What to Expect As a Clinical Laboratory Technician
In the constantly growing field of medical technology, there is always a need for clinical laboratory technologists. In addition to the growing need for people to analyze forensic evidence, the seemingly unending number of lawsuits requiring a DNA paternity test and legal DNA test keep many labs and technicians job security. If you have an affinity for science and helping people, perhaps a career as a clinical laboratory technician is for you.
To become employed as a clinical laboratory technician, you will be required to attend college and earn the appropriate degree such as an associate or bachelor degree in the life sciences or medical technology. Because medical technology is always evolving in analyzing procedures, you can be confident of job growth and continued opportunities in this field in the future. While the vast majority of clinical laboratory technologists hold a four-year degree in the life sciences or medical technology, relevant work experience or on the job training is also valuable and can count in part for education. Technologists perform microscopic, hematological, immunologic, biological, chemical, and bacteriological examination of samples. They try to find abnormalities in body tissue and fluid. Technologists determine which chemicals a sample comprises, and match blood types for blood transfusions.
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians use many different methods to analyze tissues, cells, and fluids to diagnose diseases. Technicians also must also be proficient in using all instruments and tools to perform these tasks which include microscopes, automated equipment, cell counters, and other equipment capable of doing many tasks at a time. Technicians are responsible for summarizing data and communicating the information to doctors for their review. Analytical skills are even more important than hands-on skills. The level of education and work experience that laboratory employees have will determine their level of responsibility as well as pay.
Clinical laboratory technicians are usually not permitted to run samples of the same intricacy as technologists do. Clinical laboratory technologists or managers usually supervise the activities of technicians. In larger laboratories, technologists usually specialize while technologists in small laboratories perform a broader variety of tasks. For example, clinical chemistry technologists make samples and determine the contents of body fluids, microbiology technologists are specialists in identifying microorganisms, immunohematology technologists, or blood bank technologists, are responsible for the blood used in transfusions at all its stages, including collection, determination of blood type, and preparation. Other specialists are immunology technologists who specialize in the human immune system, cytotechnologists examine cells microscopically for early signs of cancer and molecular biology technologists analyze cell samples using nucleic acid and complex protein analysis techniques.
Work environment and hours worked are at the discretion of the employer. Larger employers like big laboratories and hospitals employ technicians around the clock with some employees working during holidays and weekends. Rotating shifts might be called for in smaller labs, possibly requiring that technicians are on call overnight or on the weekends at times.
Work as a technician involves relatively few dangers when the appropriate safety measures are followed and protective gear, like gloves and goggles or masks, is utilized. Every lab employee is instructed on how to deal with infectious or otherwise dangerous samples. It is an interesting and rewarding career, so consider starting your training as a clinical laboratory technologist.
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