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Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician

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What You Need to Know About Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician

Position Description 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.
  • Test raw materials, processes, or finished products to determine quality or quantity of materials or characteristics of a substance.
  • Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
  • Perform medical research to further control or cure disease.
  • Examine cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities.
  • Inoculate fertilized eggs, broths, or other bacteriological media with organisms.

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians say are important on the job.

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.

Types of Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technician Jobs

  • Biotechnician
  • Laboratory Worker
  • Medical Laboratory Technician (Medical Lab Tech)
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Blood Typer

Is There Going to be Demand for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians?

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.

Tools & Technologies Used by Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians may use on a daily basis:

  • 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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Career changers with experience as a Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technician sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

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

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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