What are the major differences between a Medical Lab Technician and a Medical Lab Technologist?

Many people are confused by the terms ‘medical lab technician’ and ‘medical lab scientist’, and often think these refer to the same thing. While individuals employed in either of these occupations can work in the same settings and have similar responsibilities, there are also many inherent differences. For instance, the medical lab scientist (MLS), previously known as the medical technologist (MT) or the clinical lab scientist (CLS) (and still called these in some settings), has more education and more job responsibilities. In fact, a four-year degree and work in a laboratory while still is school is usually required to become an MLS. Because science from clinical serology to microbiology is a significant part of their training, the medical lab scientist (MLS) designation is now used by many of those in academia.

Also, different certification exams are used for the MLT and MLS occupations, a recognition of the differences in skill set. One certifying agency, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), features various certifying exams for both occupational levels with specialization areas available in each. While an associate degree or other type of postsecondary education is typically needed for the technician exam, the four-year degree is generally needed to be eligible to sit for any of the technology/scientist certification exams. This advanced education may be the reason why the MLS is given oversight and responsibility of the MLT in a laboratory setting.

MLT vs. MLS – Side-by-Side Comparison

If you are interested in working in a lab, it may not be clear whether to pursue training for a medical lab technician versus medical lab scientist occupation. Below, we look at many of the similarities and differences in the occupations, including the potential outcome in terms of pay, job demand, certifications available and even job responsibilities. However, many other considerations also are important in making a career choice, including how much time you initially want to spend in school, your personal career goals, and how important it is to immediately start garnering an income. Take a look below for further comparisons between the medical technician vs medical lab scientist (e.g. medical technologist) careers.

http://www.medicaltechnologyschools.com/medical-lab-scientist/mlt-vs-mls

Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.

Duties:- Medical laboratory technologists and technicians typically do the following:

Analyze body fluids, such as blood, urine, and tissue samples, and record normal or abnormal findings

Study blood samples for use in transfusions by identifying the number of cells, the cell morphology or the blood group, blood type, and compatibility with other blood types

Operate sophisticated laboratory equipment, such as microscopes and cell counters

Use automated equipment and computerized instruments capable of performing a number of tests at the same time

Log data from medical tests and enter results into a patient’s medical record

Discuss results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures with physicians

Supervise or train medical laboratory technicians

Both technicians and technologists perform tests and procedures that physicians and surgeons or other healthcare personnel order. However, technologists perform more complex tests and laboratory procedures than technicians do. For example, technologists may prepare specimens and perform detailed manual tests, whereas technicians perform routine tests that may be more automated. Medical laboratory technicians usually work under the general supervision of medical laboratory technologists or laboratory managers.

Technologists in small laboratories perform many types of tests; in large laboratories, they sometimes specialize. The following are examples of types of specialized medical laboratory technologists:

Blood bank technologists, or immunohematology technologists, collect blood, classify it by type, and prepare blood and its components for transfusions.

Clinical chemistry technologists prepare specimens and analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids.

Cytotechnologists prepare slides of body cells and examine these cells with a microscope for abnormalities that may signal the beginning of a cancerous growth.

Immunology technologists examine elements of the human immune system and its response to foreign bodies.

Microbiology technologists examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms.

Molecular biology technologists perform complex protein and nucleic acid tests on cell samples.

Like technologists, medical laboratory technicians may work in several areas of the laboratory or specialize in one particular area. For example, histotechnicians cut and stain tissue specimens for pathologists, who are doctors who study the cause and development of diseases at a microscopic level.

Technologists and technicians often specialize after they have worked in a particular area for a long time or have received advanced education or training in that area.