Medical laboratory technicians work in a medical laboratory, often under the guidance or supervision of a medical technologist (MT). The nature of the work is similar in that MLTs also work with laboratory equipment, helping to prepare and analyze slides and specimens of human blood, tissue, or other cells.
Medical Laboratory Technicians help to support the work of medical technologists, to help identify abnormalities in the samples such as malignancies, bacteria, parasites, or genetic abnormalities. Medical laboratory technicians also may assist in blood-typing, or other routine blood tests. Medical laboratory technicians do similar work but at a less complex level as medical technologists, as educational requirements for medical laboratory technicians are less than the requirements for medical technologists.
After graduating from high school, successful completion of an associate’s degree is also required. (An associate’s degree consists of about two years of college coursework from a community college, technical or vocational school, or university.)
In addition to the associate’s degree, completion of an accredited training program for medical laboratory technicians.
If an MLT goes on to obtain a bachelor’s degree, he or she can then advance to the medical technologist (MT) role with the "appropriate experience," according to the ASCP.
Additionally, medical laboratory technician jobs offer an opportunity to have a significant impact on patient care, without actually interacting with patients. While people skills are important in any job, MLT jobs do not require the level of interpersonal interaction or skills that other medical jobs require when direct patient care is involved.
If you are fascinated by science and technology as they apply to healthcare, you may want to be an MLT!
