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Career Details :: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Description
Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Cuts, stains, and mounts biological material on slides for microscopic study and diagnosis, following standard laboratory procedures.
- Harvests cell culture at optimum time sequence based on knowledge of cell cycle differences and culture conditions.
- Cultivates, isolates, and assists in identifying microbial organisms and performs various tests on these microorganisms.
- Prepares slide of cell culture to identify chromosomes, views and photographs slide under photo- microscope, and prints picture.
- Sets up, cleans, and maintains laboratory equipment.
- Enters analysis of medical tests and clinical results into computer for storage.
- Calibrates and maintains equipment used in quantitative and qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, and computer-controlled analyzers.
- Communicates with physicians, family members, and researchers requesting technical information regarding test results.
- Conducts research under direction of microbiologist or biochemist.
- Cuts images of chromosomes from photograph and identifies and arranges them in numbered pairs on karyotype chart, using standard practices.
- Studies blood cells, number of blood cells, and morphology, using microscopic technique.
- Performs tests to determine blood group, type, and compatibility for transfusion purposes.
- Conducts chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, and spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal and abnormal components.
- Examines and tests human, animal, or other materials for microbial organisms.
- Selects and prepares specimen and media for cell culture, using aseptic technique and knowledge of medium components and cell requirements.
- Examines slides under microscope to detect deviations from norm and to report abnormalities for further study.
- Analyzes samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction.
Related Careers
- Anesthesiologists
- Biological Technicians
- Biologists
- Coroners
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
- Microbiologists
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Communicating With Other Workers
- Updating & Using Job-Relevant Knowledge
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Degree of Automation
- Consequence of Error
- Common Protective or Safety Attire
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Biology/Cytotechnology |  [ add ] |
| Biology/Medical Technology | [ add ] |
| Cardiovascular Technology | [ add ] |
| Chemistry/Medical Technology | [ add ] |
| Clinical Lab Science | [ add ] |
| Clinical Lab Sciences | [ add ] |
| Cytotechnology | [ add ] |
| Lab Science | [ add ] |
| Medical Engineering | [ add ] |
| Medical Imaging | [ add ] |
| Medical Imaging Technology | [ add ] |
| Medical Lab Science | [ add ] |
| Medical Lab Sciences | [ add ] |
| Medical Lab Technology | [ add ] |
| Medical Technology | [ add ] |
| Medical Technology/Biology | [ add ] |
| Radiological Technology | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.