Medical Technologist

 

Career Description

Medical technologists (M.T.) also may be known as clinical laboratory scientists. They analyze human
blood, tissues and body fluids. Medical technologists also may supervise numerous medical laboratory
tests using many different precision instruments. They also can conduct research and develop scientific
methodology to advance the study of disease processes, correlate test results and interpret findings. Physicians depend on M.T.s to produce reliable and valid results that are used to determine the presence, extent and possible cause of disease.

An M.T. can work in one of five different areas of the clinical laboratory, including blood (preparing blood components and plasma for transfusion), chemistry (analyzing chemical substances present in blood), hematology (examining abnormal cells and disease affecting the blood), immunology (examining the degree of immunity or resistance to disease and assisting in studies for organ transplant) and microbiology (identifying the bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites that cause infectious diseases).

Most M.T.s work in a hospital laboratory. An experienced M.T. may advance to supervisory positions as a chief medical technologist or laboratory manager in large hospitals. Specialization and graduate education are available and faculty opportunities exist at colleges and universities. Other opportunities exist in independent laboratories, pharmaceutical firms, research institutions and physician offices. The work environment can be as varied as the types of practices.

Academic Requirements

Bachelor’s degree programs in medical technology require three to four years of college plus one year of clinical laboratory education and experience in an accredited health facility. An M.T. must pass either the licensure examination administered by the Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel or an acceptable national certification examination before becoming eligible to take the national certifi cation exam administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), the National Certification Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel (NCA) or the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Continuing education hours are required every two years for license renewal.

Schools

Lindenwood University
636/949-4949

Maryville University
800/627-9855

Saint Louis University
800/SLU-FORU

Professional Associations

National
American Association of Bioanalysts
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
Clinical Laboratory Management Association

State
Missouri Organization for Clinical Laboratory Science

Additional Information

Learn More About Clinical Laboratory Services
Read Personal Accounts of Current Medical Technologists