Clinical+lab+tech

 Job description: If you are interested in a career that involves science and medicine, consider becoming a clinical laboratory technician.Clinical laboratory technologists perform complex chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriological tests. Technologists microscopically examine blood and other body fluids. They make cultures of body fluid and tissue samples, to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms. Technologists analyze samples for chemical content or a chemical reaction and determine concentrations of compounds such as blood glucose and cholesterol levels. They also type and cross match blood samples for

Personality: 
 * **Integrity** — Job requires being honest and ethical. ||
 * **Attention to Detail** — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. ||
 * **Dependability** — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. ||
 * **Concern for Others** — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. ||
 * **Stress Tolerance** — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. ||
 * **Cooperation** — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. ||
 * **Self Control** — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. ||
 * **Independence** — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. ||
 * **Initiative** — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. ||
 * **Leadership** — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. ||

Working conditions: Clinical laboratory personnel are trained to work with infectious specimens. When proper methods of infection control and sterilization are followed, few hazards exist. Protective masks, gloves, and goggles often are necessary to ensure the safety of laboratory personnel. Working conditions vary with the size and type of employment setting. Laboratories usually are well lighted and clean; however, specimens, solutions, and reagents used in the laboratory sometimes produce fumes. Laboratory workers may spend a great deal of time on their feet. Hours of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians vary with the size and type of employment setting. In large hospitals or in independent laboratories that operate continuously, personnel usually work the day, evening, or night shift and may work weekends and holidays. Laboratory personnel in small facilities may work on rotating shifts, rather than on a regular shift. In some facilities, laboratory personnel are on call several nights a week or on weekends, in case of an emergency. Places of employment: Local or far away.

Job outlook: Employment of clinical laboratory workers is expected to grow 14 percent between 2006 and 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. The volume of laboratory tests continues to increase with both population growth and the development of new types of tests. Salary:  Median annual earnings of medical and clinical laboratory technicians were $30,840 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,890 and $37,770. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,410, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45,680. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical and clinical laboratory technicians in May 2004 were as follows:
 * Colleges, universities, and professional schools || $32,410 ||
 * General medical and surgical hospitals || 31,830 ||
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica;">Offices of physicians || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica;">29,620 ||
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica;">Medical and diagnostic laboratories || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica;">29,220 ||
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica;">Other ambulatory health care services || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica;">28,130 ||

<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Education: <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Typically a certificate or associate degree is required for clinical laboratory technicians; a bachelor’s degree in the life sciences or medical technology is usually required for clinical laboratory technologists.

<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Citation: <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #262a2c; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians." __U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics__. 31 Mar. 2009 <http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos096.htm#outlook>. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

"Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician Career, Job and Employment Information." __Careers, Career Information, Job Search, Descriptions, Education and Job Search Guide__. 02 Apr. 2009

"29-2012.00 - Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians." __O*NET OnLine__. 02 Apr. 2009 [].

"Career Information - Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians." __CollegeGrad.com - Entry Level Jobs and Internships for College Students and Recent Graduates__. 02 Apr. 2009 [].

"Clinical Laboratory Technicians." __Maryland Health Careers__. 02 Apr. 2009 <http://www.marylandhealthcareers.org/html/student/lab.techs.htm>.