Finding The Right
Laboratory Tech Schools
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As today's society is becoming
more vulnerable to a wide range of diseases and illnesses,
the need for reliable laboratory tests are now of utmost
importance. With the help of laboratory tests, many
health-related problems can be promptly detected, diagnosed
and efficiently treated. A medical lab technician works in a
medical laboratory in performing microscopic, immunologic,
hematological, chemical and bacteriological diagnostic
analysis on body fluids. These body fluids usually include
sputum, urine, stool, blood, pericardial fluid, peritoneal
fluid, synovial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid. A laboratory
technician can be employed in numerous offices such as
biomedical facilities, doctor’s offices, hospitals,
pharmaceutical firms, schools and universities, and clinical
and reference labs.
Medical lab technicians usually work under close supervision
of medical personnel such as pathologists and medical lab
scientists or medical technologist. They operate and handle
intricate laboratory supplies and equipment such as
chemicals and microscopes. A lab technician can also choose
work in one of the many different lab divisions which
include microbiology, blood banking, immunology, hematology,
cytotechnology or chemistry. Besides performing routine lab
duties, they may also be required to do other related work
such as blood typing, maintenance of lab records,
maintenance of laboratory equipment, and submission of
test results to concerned medical staff.
Medical lab technicians work alongside medical technologists
in order to assist in the detection of irregularities in
recently collected samples from patients. During the course
of analysis, the medical team may find bacterial infection,
viral infection, parasite infection, malignancies, and
genetic problems in these samples. Individuals who are
looking to pursue a career as a medical lab technician will
have to be proficient in subjects which, among others,
include geometry, physics, biology, algebra, chemistry. And
since this medical field also involves some physical work,
one must also possess a decent level of physical fitness.
Excellent communication skills will also be of great
importance in this field.
Based on a statement from the American Society of Clinical
Pathology or ASCP, "To prepare for a career as a medical
laboratory technician, it helps to start by getting a solid
foundation in high school sciences -- biology, chemistry,
math and computer science." This also means that an
individual must have acquired a high school diploma or its
equivalent prior to enrollment in a training program for such job. Successful completion of an Associate's
Degree program is another primary requirement for this
medical field. This usually takes around two years to
complete and may be taken from accredited universities,
community colleges or lab technician schools.
After an individual is awarded an associate's degree, he
must also undergo an accredited clinical training program
which is designed for medical lab technicians. An individual
can also study further in order to acquire a bachelor's
degree which will allow him to become a medical technologist
and open up more employment opportunities. Certification is
also another requirement, and it is acquired by passing the
national certification exam which has been prepared by the
either the Board of Registry of the American Society of
Clinical Pathologists, American Medical Technologists, or
the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory
Personnel.
Medical lab technician jobs are forecasted to increase by 10 to 20 percent in the coming eight years. This may be attributed to the increasing number of the elderly, as they are the ones usually in need of healthcare attention. Also, with the technological advancements occurring at really fast pace, new opportunities are certain to open up in this medical field. According to the data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS, salary at the top 10 percent spot for this vocation have received a maximum of $50,250, while the average goes for around $32,840 annually.
Medical lab technician jobs are forecasted to increase by 10 to 20 percent in the coming eight years. This may be attributed to the increasing number of the elderly, as they are the ones usually in need of healthcare attention. Also, with the technological advancements occurring at really fast pace, new opportunities are certain to open up in this medical field. According to the data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS, salary at the top 10 percent spot for this vocation have received a maximum of $50,250, while the average goes for around $32,840 annually.