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Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician

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All About Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician Example Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Life As a Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician

  • Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants.
  • Conduct blood tests for transfusion purposes and perform blood counts.
  • Analyze and record test data to issue reports that use charts, graphs, or narratives.
  • Collect blood or tissue samples from patients, observing principles of asepsis to obtain blood sample.
  • Obtain specimens, cultivating, isolating, and identifying microorganisms for analysis.
  • Perform medical research to further control or cure disease.

What Every Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician Should Know

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • Pathological Technician
  • Laboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant)
  • Microbiology Technician
  • Clinical Laboratory Technician (Clinical Lab Technician)
  • Medical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Lab Technician)

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician Employment Estimates

In the United States, there were 164,200 jobs for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,000 new jobs for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician by 2026. There will be an estimated 12,900 positions for Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Connecticut, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What Tools do Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • SAP
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Database software
  • IBM Notes
  • Google Docs
  • FileMaker Pro
  • MEDITECH software
  • Minitab
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Billing software
  • Laboratory information system LIS
  • Medical software
  • Microscopic image capturing software

Becoming a Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician

Education needed to be a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician:

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What work experience do I need to become a Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician?

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those who work as a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via U.S. Air Force photo

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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