in 2002 when THE DARK REPORT highlighted the innovative use of MT and MLT long distance training by PeaceHealth Laboratories (formerly Oregon Medical Labs). Distance training is part of a comprehensive program to attract individuals in the community with two-year …
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Volume XXXII, No. 6 – April 21, 2025
Now that a federal judge has vacated the FDA’s LDT rule, The Dark Report analyzes the judgement and notes the various steps the FDA could take in response. Also, lab testing at pharmacies is proving to be less successful than was once anticipated.
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