Medical+Labratory+Technician

**Medical Laboratory Technician**


 * Job Description** A medical labratory technician works under the supervision of a medical technologist or physician. They perform tests on body fluids and tissues in order to help diagnose and treat different diseases. Some tasks that labratory technicians do everyday include preparing blood, tissue, and urine samples for testing, monoriting procedures and tests, matching blood for transfusions, analyzing the chemical contents of fluids, and testing patients' blood for drug levels in response to treatments.
 * Personality Characters **Medical Labratory Technicians need to be able to work well in a team, and be able to work well under pressure. They need to be organized, have good hand-eye coordination, be accurate and pay attention to detail, and have the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. Also, they need to be interested in science, especially in biology and chemistry.

**Working Conditions** Labratory Technicians usually work about 37 and a half hours a week from Monday through Friday. Sometimes work hours include evenings and weekends. Part-time hours are also available sometimes. Lab Techs work in clean lab conditions, but sometimes the job description could include unplesent smells and sights from body fluids, infectious materials, and biological samples. Because of this, protective glasses, gloves, a mask, and clothing need to be worn to prevent contamination. In addition to working in the labratory, there are also times when you may have to work in a clinic, work with patients on wards, and in an office doing clerical duties.

**Places of Employment** Medical Labratory Technicians are needed and employment opportunities can be found in many places. Most jobs can be found in private hospitals. However, there are many other places to work including physicians' offices, public health organizations, clinics, private labratories, and the research and development departments of pharmaceutical companies.

**Job Outlook** Employment of this career is expected to grow fourteen percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than many other jobs. The increasing amount of new technologies and machienery would decrease the number of job openings, but the new technology is also opening up many openings. The increase in technology is also increasing the amount of tests possible and expanding the research. Hospitals are expected to continue to be a major source of employment positions, but employment is expected to grow faster in other places such as medical and diagnostic labratories and physicians' offices.

**Salary Information** In May of 2006, the average salary of Medical Labratory Technicians was $32,840. The middle fifty percent of all labratory technicians earned between $26,430 and $41,020 per year. The salaries of the highest ten pecent of technicians was more than $50,250, and the lowest ten percent of technicians earned less than $21,830. These are the average annual earnings in the industries that employ the biggest number of medical Labratory Technicians
 * General medical and surgical hospitals ||  || $34,200 ||   ||
 * Colleges, universities, and professional schools ||  || $33,440 ||   ||
 * Offices of physicians ||  || $31,330 ||   ||
 * Medical and diagnostic laboratories ||  || $30,240 ||   ||
 * Other ambulatory health care services ||  || $29,560 ||   ||


 * Recommended Education and Training ** In order to get a job as a medical labratory technician, you need to have your GED or high school diploma, and have completed an accredited medical lab tech program. The program could be a certification program or a one to two year associate degree. The students recieve a variety of lab and classroom instruction. The students usually learn chemistry, immunology, labratory mathmatics, microbiology, microscopy, and pathology. Not all states require a certification, or the same certification, however, it is very beneficial because most employers require one. After completing an associates degree, it is reccomended that a national certification exam be taken. Once you pass the exam you can earn the title of Certified Medical Labratory Technician (MLT). Two organizations that offer the certification exams are the American Medical Technologist (AMT) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). On-the-job training is also often necessary.
 * Bibliography **"Become a Medical Laboratory Technician - Learn About Medical Lab Technology." __All Allied Health Schools - Health Care Career Guide | Find Medical Billing Schools, Medical Assistant Schools & More__. 30 Mar. 2009 [].

"Medical Laboratory Assistant Job Profile - Careers Advice by Careers Advice." __Careers Advice - Looking for helpful advice on careers and learning?__ 30 Mar. 2009 <[]>.

"Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians." __U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics__. 30 Mar. 2009 <[]>.

"Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician Career, Job and Employment Information." __Careers, Career Information, Job Search, Descriptions, Education and Job Search Guide__. 30 Mar. 2009 <[]>.

"Medical Laboratory Technician." __:: MHA Health Careers Center ::__. 30 Mar. 2009 <[] >.