The field of clinical laboratory testing is central to the ongoing detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. With such a crucial role to play in the healthcare industry, medical and general lab assistants can expect rewarding and lifelong careers in a job they love.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for a trained clinical laboratory technologist or technician are expected to be excellent for the coming decade.
In 2008 alone, nearly 350,000 laboratory technicians and technologists held jobs in the United States.
A Technician can find work in hospitals, physicians offices, and diagnostic laboratories.
Average earnings for trained medical lab technician assistants were $38,300 in 2008.
Some of the duties of a laboratory technician include:
- Analyzing bodily fluids and cells
- Looking for bacteria, parasites, and other harmful organisms
- Interpreting the chemical content of substances
- Matching blood for transfusions
- Testing drug levels and patient responses
What Do Students Learn At A Lab Technician Professional School
Students are given the hands-on training in the procedures of laboratory work that will put them in high demand among healthcare employers.
Some of the program highlights include training in:
- ECG
- Vital sign assessment
- Urinalysis procedures
- Phlebotomy
- Advanced specimen collection
- Solution analysis
- Routine preparation of patient specimens
Specializations offered through a healthcare training school include: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Cytology, Microbiology, and Histology.
Also, students should be expected to take courses in:
- Basic office keyboarding
- Microsoft Office skills
- Patient data collection
- Insurance claims processing
- Bookkeeping in a healthcare setting
Lab technician programs are designed to prepare students to become well rounded professionals for this fast growing career.
Upon completion of the course, students will become well trained in the following areas:
- A class in first aid
- Study of human immunology
- Electrocardiograph procedures
- Administrative skills for professionals
- Specimen collection and analysis
- Medical terminology for healthcare professionals
- Laboratory equipment use and maintenance
- Courses in math, chemistry and physics
- Proper sterilization techniques
- Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training
- Anatomy and physiology
- Environmental studies
- Basic veterinary assisting sterile processing technician salary