What Is A
Clinical Laboratory Science Professional?
Clinical laboratory science professionals, often
called medical laboratorians, are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering
and providing laboratory information from laboratory analyses that assist
physicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as in disease monitoring
or prevention (maintenance of health). We use sophisticated biomedical
instrumentation and technology, computers, and methods requiring manual
dexterity to perform laboratory testing on blood and body fluids.
Laboratory testing encompasses such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology,
immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Clinical
laboratory science professionals generate accurate laboratory data that
are needed to aid in detecting cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, infectious
mononucleosis, and identification of bacteria or viruses that cause
infections, as well as in detecting drugs of abuse. In addition,
we monitor testing quality and consult with other members
of the healthcare team.
The clinical laboratory science profession has more than one career track
based on level of education: clinical laboratory technician (2 years)
and clinical laboratory scientist (4 to 5 years). Clinical laboratory
technicians are competent in the collection, processing and analysis of
biological specimens, the performance of lab procedures, the maintenance
of instruments, and relating lab findings to common diseases/conditions.
Clinical laboratory scientists have a more extensive theoretical knowledge
base. Therefore they not only perform laboratory procedures including
very sophisticated analyses, but also evaluate/interpret the results,
integrate data, problem solve, consult, conduct research and develop
new test methods.
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