Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technologists

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Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technologist (Medical Lab Tech), Medical Technologist (MT)

What they do:
Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.
On the job, you would:
  • Conduct chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine, or spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal or abnormal components.
  • Analyze laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results.
  • Operate, calibrate, or maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, or computer-controlled analyzers.

Knowledge

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Math and Science

  • biology
  • chemistry

Business

  • customer service
  • administrative services

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • read and understand what is written
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software

  • eClinicalWorks EHR software Hot Technology
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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