Learn about Lab Careers

Phlebotomists typically have:

• Completed high school or GED
• Completed an accredited phlebotomy training program
• Collected blood from 100 patients
• Are certified phlebotomists

Medical Laboratory Technicians are allied healthcare professionals. They perform routine tests in the laboratory using microscopes, laboratory instruments and techniques. They are trained in the clinical laboratory where they can be generalists or specialize in an area:

• Blood Bank
• Core Lab (Clinical Chemistry / Hematology)
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Histocompatibility Technologists (CHT) typically have:

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science
• One year experience in a histocompatibility laboratory
• Certified Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) by American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
• May have additional Certified Histocompatibility Specialist (CHS) certification

A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) is an allied health professional who performs laboratory tests of varied complexity on blood and body fluids that are decisive in diagnosing and treating patients. MLS not only detects pathogens or determines anomalies but also tests what drugs work best against a particular organism and quantifies the concentration of drugs in the patient's blood to determine the efficacy of a particular drug. The safety of blood transfusions is determined by MLS determining the donor blood that is compatible with a recipient by performing rigorous laboratory testing.

MLS operates high-tech and artificial intelligence(AI)-driven automation and software to detect and quantify the constituents of blood or body fluids, directly correlating with how patient organs function. Such data is crucial for the goal of effective and better patient care.

The scope and skills of a medical laboratory scientist can go deep into a molecular level that comprises the extraction, amplification, and analysis of genetic information using highly versatile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. The use of PCR for the modern development of vaccines is one example that is achieved through such a promising laboratory diagnostic method performed by MLS professionals and other researchers.

The field of Medical Laboratory Science provides several career and growth opportunities. Besides being a generalist, MLS can advance into leadership roles or specialize in the different areas that include but are not limited to specialties in Hematology, Chemistry, Blood Bank, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology. While performing such an incredible role in patient care, MLS generates vital laboratory data and has the potential for career growth opportunities in laboratory informatics, education, quality management, research, and laboratory leadership that conveniently fit MLS skills.

• Blood Bank
• Core Lab (Clinical Chemistry / Hematology)
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Specialists in Blood Banking typically have:

• Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science or life science
• Completed an accredited MLS program
• Certified as a medical technologist (MT), medical laboratory scientist (MLS) or technologist in blood banking (BB)
• Three or more years of experience in a blood donor center or transfusion service or completed an accredited Specialist in Blood Banking program
• Certified as a SBB by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

A pathologists' assistant (PA) is a certified allied healthcare professional that is trained to perform a multitude of tasks within the anatomic pathology department. Under the direction of an anatomic pathologist, a PA has a critical role in examining, measuring, and dissecting tissues/organs within a surgical pathology or autopsy pathology setting. Acting as a bridge between the patient's disease and diagnosis, a PA describes and selects samples of abnormal tissue from simple/complex dissections that then are processed and created into microscope slides, which the anatomic pathologist will use to provide a diagnosis. For complex cancer resections, the PA's description, measurements, and tissue sampling aid in the staging process, which directly influences patient treatment. For postmortem dissections, the PA's external examination and organ inspection/dissection help the pathologist determine the cause and manner of death.

PAs are also involved in the education and training of pathology residents, PA students, and shadowers. Laboratory management, safety operations, tissue banking for research, and a host of other responsibilities are also included within a PA's scope of practice.