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Medical
Lab Technology Introduction
Medical Laboratory Technology also
called Clinical laboratory science is
an allied health profession which is
concerned with the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of disease
through the use of clinical laboratory
tests. These tests help doctors to
detect, diagnose and treat diseases. A
Medical Laboratory Technologist
(MLT) do these tests by analyzing body
fluids, tissues, blood typing,
microorganism screening, chemical
analyses, cell counts of human
body etc. They play an
important role in collecting the
information's needed, sampling,
testing, reporting and
documentation of these
investigations. They determine the
presence, extent or absence of disease
and provide data needed to evaluate
the effectiveness of treatment.
There are two levels of medical
laboratory workers - Technicians and
Technologists.
Medical
technologists work in five major areas
of the laboratory ie, in Blood
banking, Clinical Chemistry (chemical
analysis of body fluids), Hematology
(blood related), Immunology (study of
immune system) and Microbiology (study
of bacteria and other disease
organisms). They also work in the
areas of cytotechnology (study of
human tissue), phlebotomy, urinalysis,
coagulation, parasitology and
serology. Phlebotomists draw and
test blood where as Blood bank
technologists determine correct blood
types for transfusions. Histology
technicians cut and stain tissue
samples.
Medical
technologists have more training and
job responsibilities. They perform
complex tests such as microscopic
examinations of tissues, blood and
other body fluids to detect evidence
of disease and detect the presence of
bacteria, fungi, parasites etc and
chemical tests to determine blood
cholesterol levels. They also match
blood samples for transfusions and
test drug levels in blood to determine
how patients are responding to
medications. They are often
responsible for making sure that
testing is done accurately. In some
labs, technologists conduct research
under the supervision of medical
researchers.
Medical technicians
do routine laboratory testing manually
according to instructions. They work
under Technologists or supervisors.
Technicians may prepare specimens and
operate machines that automatically
analyze samples. In addition to
running tests, technicians set up,
clean, and maintain laboratory
equipment, such as centrifuges,
microscopes etc. They also prepare
standard solutions for use in the lab.
This involves measuring and mixing the
correct amount of various
chemicals.
Some of the courses
offered in Lab Technology are Bachelor
of Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT),
Diploma in Medical Laboratory
Technology (DMLT). BMLT course for
Medical Lab Technologists is
structured to train students in the
clinical Laboratory analysis of blood,
urine, feces, cerebrospinal fluid,
synovial fluid, ascetic fluid etc to
aid the doctors in arriving at a
correct diagnosis and treatment of the
disease. There are also Diploma /
Certificate courses for lab
technicians / assistants in general
and in different specialties such as
Diplomas in EEG Lab Technician,
Histopathology Lab Technician etc.
The authorities
concerned with Medical lab technology
in India are All India Institute of
Medial Technologists E-mail Contact
Us and All India Medical
laboratory Technologists Association
E-mail: Contact
Us
The Medical
Laboratory Technology Programs
provides its graduates with numerous
employment possibilities in
laboratories throughout the
country.
Eligibility-
The basic eligibility criteria for
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory
Technology (BMLT) is 10+2 or
equivalent with Science subjects
Click
here to know more..
Job prospects and
Work Area - The career of lab a
worker depends on academic and
technical skills. Click
here to know more..
Remuneration
-The challenges and rewards of a Lab
technician is high Click
here to know more..
Institutes -
Click
here to see the list of Medical lab
Technology institutes in India
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