Clinical Lab Technicians

Have you ever wondered what happens to a vial of blood after it is drawn from your arm at the hospital? Clinical Lab Technicians are responsible for collecting biological samples such as these that are collected from patients every day and use their scientific background to conduct an array of diagnostic tests. Following testing, these technicians then return their findings to the medical team, who can make informed decisions regarding your healthcare.

Summary

As a Clinical Lab Technician, it is your role to keep the medical lab running swiftly yet accurately. Patients need results from their routine lab orders, and medical providers are in need of this information to make accurate decisions regarding healthcare. In some environments these orders are considered to be routine, such as patients getting annual blood work done, whereas other environments will require prioritizing work for emergency cases. The goal always remains the same: Timely diagnostic information.

Despite working in a clinical environment, you recall many of your scientific qualities at heart. Quality control, superb record keeping, and specialization with a wide variety of instrumentation are stressed just as much here as they would be in any other lab, especially given the connection to diagnostics and the healthcare pipeline. You may expect to also collaborate with healthcare professionals in the medical environment such as doctors and nurses to best meet their needs.

Educational Requirements

Clinical Lab Technicians utilize their strong scientific backgrounds in their work, which starts with a Bachelor's Degree. This can either be in a broad field such as Biology or Chemistry, or a specialized program such as Medical Lab Sciences. Your priority is gaining the coursework, especially labs, that focus on biology, chemistry, immunology, microbiology, and other areas of relevance.

Past your formal education, much of your learning will be done in working environments such as clinical internship programs. These are typically necessary in working towards certification and possible state licensure (depending on region).

Salary Information 2022

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a Clinical Laboratory Technician in 2022 was $57,800.

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Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians