7.6 Laboratory Services
Brandon Censon MPH, CPH, RRT-NPS, CPFT, CPT
Clinical laboratories are healthcare facilities that perform a variety of laboratory procedures to help a patient’s care team develop a diagnosis and create a care plan. These laboratories are where blood and other bodily tissues are sent for testing and analysis. A number of health professionals work in clinical laboratories, and in the following sections, we will discuss their roles in greater detail.
Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical laboratory technicians gather collected samples from a variety of bodily fluids and blood. They prepare, process, and test these samples, analyze the results, document and log the data into patients’ medical records, and operate an assortment of lab equipment throughout the process. For example, after receiving a blood sample from a phlebotomist, a medical laboratory technician may perform the required tests, analyze the results, and send the analysis to the care team for evaluation.
Medical laboratory technicians play a critical role in the healthcare team, helping determine a patient’s diagnosis. They are skilled in investigating, identifying clues, and uncovering answers that are vital in guiding patients toward the most appropriate treatment. While their work is often behind the scenes, it is hands-on and essential. For example, technicians may run blood samples through an automatic cell counter or use a microscope to identify pathogens.
Academic Requirements and Career Pathway
The academic requirements for medical laboratory technicians include earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science. The training includes both classroom training and hands-on clinical training in the laboratory setting.
After completing the degree program, students are eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) medical laboratory technician certificate exam (American Society for Clinical Pathology, n.d.).
Medical laboratory technicians can pursue specialty certifications in areas such as cytology, hematology, microbiology, molecular biology, blood banking, and chemistry. These credentials allow individuals to specialize in narrower branches of medical laboratory science. For those interested in management or leadership roles within clinical laboratories, advanced degrees are available.
Phlebotomist
A phlebotomist is a healthcare professional who is trained to perform phlebotomy (blood draws) or venipuncture. The blood collected can be used for a variety of tests or donation. A phlebotomist is responsible for preparing patients for the blood draw procedure, which may involve educating them on the process. They ensure that the blood draw site is clean to prevent infection and that blood samples are properly labeled for analysis. They are also responsible for storing and tracking blood samples, which may be sent to other facilities for testing.
Phlebotomists work in various settings, including hospitals, medical offic