Medical Laboratory Scientist
Studying patients specimens to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases
The Medical Laboratory Scientist is one of the most important people in
medicine. In a single day, a Medical Laboratory Scientist performs some
of the most complex tests on blood, tissue, body fluids, and other samples
from many patients. This helps provide doctors with most of the information
they use to treat infections and diagnose cancers and other diseases.
At the same time, theyre a vital part of the emergency medical team
and can even save lives.
Shareen Lee, MLS(ASCP)CM, was working as a Medical Laboratory Scientist
in Los Angeles when a young boy was rushed into her hospitals emergency
room. He had suffered a gunshot wound and needed a blood transfusion
right away. But first, laboratory professionals and doctors needed to get
information about his blood, and they were running out of time fast.
Thats where Shareen came in. She performed tests to find the correct
blood type for the boy. It ensured his system could handle the transfusion
that helped keep him alive.
We issued blood quickly, and his condition stabilized, Shareen says.
It played a huge role that day in saving his life.
We issued blood quickly, and his
condition stabilized. It played a
huge role that day in saving his life.
Shareen Lee, MLS(ASCP) CM
Photography by Sara Press 3 4
Medical Laboratory Scientists dont have to work in a hospital
to save lives. They can also work for reference laboratories,
medical offices, and pharmaceutical or biotech companies
where they help diagnose and treat infections, anemia,
and even cancer. Then they relay that information to doctors,
so they can find the best treatment for each patient.
In some cases, Medical Laboratory Scientists actually provide
treatment information for the physician. For example, they can
test bacteria, taken from a patient, with different antibiotics
to find out which one works best to treat an infection.
If you enjoy science and solving problems, a career as a Medical
Laboratory Scientist may be the right choice for you. And because
positions are becoming available faster than employers can fill them,
Medical Laboratory Science students often have their choice of job
offers when they graduate. Once you get started you can become a
supervisor, and even specialize in a specific area that interests you
(like Hematology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or the Blood Bank).
What youll need:
Strong science background
Interest in solving puzzles
Education Requirements:
Bachelors degree in science
Medical (or Clinical) Laboratory Science program
accredited by the National Accrediting Agency
for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
Certification:
Earn certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist
from the American Society for Clinical Pathology
Board of Certification (ASCP BOC).
Average Salary:
$54,413; Supervisor: $65,8941