CHAPTER 2

DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF HE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

under the supervision of a medical or

PROFESSIONAL COURSES clinical laboratory technologist or a
laboratory manager;​
MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST ● Generally needs either an associate
degree or a certificate;​
● It is a duly licensed individual who ● Works in several areas of the clinical
performs the following duties and laboratory or specializes in just one.
responsibilities​ Clinical laboratory technicians are
● Examines blood and other body fluids frequently expected to have knowledge
by analyzing their chemical content
in biology, chemistry and medicine;​
concentrations to come up with
● Is good in documentation​
diagnostic findings;​
● Examines stool/feces for the presence
or absence of parasites and various MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE,
stages;​ LABORATORY SAFETY, AND WASTE
● Determines the compatibility of blood MANAGEMENT
samples prior to transfusions;​
● Determines the qualifications of blood ● Deals with the basic concepts and
through conducting screening principles related to MT/MLS profession​
● Curriculum, practice of the profession,
procedures;​
clinical laboratories, continuing
● Examines blood smear for abnormal
professional education, biosafety
and normal appearance of blood cell, practices and waste management​
including blood cell count and
indexes;​ CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY
● Sets the quality control program in
various sections of the clinical ● Deals with the study of physiology and
laboratory;​ morphology of bacteria and their role in
● Performs a full range of laboratory tests infection and immunity​
from simple premarital blood tests to ● Emphasis is on the collection of
more complicated tests to uncover specimen and the isolation and
diseases such as AIDS, Diabetes and identification of bacteria​
cancer​ ● Covers antimicrobial susceptibility
● Confirms the accuracy of test results testing and development of resistance
and submit reports to requesting to antimicrobial substances​
physician upon certification made by ● Laboratory component:​
the pathologist;​ ○ Preparation of culture media​
● Operates instruments in the laboratory ○ Collection of specimen​
from a simple microscopes to a more ○ Staining of smear​
complex automation; and​ ○ Isolation of specimen on
● Conducts research activities and culture media​
ventures to new discovery in the field of ○ Characterization of colonies of
science and biotechnology bacteria growing in culture
media​
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TECHNICIAN/ ○ Performing different
CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN biochemical tests for
identification of bacteria​
● Clinical laboratory technicians have the ○ Biosafety and waste
following duties and responsibilities​ management​
○ Quality assurance and quality
● Performs less complex tests and
control​
laboratory procedures than a ○ Antimicrobial susceptibility
technologist who and usually works testing​

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 DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

● Prepares very thin sections of the body

● Is comfortable with the latest tissues for microscopic examination by
technology; including gadgets and a pathologist;​
computers;​
● Works quickly and under pressure since
● Collects blood specimen, culture, and
stain bacterias, and makes microscopic the answers may be needed while the
and chemical examination of urine, patient is in surgery;​
blood and other body fluids and ● Works closely with the pathologist. The
crossmatch blood;​ histotechnician cuts the tissues, mounts
● Conducts tests and prepares reports for them on slides and stains them with
clinical technologists or physicians. The special dyes to make the cell details
role of clinical laboratory technician is
visible under the microscope;​
important part in the detection,
diagnosis, and treatment of many ● Plays an important role in the detection
diseases; and​ of cancer cells. Once tissue is taken
● Performs several hands-on tests using from a patient, the histotechnician
sophisticated equipment prepares very thin sections of the body
tissue for microscopic examination.
CYTOTECHNOLOGIST With the information learned from the
section biopsy, the physician can
● A cytotechnologist specializes in the determine if a disease is present, if has
microscopic study of cells or cell spread and determines the best course
abnormalities. He performs the of treatment for the patient;​
following task:​ ● Works with fragile, delicate instruments,
● Examines human cell samples under as well as knives, chemicals and glass
the microscope looking for early signs slide; values precision and has good
of cancer and other diseases;​ hand-eye coordination and manual
● Traces the clues to disease in the dexterity; and​
cytoplasm and nucleus of cells that ● Has an unlimited choice of practice
have been stained with special dyes;​ settings. Hospital, for-profit laboratories,
● Looks for the smallest abnormalities in clinics, public health facilities, business
color, shape and size of cells that cab and industrial settings currently have
be clues to the presence of disease;​ positions for qualified histologic
● Issues the final report specimens with technicians. Other opportunities may be
normal findings. When abnormal cells round in industrial research, veterinary
are present, the cytotechnologist works pathology, marine biology and in
with a pathologist to arrive at a final forensic pathology​
diagnosis;​
● Works independently with little PHLEBOTOMY TECHNOLOGIST
supervision. He/she must be patient,
precise and have relatively good ● Phlebotomy technologists specialize in
eyesight; and​ blood extraction. The blood samples
● Is skillful in decision making and tasks are brought to the clinical laboratory for
the responsibility imposed upon him. processing and analysis. A phlebotomy
technologist performs the following
HISTOTECHNOLOGIST/HISTOTECHNICIAN duties and responsibilities:​
● Collects quality samples from the
● It specializes in the preparation of patient to produce quality laboratory
tissues for the microscopic study of results;​
tissue structure. Laboratory where ● Creates an atmosphere of trust and
histotechnologist performs the following confidence with patients while drawing
task:​ blood specimens in a skillful, safe and
reliable manner;​

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 DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

● Accept the challenge and ● Quality assurance and quality control in

responsibilities;​ hematology laboratory as well as bone
● Is accurate, works well under pressure marrow studies​
and communicate effectively; and​ ● Deals with the concepts and principles
● Because the phlebotomy technician of hemostasis and abnormalities
works directly with the patient, he also involving red blood cells, and platelets​
acts as the “eye and ears” of the ● Laboratory identification of blood cell
doctors, nurses and laboratory abnormalities, quantitative
professionals.​ measurement of coagulation factors,
and disease correlation are emphasized​
BLOOD BANK TECHNOLOGIST ● Laboratory component:​
○ Identification of abnormal RBC
● Blood bank technologists specialize in and WBC​
the testing and preparation of blood for ○ Special staining techniques​
transfusion. A blood bank technologist ○ Coagulation factor test
performs the following duties and (activated partial
responsibilities:​ thromboplastin time,
● Specializes in the testing and prothrombin time, bleeding
preparation of blood for transfusion;​ time, clotting time, clot
● Performs both routine and special tests retraction time)​
in blood center, transfusion services, ○ Instrumentation
reference laboratories and research
facilities;​ CLINICAL MICROSCOPY
● Demonstrate a superior level of
technical proficiency and ● Focuses on the study of urine and other
problem-solving ability in such areas as:​ body fluids​
● Testing of blood group antigens, ● Includes the discussion of their
compatibility and antibody identification;​ formation, laboratory analyses, disease
● Investigating abnormalities such as processes, and clinical correlation of
hemolytic diseases of the newborn, laboratory results ​
hemolytic anemia and adverse ● Laboratory component:​
reactions to transfusion;​ ○ Routine urinalysis
● Supporting physicians in transfusion (macroscopic, microscopic,
therapy for patients with chemical examination)​
coagulopathies;​ ○ Special chemical examination
● Performing blood collection and of urine​
processing, including selecting donors, ○ Examination of other body
collecting blood, typing blood, molecular fluids (seminal fluid, gastric
testing and performing viral marker juice, cerebrospinal fluid)​
testing to ensure the safety of the ○ Pregnancy tests​
patient.​ ○ Chemical examination of stool
specimen​
CLINICAL HEMATOLOGY
NUCLEAR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST
● Course deals with the study of the
concepts of blood as a tissue​ ● Who works alongside nuclear
● Formation, metabolism of cells, physicians​
laboratory assays, correlation with ● It apply their knowledge of radiation
pathologic conditions, special physics and safety regulations to limit
hematology evaluation are given radiation exposure, prepare and
emphasis​

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 DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

administer radiopharmaceuticals and urinalysis, fecalysis, chest X-ray and/or

use radiation detection devices.​ sputum microscopy, Hepatitis B surface
antigen and Hepatitis B surface
TOXICOLOGIST antibody screening and drug testing​
➔ Proof of vaccination for Hepatitis B is
● Effect of toxic substances on also required​
physiological functions of human ➔ Students are assigned to
beings, animals and plants to develop CHED-accredited clinical laboratories
data for use in consumer protection and affiliated with their academic institution
industrial safety programs.​ on a 6-month or 1 year rotation​
➔ The intern is required to render 32
OTHER ALLIED HEALTH hours of duty per week not exceeding a
PROFESSIONALS total of 1,664 hours in one year​
➔ Based on CMO 13 s.2017
Arts Therapists​
● Help people with physical, mental , CHARACTERISTICS OF A MEDICAL
social and emotional difficulties with the TECHNOLOGIST AND OTHER CLINICAL
use of music​ LABORATORY PRACTITIONERS
Chiropodists or Podiatrists​
● Play a particular role in helping older ➔ The inherent characteristics attributed
people to stay mobile, and independent​ to an efficient medical technologist are
Operating Department Practitioners​ as follows:​
➔ Problem solver, he likes challenges and
● Help to ensure every operation as safe
responsibility.​
and as effective as possible​ ➔ Accuracy and reliability of laboratory
Dietitians​ results. He works well under pressure
● Work with people to promote nutritional and is able to finish a task once started.​
well-being, prevent food-related ➔ Good communication. He
problems and treat diseases​ communicates well both oral and
Occupational Therapists​ written forms. He sets high standards
for practitioners like him and experts
● Help people to overcome physical,
quality in the work he does.​
psychological or social problems arising ➔ Commitment to the profession. He is
from illness or disability.​ truly fascinated by all that science has
Physiotherapists​ to offer.​
● Treat the physical problems caused by ➔ Self- sufficiency, precision and
accidents​ thoroughness. He is a trouble shooter,
Radiographers​ who not only reports accurate results,
but also knows when results are
Psychologists​
incorrect which need to be rechecked.​
Speech and Language therapists ➔ Dedication and skill. He has a wide
range of experiences which make him
CLINICAL INTERNSHIP TRAINING skillful and competent.​
➔ Self-motivation. He takes the initiative
➔ Taken during 4th year in the program​ to do what must be done on a daily
➔ Only those who have completed and basis.​
passed all the academic and
institutional requirements for the 1st 3 MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY PRACTICE
years of the program​ DEFINED
➔ Before proceeding with the actual
➔ Examination of tissues, body fluids,
training, students are required to secretions and excretions of the human
undergo physical and laboratory body by either manual or automated
examinations which include, but not techniques (electronic, chemical,
limited to, complete blood count, microscopic, bacteriologic, hematologic,

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 DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

immunologic, serologic, nuclear, other ● Knowledge, skills, values and ethics

laboratory procedures and techniques)​ that graduates of the program should
➔ Blood banking procedures and demonstrate
techniques​
➔ Parasitologic, mycologic, and
microbiologic procedures and ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
techniques ​ MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
➔ Histopathologic and cytologic PROFESSIONALS
techniques (Nothing shall inhibit a duly
registered medical technician from ● Perform Clinical Testing​
performing such procedures.)​ ● Perform special Procedures​
➔ Clinical research involving patients or ● Ensure Accuracy and Precision of
human beings requiring the use of
Results​
and/or application of medical
technology knowledge and procedures​ ● Be Honest in Practice​
➔ Preparations and standardization of ● Ensure Timely delivery of Results​
reagents, standards, stains, and others ● Demonstrate Professionalism​
for laboratory use only.​ ● Uphold Confidentiality​
➔ Clinical laboratory quality control​ ● Collaborate with other health Care
➔ Collection and preservation of Professionals​
specimens
● Conduct Research​
● Involvement in Health Promotion
programs​

QUALITIES OF A MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

STUDENT

● To pursue a medical technology course,

a student should possess the following
qualities:​
● Good motor skills, hand-eye
coordination, and manual dexterity;​
● Strong attention to detail. In addition to
technical skills, he must be extra
cautious to detail, in order to detect
subtle changes in the microscopic
appearance of blood, tissue and
bacterial cells.​
● Analytical and critical thinking. He can
critically evaluate the validity of the
results.​
● Innovative and flexibility

PROGRAM GOALS AND LEARNING THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS: WORTH

OUTCOMES REWARDING PROFESSIONALS

● Learning outcomes are general ● Variety. MLT performs test in five

statements that define what the learner disciplines. Everyday brings a different
has to achieve​ challenges and new problems to solve.​
● Foundation of curriculum development ● Job satisfaction. Tests results have a
and teaching methodologies ​ great impact on the care of critically – ill
patients.​

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 DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

● Independence. work independent with CHALLENGES FACED BY MEDICAL

minimal supervision​ TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL
● Expanding roles. “point- of – care – SERVICES
testing​
● Travel. Careers outside the country. ​ ● Challenges on the future generation​
○ MT are extremely high
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR demand, but laboratory
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS activities involve some
sophisticated techniques that
● The MLS has the best of both worlds require a special training for
with challenges and rewards on that purpose​
medicine and science. In his research ● Challenges at the present time​
for data on a patient’s health, a MT ○ MT have the highest vacancy
does much more than examine rate, but involvement in high
specimens through a microscope;​ risk laboratory activities is
● Operates complex electronic evident​
equipment, computers, and precision ● Challenges of the past decade​
instruments. A MLS who gains ○ Lack of generally accepted
experience in one areas will have the standard for determining
opportunity to advance to specialist;​ appropriate use of MT, hence
● A MT has unlimited choices of practice CPD was conducted​
settings;​
● Additional opportunities are available in TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL
molecular diagnostics, molecular ROLES OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
biotechnology companies, in vitro
fertilization lab and research lab;​ Traditional ​
● Job opportunities and challenges for ● Microscopically examines and analyze
MLT are concentrated on the following body fluids and tissue samples;​
areas:​ ● Identifies the microorganisms;​
○ Laboratory areas​ ● Analyzes fluids chemical content or
■ Immunology, cell chemical reaction;​
marker technology, ● Determines concentrations of
bioengineering, and compounds in blood;​
cancer research​ ● Performs the ABO and Crossmatch of
○ Clinical areas​ blood samples for transfusions;​
■ DRUG TESTING; ● Tests for drugs;​
TDM; AND ● Prepares specimens for examinations,
Biogenetics​ count cells, and looks for abnormal cells
○ Business and Industrial areas​ in blood and body fluids;​
■ Product development ● Evaluate test results, develops and
and design; modifies procedures; and ​
marketing and sales; ● Establishes and monitors program to
QA; EH and ensure the accuracy of test
insurance​
○ Academic areas​ Non-Traditional
■ Teaching; and ● Works at the bench level where most of
research​ the hands-on and highly technical
● Full long-term employment​ procedures are performed​
● MLT works at variety of settings​ ● Works in private clinical lab, as well as,
● Opens a lots of positions in health care those in the physicians offices and
settings.​ health clinic;​

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 DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

● Opportunities are available in the COMMON PREFIXES FROM GREEK AND

research level;​ LATIN USED IN THE LABORATORY
● Positions are also available in the
technical representatives for lab
PREFIX MEANING
instruments, train to become specialist;​
● Education and teaching; and​ a-/an- Lack, without, absent decreased
● Manufacturer's home diagnostics
aniso- Unequal, dissimilar
testing kits and lab equipments and
supplies.​ cyte- Cell
dys- Abnormal, difficult, bad
CAREERS
erythro- red
Job Opportunities/Places of Work:​
● Hospital fer- iron
● Researcher hema- Pertaining to blood
● Sales /hemato-
● Academician
Medical Technologist in the laboratory hypo- Beneath, under, deficient,
● Clinical Laboratory decreased
○ Hospital hyper- Above, beyond extreme
○ Clinic
○ Independent Laboratory iso- Equal, alike, same
● Sales Industry
leuko- white
○ Sales representative -
pharmaceutical, equipment, macro Large, long
reagents
mega- Large, giant
○ Educational representative
● Research Industry meta- Alter, next, change
○ Medical center research
micro- small
○ Industrial Research
● Forensic myelo- From bone marrow
pan- All, overall, all inclusive
CHARACTERISTICS/TRAITS
phleb- vein
● Good eyesight – normal color vision​
phago- Eat, ingest
● Good intellect and aptitude to biological
science and caring attitude​ poikilo- Varied, irregular
● Communication skills​
poly- many
● Observant, motivated, precise, good
organizational skills​ schis- split
● Service oriented​ thrombo- clot
● Patient​
● Honesty, accuracy, skillful​
● Dedicated​
● Emotional, intellectual, spiritual and
physically mature​
● X - factor​

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 DEFINING THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE PROFESSION

COMMON SUFFIXES FROM GREEK AND

LATIN USED IN THE LABORATORY

SUFFIX MEANING
-cyte cell
-emia blood

-itis inflammation
-lysis Destruction or dissolving

-oma Swelling, tumor

-opathy disease
-osis Abnormal increase; disease

-philic Attracted to, affinity for

-plasia Cell production or repair

(plastic)
-poiesis Cell production or development

-poietin Stimulates production

BSMT 8