Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians

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Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Medical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Lab Technician)

What they do:
Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
On the job, you would:
  • Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
  • Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
  • Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.

Knowledge

Math and Science

  • biology
  • chemistry

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Business

  • customer service
  • administrative services

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

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

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Hand and Finger Use

  • put together small parts with your fingers
  • hold or move items with your hands

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Independence
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software

  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology

Word processing software

  • Google Docs Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology

Electronic mail software

  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 3 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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