Medical laboratory technology is the branch of medical science responsible for performing laboratory investigations relating to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

Medical laboratory technicians are responsible for examining and analyzing blood, body fluids, tissues, and cells in an effort to help clinicians determine the underlying cause of an illness, the stage of a disease, or the effectiveness of therapy. To accomplish their objectives, laboratory scientists perform a wide variety of laboratory tests, often with the aid of complex, computerized, and automated instrumentation. Today 70% of medical diagnosis is carried out in the laboratories by qualified medical laboratory technicians.

Over the past few years, the proliferation of laboratory automation has significantly decreased the hands-on nature of the work. Nowadays, many experienced laboratory technicians spend more time analyzing results, developing and modifying procedures, and establishing and monitoring quality control programs than they do performing tests.

Medical Laboratory Technician: Career Pathway

Medical laboratory technicians undertake the following tasks as part of conducting the laboratory investigations:

• Carrying out procedures for extraction of body fluid samples, and evaluation and analysis of those fluids.
• Examining various tissues of the body, methods of sample acquisition and preparation, and their microscopic examination.
• Evaluating different blood cells and diagnosing the changes or pathology (causes and effects of diseases) therein.
• Performing blood grouping, cross-matching in case of emergency and trauma (injury).
• Carrying out biochemistry tests that measure blood composition, hormones, enzymes, and drug levels.
• Carrying out microbiological identification of various pathogens (such as various viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens which cause infections) affecting the human body.
• Undertake chemistry tests that measure the chemical content of plasma, body fluids and cells including electrolytes, glucose, lipids, proteins, hormones, enzymes, trace metals, drugs, and toxins.
• Carry out blood banking tests, such as typing, antibody screening, and cross matching, that are used to identify and prepare blood components that are compatible for transfusion.
• Carry out various tests for determining tissue compatibility for organ transplantation; bleeding disorders, cancerous changes within cells etc.
• Conduct procedures which identify abnormal chromosome counts, morphology, and disease genes.

The Competencies Needed by an Medical Laboratory Technician

Diagnosing the source of a problem quickly and accurately requires several competencies. These competencies are:

• Read and understand reference information.
• Speak clearly so that others can understand.
• Conduct professional practice according to established protocols, safety guidelines, and existing legislation.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize the nature of a problem and notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Manage oneself, people, time, and things.