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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.
Rosetta Genetics, Aureon Biosciences, Plus Diagnostics, Atherotech, Sequenom
ROSETTA GENOMICS TO LAY OFF 35 EMPLOYEES TO CUT EXPENSES AND SHIFT MORE FUNDING toward sales of its proprietary molecular tests, Rosetta Genomics says it will eliminate 35 jobs. The company, based in Israel, operates a clinical laboratory in Philadelphia, Pe…
September 6, 2011 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Cleveland Heart Lab closed on a Series B financing round that totals $18.4 million. The money was provided by Excel Venture Management, Healthcare Ventures, and existing investors. Executives at Cleve- land Heart Lab said the new funds will be used t…
Georgia HIE Helps all Labs Feed Test Data to Docs
CEO SUMMARY: In Macon, Georgia, an innovative effort by a regional extension center and a health information exchange (HIE) will level the playing field for hospital labs and independent labs in the state. Their goal is to build a secure and flexible clinical integration platform…
How In-Clinic Path Lab Benefits GI Practice
CEO SUMMARY: In Manassas, Virginia, a five-physician gastroenterology group is using its in-clinic anatomic pathology laboratory to advance patient care, while boosting revenue associated with this ancillary service. In this exclusive interview, the group’s physician business l…
Hospital Lab Operations Expert H.W. “Bud” Gandee, Jr., Dies
IN BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE, the family of H.W. “Bud” Gandee, Jr., reported his death on April 30, at the age of 69. Gandee was an early master of hospital laboratory operations and management. He trained as a medical technologist and had graduate training in immunohematology. Early in his career, h…
Analysis of Lab Test Error Offers Lessons for Labs
CEO SUMMARY: As happens now and again, a rather typical example of an error in lab testing has made the nightly news in Indianapolis because of one justifiably irate patient who got a false positive test report for an STD. One pathologist, asked by THE DARK REPORT to assess the p…
Seven Deadly Sins of Lab Management Are Much Too Common
CEO SUMMARY: Pity the poor laboratory manager of today. Lab budgets are shrinking. It is difficult to staff adequate numbers of skilled medical technologists. Baby boomers are now retiring. At the same time, accreditation and licensure inspections are becoming tougher. Recently, …
Pursuing More Benefits From Next Generation Lab Automation
CEO Summary: Once it was decided to replace an aging, five-year-old laboratory automation system at the laboratory of Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, the administration at the hospital issued a challenge. It asked the laboratory team to deliver an immediate 10% cos…
December 27, 2010 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
As the year ends, a bit of humor is in order and the recent dust-up involving Michael Moore’s healthcare documentary, titled “Sicko,” and a State Department cable posted on wikileaks.com may be just the item. About a week ago, The Guardian newspaper in Manchester, England, rep…
10 Strategies to Boost Med Tech Recruiting
CEO SUMMARY: Headhunters regularly see the best and worst of clinical laboratories in the areas of medical technologist recruiting and retention. Based on her experience, veteran recruiter Peggy McKee offers 10 proven strategies that every laboratory can use to improve both its recruitmen…
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