Welcome...
Educating Tomorrow's Laboratory Investigators
Welcome to the wonderful world of medical laboratory science. Did you know that over nine billion laboratory tests are performed in the U.S. each year? Did you know that lab testing is increasing in demand due to:
- the population aging,
- earlier detection and diagnosis of diseases,
- the explosion of new technologies,
- a resurgence of old diseases and discoveries of new diseases?
Laboratory education programs range
from on-the-job training to the medical doctor who specializes in the field
of pathology. National certification examinations are required for most
of the laboratory professions.
Career Outlook: GREAT! Shortages in all areas (except pathologists) are both national and international. These shortages are expected to continue in the next ten years meaning that jobs will be readily available every where. Salaries are increasing. (Occupational Outlook Handbook)
Work environment: Fast paced and sometimes stressful.
Handling potentially infectious materials. This is a risk that students
are taught to manage with proper techniques and protective equipment.
Qualities needed for success: Detail oriented, good organizational skills, accuracy and precision, neatness, team player.
Patient interaction: Varies. Phlebotomists have a great deal of patient interaction. Depending on where professionals work, they may have a moderate amount of patient interaction in a small, physician office laboratory or may have very little patient interaction in a large, medical center laboratory.
Daily
tasks: In general, all laboratory professionals
perform / interpret / evaluate laboratory tests, perform quality
control tasks, perform equipment maintenance, computer input / database
maintenance. Specific tasks vary by profession.
Graduates work in:
- Medical laboratories (hospitals and commercial)
- Forensic (crime) laboratories
- Biotechnology and industry laboratories
- Veterinary and zoo labs
- Public health laboratories
- Research laboratories
- Educational programs
- Medical supply and pharmaceutical sales
Opportunities for advancement: Advancement may require additional education, but the opportunities are many such as:
- Laboratory supervisor
- Laboratory manager
- Hospital administrator
- Quality assurance coordinator
- Infectious disease surveillance officer
- Laboratory or hospital safety officer
- Point of care testing manager
- Information systems (computer) manager
- Sales manager
- Research principle investigator
- Epidemiologist