Who is A Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Technologist

A Clinical Laboratory Scientist, also known as a Medical Technologist, performs laboratory testing ranging from simple to complex. The tests they perform may need complicated equipment or they may use something as simple as the microscope. Results of tests performed by lab specialists are used by physicians to treat their patients. Therefore it is extremely important for these tests to be performed accurately.

A Clinical Lab Scientist usually has at least a Bachelor's Degree in Medical Technology or similar training, and can make around $49,000 a year. A Medical Technician, someone with an Associate's degree generally makes about $35,000.

While a Technologist and Technician perform many of the same tests, the Technologist has more responsibility and often supervises the Technician. In addition, certain states, such as New York, now require their Technologists and Technicians to be licensed by the state, particularly if they are working in a state agency or in a Clinical/Hospital position.

According to statistics by the United States Bureau of Labor, Clinical Laboratory Specialist positions will increase by around 16% in the next seven years or so. So if you are considering this type of job, the outlook is promising. With the aging of the United States population physicians will be looking to order more testing on their patients, and more tests in general.

A Clinical Lab Tech studies a lot of the same courses as a Biology major. They take Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math courses for the 1st three years in college. The 4th year is the clinical internship, where you spend the year at a clinical lab (usually a hospital that has the particular program) studying Hematology(where you learn how to perform complete blood counts, platelet counts, coagulation studies, and microscopic blood smears), Chemistry (where you learn how to run Chemistry profiles for such things as Cholesterol and Blood Sugars, and thyroid testing), Blood Banking( where you learn how to crossmatch blood for transfusions), Microbiology( where you set up cultures for such things as Strep throat) and Urinalysis( where you read slides and look for kidney infections).

This is just a broad overview of what a Clinical Lab Tech studies in their final year of college. Once this internship is complete, you then sit for the ASCP boards to become certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Some state now require state licensing also, particularly to work in a hospital setting

Pictured: A blood smear ready to be examined under the microscope
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