Medical Laboratory ScienceThe Hidden ProfessionContinueWritten By Kimberly A. Whiter MLS(ASCP)CMP

This is your microscope! Use it to take a closer look at this exciting career choice throughout this presentation. I know you are excited to learn about this wonderful career so grab your microscope and lets find out what Medical Laboratory Science is all about!Click to enter Clinical Laboratory Science

THINKThink about the Medical Professions that you know. How many can you name? M.D., Nursing? Any others?

How about Medical Laboratory Science? There are many more Medical Professions than you are probably aware of, but we are going to take a close look at Medical Laboratory Science, an exciting profession that remains hidden behind the medical investigation scene. BackGo On

PonderEver wonder what happens to the blood after it is drawn from you? Where does it go, who is dealing with it? How does the doctor decide on your diagnosis from your blood? The Medical Laboratory Science profession is the answer to all of these questions!

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Upon completion of this program you will:

Be able to identify what is Medical Laboratory ScienceBe able to identify the job duties of a Medical Laboratory ScientistBe able to identify the different departments in the LaboratoryBe able to see how a Medical Laboratory Scientist fits in the healthcare system

Main MenuA Day as a Medical Laboratory Scientist

Definition of Medical Laboratory Science

Job Duties of a Medical Laboratory Scientist

Divisions of the Laboratory

How to be a Medical Laboratory Scientist

Your average MLS will arrive at work early in the morning, especially in hospital settings. Physicians like to have all laboratory results completed when they are making their morning visits with patients. Therefore, your MLS is working hard behind the scenes to ensure your lab tests are done before the doctor arrives. Go OnMain MenuBackA Day in the Life of a Medical Laboratory Scientist

After the morning rush, your MLS professional works throughout the day running routine lab work from the hospital and physician offices. It is the goal of every Laboratory to process, test, and result quality lab tests in a highly timely fashion. Many hospital settings allow for variation in shifts that a MLS can work, offering Day, Evening and Night Shift to complement your personal life.

BackMain MenuA Day in the Life of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist

is a health care profession with special expertise in laboratory medicine. Members of this challenging profession are responsible for providing accurate, reliable laboratory tests for monitoring health and diagnosing and treating disease BackMain MenuMedical Laboratory Science (MLS)

Perform analytical tests of body fluids, cells and other substances.

-Body fluids include blood, urine, serum/plasma, CSF, and other various body fluids.

Many different tests can be performed on each of the various body fluids. These tests help the physician decide on a diagnosis. A Medical Laboratory Scientist is the professional that performs these tests.

BackGo OnMain MenuWhat does a Medical Laboratory Scientist do?

Review and correlate data, recognize problems, identify causes, and formulate and apply solutions.

-Each test that is run requires review from a specially trained Medical Laboratory Scientist that will be able to recognize problems with the results, identify reasons for the cause of the results either pathological or instrumental and will be able to formulate a solution if needed.

What does a Medical Laboratory Scientist do?BackGo OnMain Menu

Confirm abnormal results

-All abnormal test results must be confirmed with a highly trained MLS before reporting.

Execute quality control procedures and interpret quality control data.

-Quality control is a procedure of running known substances to assure the accuracy of the results that are being reported. You want to know that the test results you are getting back are accurate!

BackGo OnMain MenuWhat does a Medical Laboratory Scientist do?

Execute preventive maintenance of equipment and/or identify appropriate sources for repairs.

-In addition to running quality lab tests, knowledge about how each instrument in the laboratory analyzes and works is necessary to initiate maintenance and repairs if needed. MLS Professionals work as instrument maintenance personnel as well!

What does a Medical Laboratory Scientist do?Go On

What would be an example of a job duty for a Medical Laboratory Scientist?Taking patients body temperatureTaking a radiograph of a patientTesting blood from the patient to help diagnose cause of illnessAbnormal test results must be confirmed by a trained Medical Laboratory Scientist before resulting to Physician. TrueFalse

Medical Laboratory Scientists are responsible of upkeep on Laboratory instruments.TrueFalseMain Menu

You are correct!Medical Laboratory Scientists are the professionals that run laboratory tests on patient blood, urine, body fluids, etc. These procedures allow the physician to accurately make a diagnosis and treat the patient. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. The professional that takes the temperature on the patients is the Nurse. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. The professional that takes the radiographs are the Radiation Technologists. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. All abnormal test results must be confirmed with a trained Medical Laboratory Scientist. Back

All abnormal test results must be confirmed with a trained Medical Laboratory Scientist. You are correct!Back

You are correct!Instruments in the Laboratory require maintenance that is performed by the Medical Laboratory Scientist. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Instruments in the Laboratory require maintenance that is performed by the Medical Laboratory Scientist. Back

Departments in the LaboratoryHematologyBlood BankingMicrobiologyChemistrySerologyDepartment Review

HematologyIs the study of cells in your blood. Your blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in this department will count how many of each type of cell you have and evaluate the size, shape and color. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Hematology department is trained in the physiological and physical aspects of every cell. Go OnMain MenuBack

White Blood CellRed Blood CellPlateletBack

Blood BankingIs the practice of crossmatching blood components for healthy transfusions. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Blood Bank department will identify blood types, perform accurate and safe crossmatches with various blood components, as well as identify unsuspected antibodies. BackMain Menu

MicrobiologyIs the study of microorganisms. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Microbiology department identifies bacteria, fungus and parasites. The Medical Laboratory Scientist must also tell the physician which antibiotics to use to kill the bacteria found. BackMain Menu

ChemistryThe chemistry department quantitates hormone, enzyme, electrolyte and drug levels in your blood stream, urine or body fluid. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Chemistry department must be able to evaluate the results of these levels to determine if they are pathological or not. BackMain Menu

SerologyIs the study of immunity and antibodies in your blood. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Serology department identifies antibodies to pathological syndromes such as measles, chicken pox, mononucleosis, and Strep. throat. BackMain Menu

Next1.Hematology is the study of cells. Your blood is made of what three cellular components? A. lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytesb. white cells, red cells, and plateletsc. antibodies, bacteria, and viruses2. Medical Laboratory Scientists working in the hematology department are trained in what two aspects of each cell? A. physiological and physicalb. color and shapec. immunogenicity and function3. The smallest cell is a...A. white blood cellb. red blood cellc. plateletMain Menu

You are correct!White blood cells, Red blood cells and Platelets make up the cellular portion of your blood.White Blood CellPlateletRed Blood CellBack

Sorry, that is Incorrect. White blood cells, Red blood cells and Platelets make up the cellular portion of your blood.Lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytes are types of White blood cells. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. White blood cells, Red blood cells and Platelets make up the cellular portion of your blood.Back

You are correct!A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Hematology department will be trained in the physiology, how the cell works and does its job, and the physical, the size, shape and color of the cell. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Hematology department will be trained in the physiology, how the cell works and does its job, and the physical, the size, shape and color of the cell. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Hematology department will be trained in the physiology, how the cell works and does its job, and the physical, the size, shape and color of the cell. Back

You are correct!The platelet is the smallest cell in your blood. The white blood cell is the largest and the Red blood cell is larger than a platelet yet smaller than a white blood cell. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. The platelet is the smallest cell in your blood. The white blood cell is the largest and the Red blood cell is larger than a platelet yet smaller than a white blood cell. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. The platelet is the smallest cell in your blood. The white blood cell is the largest and the Red blood cell is larger than a platelet yet smaller than a white blood cell. Back

1. The practice of crossmatching blood components for healthy transfusions is known as what?A. Serologyb. Blood Bankingc. Microbiology2. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the this department will identify blood types. A. Trueb. FalseMain MenuNext

You are correct!Blood Banking is the practice of crossmatching blood components for healthy transfusions Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Blood Banking is the practice of crossmatching blood components for healthy transfusions.Serology is the study of immunity and antibodies in your blood.Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Blood Banking is the practice of crossmatching blood components for healthy transfusions.Microbiology is the study of microorganisms.Back

You are correct!Performing a Blood Type on patients is part of the job duties required for a Medical Laboratory Scientist working in Blood Bank. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Performing a Blood Type on patients is part of the job duties required for a Medical Laboratory Scientist working in Blood Bank. Back

1.What are three things that a Medical Laboratory Scientist will identify if working in the Microbiology department?A. viruses, cells, and antibodiesb. bacteria, fungus, and parasites2. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Microbiology department will test the bacteria against _________ to tell the Physician what to treat the patient with. A. pesticidesb. antibioticsMain MenuNext

You are correct!Bacteria, fungus, and parasites are three things that a Medical Laboratory Scientist will test for in the Microbiology department. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Bacteria, fungus, and parasites are three things that a Medical Laboratory Scientist will test for in the Microbiology department. Back

You are correct!Antibiotics are tested against the bacteria found by the Medical Laboratory Scientist to find out which treatment the Physician should use on the patient. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Antibiotics are tested against the bacteria found by the Medical Laboratory Scientist to find out which treatment the Physician should use on the patient. Back

1. What are four things that can be quantitated in Clinical Chemistry analysis?viruses, microorganisms, parasites, and fungusAntibodies, antigens, fibrin, and soluteshormones, enzymes, electrolytes and drug levels2. Clinical Chemistry analysis can be performed on serum/plasma, urine, and body fluid.TrueFalseMain MenuNext

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Clinical Chemistry quantitates hormones such as hCG levels, enzymes, such as AST levels, electrolytes, such as Na, and drug levels. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Clinical Chemistry quantitates hormones such as hCG levels, enzymes, such as AST levels, electrolytes, such as Na, and drug levels. Back

You are correct!Clinical Chemistry quantitates hormones such as hCG levels, enzymes, such as AST levels, electrolytes, such as Na, and drug levels. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Clinical Chemistry analysis can be done on serum/plasma, urine, or body fluids such as CSF. Back

You are correct!Clinical Chemistry analysis can be done on serum/plasma, urine, or body fluids such as CSF. Back

1. Serology is the study of _________.cellsbacteriaimmunity2. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Serology department identifies _________.BacteriaHematologic diseasesantibodiesMain Menu

You are correct!Serology is the study of immunity. Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. Serology is the study of immunity. Back

You are correct!A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Serology department identifies antibodies in the blood that are associated with various pathologic syndromes, such as measles, chicken pox, Strep throat, and syphilis.

Back

Sorry, that is Incorrect. A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Serology department identifies antibodies in the blood that are associated with various pathologic syndromes, such as measles, chicken pox, Strep throat, and syphilis.

Back

How to become a Medical Laboratory ScientistDegree PlanJob OpportunitiesMain Menu

Degree PlanThe Medical Laboratory Science degree is a 4 year Bachelors of Science degree. It must be obtained from a NAACLS approved program. Most programs offer a 3+1 program containing 3 years of theory and 1 year of clinical internship at a NAACLS approved laboratory. However, you can enter the clinical internship year post-graduation from a Bachelors program. Most programs require courses in Microbioloy, Immunology and Organic Chemistry to be taken prior to the clinical internship year. After the completion of the program, you are required to pass a National Board of Registry examination to be allowed to practice Medical Laboratory Science. Back

Job OpportunitiesGeneralist: A Medical Laboratory Scientist that works in all departments of the Laboratory. Specialist: A Medical Laboratory Scientist that has had three years experience in a particular department in addition to passing a Specialist exam. This professional will only work in that department. Supervisor: A Medical Laboratory Scientist that has risen in the ranks of the Laboratory to become the head of a particular department. Go OnMain MenuBack

Job OpportunitiesMain MenuBackLab Manager: A Medical Laboratory Scientist that has risen in the ranks to become head of the entire Laboratory. Educator: A Medical Laboratory Scientist with at least 5 years experience that has also earned a Masters degree and is teaching Clinical Laboratory Science at the college level. Instrument Sales: A Medical Laboratory Scientist that sales clinical instruments to buying laboratories.

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Job OpportunitiesMain MenuBackResearch: A Medical Laboratory Scientist that works in a research facility, possibly for the government.Chemist: A Medical Laboratory Scientist can directly transfer their degree to get them a position at a Chemical Plant due to extensive training in Chemistry. Veterinary Application: A Medical Laboratory Scientist can perform lab tests in the veterinary field just as easily as the human field.

CreditsYou have now completed learning about Medical Laboratory Science. Thank you for taking your time to view information about this exciting career choice. Hopefully you see now that there are highly trained professionals working in the background as part of the healthcare team. Medical Laboratory Science is an exciting field that is quickly growing with new technology. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. (2002-2003). Retrieved March15, 2005, from http://www.clsmedtech.wisc.edu/CLSdefinition.htmlGo On

Useful LinksAmerican Association for Clinical PathologistAmerican Association for Clinical Laboratory ScientistsMain MenuExit