About Medical Lab Technicians

Medical lab technicians perform tests that help make clinical diagnoses and determine treatment options for medical conditions. They can work in different areas of analysis or specialize in one, and most often work under supervision by a medical laboratory technologist. Medical lab technicians usually get an associate's degree or certificate from technical institutions.

Time Frame

Medical lab technician degrees usually take one to two years to complete. During this time you will study pathology, chemistry, microbiology, laboratory techniques, laboratory math, immunology and microscopy. You will learn this through classroom and actual hands on laboratory instruction.

Identification

Pick the area you'd like to specialize in. All of them require someone with a detailed, meticulous and organized mind. Following directions and performing very specific and detailed tests is not for everyone. If it is for you, find the field that interests you most and pursue a degree from among the following: chemistry, hematology, virology, blood banks specialist, cytotechnology, immunology or microbiology.

Function

Some of the duties of a medical lab technician are: checking blood for transfusions, testing blood to see how a patient is responding to medication, looking for bacteria, parasites, and microorganisms in blood, monitoring an ongoing test, analyzing chemical components of fluids and taking blood samples.

Benefits

Become part of a growing field. Medical lab technicians are in demand. Getting a degree or certificate for this profession will ensure many employment opportunities. Medical lab technicians make between $37,000 and $42,000 a year. Becoming a technician offers employment at different companies and agencies. Some are clinics and hospitals, research organizations, public health offices and private laboratories. A medical lab technician can go on to become a medical lab technologist with farther training. You have the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of medical breakthroughs and help save lives with the information you obtain from tests.

Risk Factors

Work with infectious disease does have risks. Medical lab technicians can work with infectious diseases, bacteria and other harmful matter. If the correct precautions aren't followed serious consequences can occur.

Significance

Obtain a degree as a medical lab technician if this appeals to you. Knowing the benefits and risk, along with what a profession entails, is the best way to come to an informed decision.