A medical laboratory technician has many responsibilities in their daily life. These include collecting body tissue and blood samples, performing diagnostic tests on those samples to detect any illnesses, and making use of numerous different techniques to carry these tests out.
This type of work is heavily counted on by their employers, which can include clinics, hospitals, and research labs, to name just a few. In other words, they are an important part of our modern healthcare system, and for reasons that go well beyond what they do on the job. With COVID-19 still at large, the role of medical lab technicians is arguably more important now than ever.
Here are some reasons why medical lab technician program graduates are so vital to healthcare.
Medical Lab Techs Collect Critically Important Body Tissue Samples
Under the supervision of a technologist, any medical lab technician’s chief responsibility is to collect samples of a client’s blood or body tissue and perform tests to diagnose any potential issues after they have been logged and readied for the testing phase.
Medical lab technicians can use methods such as microscopic examination and chemical analysis to help them in detecting any possible diseases. They also make sure that quality control standards are met by doing regular quality assurance tests on the diagnostic methods used.
By doing all of this, medical lab technicians are able to help other healthcare professionals more easily detect signs of disease and possible root causes of those diseases, and tailor plans and methods for treatment accordingly.
Technicians Take Care of Lab Housekeeping
Any student in a medical lab technician program will understand the importance of medical laboratory knowledge that goes far beyond collecting blood and tissue. This includes knowing how to prevent infection and best practices for safety in the laboratory, among other things.
Another significant responsibility of this profession relates to the equipment in the lab, such as analyzers and microscopes. You will be responsible not only for setting it up but making sure it is kept clean, well-maintained, and that everything is fully operational. This also encompasses tasks such as ensuring instruments and other lab items are sterilized and calibrated, and that surfaces in the lab are sanitized.
Medical Lab Technician Program Graduates Have Diverse Sets of Skills
Beyond the roles and responsibilities discussed above, anyone who wants to take a medical lab technician course will succeed in the real world if they carry a certain set of soft skills. For example, being an excellent communicator is a major advantage in this profession, as you will likely be communicating directly with clients.
Being able to do this while showing empathy and being supportive and comforting will serve you well. You will also need the ability to give them instructions and explain details relating to specimens and the sample process, in terms they understand and in ways that will reassure them if they’re feeling nervous.
A medical lab technician must also be thorough and have careful attention to detail, as they need to ensure their diagnostic tests are fully accurate, and that the techniques used get the correct results. Not only this, but what you learn in your program can be applicable to several other roles in the healthcare system, such as in phlebotomy or as a lab worker in a government research lab or educational institution.
Want to take a medical laboratory technician course?
Contact Oxford College for more information!