Clinical Laboratory Specialist

Clinical Laboratory Specialist

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Duties and Responsibilities: A clinical laboratory specialist has both a technician and a technologist. This is referred to as a medical laboratory technician or a medical technologist. Both perform laboratory work to identify, diagnose, and treat diseases.

The technicians use microscopes, laboratory equipment, chemicals, and computers to preform laboratory procedures. They even collect blood specimens and prepare culture media. They make tests and prepare the reports for the technologists or the physicians.

The technologists preform more complex tests and procedures than the technicians. They supervise the technicians, confirm on the tests, and manage the laboratory quality programs.

Most specialists work in hospitals, but some are also employed by private practices, medical groups, research laboratories, etc.

Salary: $20,000-$28,000 (technicians)

$25,000-$40,000 (technologists)

Education: Students should take the challenging high school courses in science, math, and in English. An associate’s degree in the field is required to become a clinical laboratory technician. A bachelor’s degree in the field is normally required to become a technologist. Though some employees accept the associate’s degree and extensive clinical experience as a substitute.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

I would not like to be a technician because I would not be something I would enjoy doing. Though I would like to be a technologist because they get more complex tests.