Job Description

A medical technologist (also known as a clinical laboratory scientist or CLS) is scientist who prepares and analyzes certain samples that are given to him by a doctor. These samples are tested to conclude their biochemical compositions and for any abnormalities. From these results, a diagnosis is determined. The results are then sent back to the doctor, who confirms the diagnosis and prepares a treatment regimen for the patient.

Average Salary

The average salary for a medical laboratory technologist is approximately $54,000. Now, there are several factors that play a role in determining how much money is made. One of these factors is if the scientist has a specialized certification, the second one is how much experience he has, and the third is what type of facility he is working in.

Certification

Medical technologists can choose to specialize in one of many subjects, such as blood banking, urinology, or hematology. Gaining a certification in a specialized subject essentially makes the scientist an expert in that area, which adds value to them as an employee. Employees see certified technologists as assets to the team and will reward them with a higher pay in order to keep them on staff. In addition, there are generally only one or two CLSs who work in one facility under one specialty. Being the only person on staff with a certification also adds more value to the CLS, and there is an opportunity to earn around $70,000 as a salary.

Experience

The more experience that the scientist has, he will be earning a higher income. With all types of careers, periodic raises and bonuses are given depending on the work ethic of the individual and how long he has been with the company. Scientists who have prior experience will also receive a higher starting salary than another candidate who has just graduated from college with very little experience.

Facility

Medical technologists will earn different salaries depending on what type of facility they are working in. Some of them work in hospitals, and other ones work in private laboratories. The payment level is dependent upon how much money the facility has to allocate to paying employees, and it also varies by city and state. Cities that have a high cost of living often have citizens who earn a higher salary. This is due to there being more economic stimulation, and the workers must be compensated properly in order to afford to live in the city.

Medical technologists have the potential to earn a fairly high income, depending on how much experience they have, and also if they are certified. Certification shows employers that the scientist is an expert in a certain subject matter, and will consider him to be a great asset to the staff, consequently offering a higher pay.  Additionally, living in a city with a high cost of living allows for a higher salary.

Daily Tasks

Medical technologists (also known as CLS or Clinical Laboratory Scientists) spend their days preparing and analyzing samples that are given to them by doctors. They perform tests such as microscopic, biological, and bacterial in order to find the biochemical composition in addition to any abnormalities within the sample. Doctors then use the results from the tests in order to treat their patients from the disease that is causing them illness. CLSs are essentially the backbone of the treatment process.

Education Requirements

A CLS must have a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science. Courses under these disciplines include biology, chemistry, microbiology, and math. In addition, a one-year long internship is required to fulfill prior to graduation. During this internship, the student will gain hands-on experience in the working world and will be able to have a better understanding of what their future career involves.

Certification Process

Although medical technologist certification is not required to work in the field, most CLS prefer to have this certification. There are several different accredited agencies that offer certification, including: American Medical Technologists, American Society for Clinical Pathology, and the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel. Each agency has different rules and regulations about how to become certified, but exams are needed to be taken and passed for the most part.

•               Prior to certification, there often needs to be proof of having met education requirements, in addition to any other requirements that need to be fulfilled.

•                 Certification is offered in a variety of different specialties, some of which include: blood banking, chemistry, cytogenics, and hematology. These specialties will vary depending on which agency is chosen, but they are all generally offered.

•                 If the requirements are fulfilled, then the exam needs to be scheduled. There are several ways to prepare for the exam, and each agency will offer access to resources for preparation. The exams generally include questions about the specialty, and will vary depending upon the subject.

•                 If the exam is passed, then the student becomes certified in the specialty and will be able to use the certification to advance in his career.

Doctors are the one who patients trust to give them a proper diagnosis of what is causing them illness or pain. They’ll often take samples of as blood, tissue, or body fluids from the patient in order to run some tests and come up with a diagnosis of what could be wrong with him or her. But, doctors are not the ones who perform the tests on the samples. Instead, there are medical technologists who are given the samples so that they can analyze the samples and come up with a diagnosis of the disease.

Daily Tasks

These scientists (also known as clinical laboratory scientists or CLS) spend a large part of their day analyzing the samples that are sent to them from doctors. Chemical, microscopic, and bacterial tests are some of the most common tests that are performed. The results of these tests determine the biochemical compositions of the samples and any abnormality that it contains that could help with the diagnosis.

Prior to conducting any type of test, the samples must be prepared for the process. Preparation includes treating samples with solutions, placing them into proper containers, or adding any heat. In addition, they must be sure to calibrate any machines that they will be using and be sure that they are ready for use.

After the tests are taken, then the CLS is responsible for analyzing the results and sending them to the doctor who has requested them. This involves more than just printing off the results and handing them to the doctor. Instead, these scientists must analyze the results and be sure that there are no errors that have occurred during the testing process. They must be trained to differentiate errors from abnormalities, and they sometimes must run a test multiple times before a result is finalized. If something very abnormal occurs, then the medical technologist must notify a higher ranked CLC or a pathologist to figure out the problem.

Working Conditions

Whether it is in a private laboratory or working in a hospital, medical technologists spend most of their days standing while they conduct their tests. They also often work unusual and strenuous hours and are often on call for emergency situations and must be readily available to come in. Most of the materials they come in contact with are infectious and hazardous, and proper prevention is necessary to take to minimize contamination.

Job Description

Medical technologists are scientists who perform tests on samples of tissues or bodily fluids given to them by doctors. The results of these tests provide a diagnosis of the type of ailment that the patient has, and from the diagnosis, the doctor can begin a treatment regimen for the patient. These scientists are one of the most important parts of the treatment process for patients, which is why becoming a medical technologist is a very satisfactory career choice.

Education Requirements

Also known as clinical laboratory scientists (CLS), medical technologists must obtain a bachelor’s degree in either Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science at an accredited university. Most of the courses that are involved with these programs are of the biological science, microbiology, chemistry, and math variety. Also, due to the fact that these scientists use various forms of high tech equipment, courses in computer science and computer management are also taken.

Internship

As part of the undergraduate program, an internship at a local hospital or other healthcare facility is required. During this internship, the student will gain first-hand experience in the field. It will also prepare him for his future career as a medical technologist. The internship could perhaps lead to a full-time hire after graduation.

License

There are only 11 states (Georgia, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Montana, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and North Dakota) that require a license prior to being hired at any facility. Every one of the states has a different process for obtaining licensure, so it is important to check with your state’s Department of Health if your state appears on the above list.

Certification

Although it is not required, many CLSs choose to become certified, either by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCALP).

Applying for a Job

The very last step is applying for a position. There are jobs available in all kinds of facilities, such as hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and physician offices.

When a patient visits a doctor due to an ailment of some sort, the doctor takes samples of tissue and/or bodily fluids to determine the root of the problem and find a treatment for the patient. However, doctors are not certified to run the tests themselves. They instead send the samples off to a laboratory, where other people perform tests on the samples and send the results back to the doctor, who then informs the patient and begins the treatment plan. These test performers are called medical technologists.

A medical technologist is a certified individual who analyzes tissues and bodily fluids in order to come up with a diagnosis and a treatment plan for a patient who has a disease. They study all areas of science, including hematology, bacteriology, chemistry, urinalysis, serology, immunology, and microbiology.

They perform tests on samples to check for the root cause of the patient’s ailment using high-tech equipment such as powerful microscopes and computers. They also must know how to read results and make proper deductions regarding the results. If there is an abnormal outcome of a test, then they must send their results and consult with either pathologists or a medical technologist who is higher up.

In addition to analyzing samples, medical technologists also double-check exam results to make sure that there were no errors made during the examining process. Providing a wrong diagnosis could mean worsening of the disease for the patient, or even death. This means that they have to test and then re-test samples, look out for erroneous results, and also know how to resolve them.

Medical technologists have a great responsibility and play a large role in curing diseases in patients. They use various types of high-tech equipment in order to analyze the samples that are sent to them by doctors. They do not interact directly with patients, although they are the backbone in coming up with the treatment that the doctor will be using to cure the patient.