Career

The medical technologist functions as a vital member of the health care team by providing detailed laboratory test data necessary for disease diagnosis and treatment. Highly sophisticated technologies combine with delicate and complex manual procedures in qualitative and quantitative analyses of blood, body fluids and tissues.

Medical technologists, also known as clinical laboratory scientists, may work as staff, managers or consultants in hospitals, clinics, reference laboratories or physician office labs. They may be generalists, with expertise in all areas, or specialists in areas such as:

• Hematology
• Hemostasis
• Immunology
• Chemistry
• Blood Banking
• Flow Cytometry
• Virology
• Microbiology

Technologists may serve as LIS computer analysts or work in quality management, infection control or administration. Other opportunities are found with laboratory supply vendors as technical specialists, service representatives or in sales; in forensic science; and as educators in medical centers and universities. Some individuals work in veterinary science centers or enter the armed forces as officers, while others apply their lab skills outside of health care in agricultural or industrial labs in research, development, testing and quality control.