Clinical and medical laboratory technicians perform most of the tests that detect illness and disease. Their job is vital, exciting, and never the same each day. It is also one of the fastest growing careers and there is a huge demand for qualified and trained lab techs.
A clinical and medical lab tech examines and analyzes body fluids, such as blood and urine, as well as tissue to find bacteria, microorganisms, viruses and parasites. A technician also prepares specimens for examination, match blood for transfusions, count cells, and look for abnormalities. A med lab tech also uses scientific instruments, such as, microscopes, cell counters, and automated equipment as well as computers to help them complete the tasks they are given. Technicians also maintain lab equipment and records and prepare findings to be given to doctors. A lab tech will work under the supervision of a laboratory manager, so techs need to be able to take instruction and follow directions.
A lab tech needs to have an associate degree in medical lab technology, which they can get at a community college, vocational school, or teaching hospital. Job opportunities are excellent as the number of jobs available exceed the number of applicants. Clinical and medical lab technician salary can be expected to be between $30,000 and $40,000 annually, starting out. Factors that affect how much a lab technician salary is, can be where a person lives, how much experience they have, and where they work. For example, a tech who works for a general or surgical hospital will make more income than a lab tech who works for a medical or diagnostic laboratory. There are a number of places a clinical lab tech can work. Some of these are hospital labs, doctors’ offices, medical clinics, reference laboratories, public health agencies, and industrial, pharmaceutical, or medical research labs.
A medical lab tech can generalize their practice or specialize in one field in particular. Some of the different fields a lab tech can become are cytotechnologists, histotechnicians, and phlebotomists. The different specialties of a medical lab tech also can affect a person’s income. Cytotechnologists generally make more money than phlebotomists. Some medical lab techs choose to combine the number of fields they do. A medical lab technician who works at a hospital can do different tasks in different fields and these techs will make more money than a tech that only does one thing.
Work environment and hours usually depend on the employer. There are jobs available for techs that prefer to work day, evening, or night shifts. A lab tech can expect to be on call overnight, weekends, and holidays.