Medical Lab Technician Job Description

As a medical lab technician, you'll work under the supervision of a medical technologist or physician to perform tests on tissue, blood and body fluids in order to help physicians diagnose and treat diseases.

Your medical lab tech responsibilities will typically include the following:

• Prepare blood, urine and tissue samples for analysis
• Use sophisticated laboratory equipment to look for microorganisms
• Monitor tests and procedures
• Analyze the chemical content of fluids
• Match blood for transfusions
• Test for drug levels in the blood to show how a patient is responding to treatment

You may specialize in the areas of chemistry, hematology, cytotechnology, immunology, virology, blood banking or microbiology.

Once you gain some experience on the job, you might work in any of the following settings:

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Private laboratories
• Public health organizations
• Research and development departments of pharmaceutical companies

Technicians work under the supervision of a technologist who has more education (at least a bachelor's degree) and training than a technician. Medical and clinical laboratory technicians perform less complex tests and laboratory procedures than technologists.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2012-13 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median national annual salary for medical and clinical laboratory technicians is $36,280. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.

In addition to having your GED or high school diploma, you'll need to complete an accredited medical lab tech program, usually a 1-to- 2-year associate degree or certificate program. Clinical lab technicians generally earn a bachelor's degree in medical technology or one of the life sciences. In the training programs, students receive a combination of classroom and laboratory instruction. Coursework usually includes the following:

• Laboratory mathematics
• Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Microscopy
• Immunology

Regulations vary from state-to-state, but certification is a requirement for many employers. After earning your associate's degree or certificate from an accredited program, you may choose to take a national certification exam from one of the following agencies: 

• The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologist (AMT)

By becoming certified you'll earn the title of Certified Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT).
_{Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010}