A MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST (MT)

A medical technologist (MT) is a healthcare professional who performs chemical, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological diagnostic analyses on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, and synovial fluid, as well as other specimens. Medical technologists work in clinical laboratories at hospitals, doctor's offices, reference labs, and biotechnology labs.
ob duties

A medical technologist analyzes human fluid samples using techniques available to the clinical laboratory, such as manual white blood cell differentials, bone marrow counts, analysis via microscopy, and advanced analytical equipment. Medical technologists assist doctors and nurses in choosing the correct lab tests and collection methods; labeling and handling specimens; and interpreting the resulting analysis.

The technologist must recognize anomalies in their test results and know how to correct problems with the instrumentation. They monitor, screen, and troubleshoot analytical devices by processes including calibration, quality control, "on the fly" or run-by-run assessment, statistical control of observed data, and recording normal operations. To maintain the integrity of the laboratory process, the medical technologist recognizes factors that could introduce error and rejects contaminated or sub-standard specimens.

Common tests performed by medical technologists are complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), electrolyte panel, liver function tests (LFT), renal function tests (RFT), thyroid function test (TFT), urinalysis, coagulation profile, lipid profile, blood type, semen analysis (for fertility and post-vasectomy studies), serological studies and routine cultures. In some facilities that have few phlebotomists, or none at all, (such as in rural areas) medical technologists may perform phlebotomy on patients. In addition, some medical technologists become phlebotomists either before or after receiving their medical technology degree.

Educational requirements

A medical technologist typically earns a bachelor's degree in medical technology (also known as clinical laboratory science) or in a life science, in which case certification from an accredited training program is also required. In most four-year medical technology degree programs, the student attends classroom courses for three years and clinical rotations for one year. This combination is called a 3+1 program; 2+2 and 4+1 programs also exist, offering the respective numbers of years in classroom and clinical experiences. In clinical rotations, the student experiences hands-on learning in each discipline of the laboratory and, under supervision, performs diagnostic testing in a functioning laboratory. Although not compensated, a student in the clinical phase of training usually works 40 hours per week for 20 to 26 weeks, experiencing work as a full-time employee. In addition, limited universities now offer graduate level programs to allow students who have undergraduate degrees in disciplines unrelated to science to enter the field.

In the United States, a similar two-year degree qualifies the graduate to work as a medical laboratory technician (MLT). The job is virtually the same, but a medical technologist is trained much more extensively in the theory of the various MT disciplines. The shorter training time is attractive to many students, but there are disadvantages to this route. For example, MTs usually earn higher salaries than MLTs, and some institutions do not employ MLTs at all.

In Canada, three-year college programs are offered that include seven semesters, two of them comprising an unpaid internship. The student graduates before taking a standard examination (such as the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, or CSMLS, exam) to be qualified as a medical laboratory technologist. Many MLTs go on to receive a bachelor of science degree after they are certified, but a few university programs affiliate with a college MLT program to allow students to graduate with both MLT certification and a degree.