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Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Also called: Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Medical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Lab Technician)

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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:

Electronic mail software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Google Docs Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Medical software
  • MEDITECH software
  • Test routing software

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 Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$57,800
$30,280
$79,340
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about medical and clinical laboratory technicians.