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Clinical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Clinical laboratory technologists, also referred to as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists, perform most of these tests.
Their duties are important and varied:
- examine and analyze body fluids and cells
- look for bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms
- analyze the chemical content of fluids
- match blood for transfusions
- test for drug levels in the blood
- prepare specimens for examination
- count cells
- look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids
- analyze the results and relay them to physicians
Technologists in small laboratories perform many types of tests, whereas those in large laboratories generally specialize.
How long will it take?
Post-secondary training is necessary for a job as a medical laboratory technologist, either from a community college or from a university. At Amarillo College, the program can be completed in 70 semester hours.
How much can you earn?
Median annual wage-and-salary earnings of medical and clinical laboratory technologists were $49,700 in 2006.
Where can you work?
More than half of all medical laboratory technologists work in hospitals. Most of the rest work for doctors or in medical and diagnostic laboratories.
AC can help you get there!
