3211 Medical laboratory technologists

3211 Medical laboratory technologists

Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, blood banks, community and private clinics, research facilities and post-secondary educational institutions. Medical laboratory technologists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Example Titles

·         advanced registered technologist – medical laboratory

·         anatomical pathology technologist

·         autopsy technologist – medical laboratory

·         biochemistry technologist – medical laboratory

·         blood bank technologist

·         charge technologist – medical laboratory

·         clinical immunology technologist

·         clinical laboratory technologist

·         combined laboratory and x-ray technologist

·         cytogenetics technologist – medical laboratory

·         cytology technologist

·         cytotechnologist – medical laboratory

·         electron microscopy technologist – medical laboratory

·         hematology technologist – medical laboratory

·         histology technologist

·         histology technologist – medical laboratory

·         histopathology technologist

·         histotechnologist – medical laboratory

·         immunohematology technologist

·         immunohematology technologist – medical laboratory

·         immunology technologist – medical laboratory

·         in-charge technologist – autopsy services

·         medical laboratory supervisor

·         medical laboratory technical supervisor

·         medical laboratory technologist

·         medical laboratory technologist, anatomical pathology

·         medical technologist

·         medical technologist – medical laboratory

·         medical technologists supervisor

·         microbiology technologist – medical laboratory

·         registered medical technologist

·         registered technologist – medical

·         serology technologist

·         supervisor, medical laboratory

·         technical supervisor, medical laboratory

·         technologist, anatomical pathology

·         technologist, autopsy – medical laboratory

·         technologist, clinical laboratory

·         technologist, medical laboratory

·         tissue technologist – medical laboratory

Main duties

Medical laboratory technologists perform some or all of the following duties:

• Set up, operate and maintain laboratory equipment

• Conduct chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal and other body fluids

• Study blood cells and other tissues to determine their relation to various physiological and pathological conditions

• Prepare tissue sections for microscopic examinations using techniques to demonstrate special cellular tissue elements or other characteristics

• Perform blood group, type and compatibility tests for transfusion purposes

• Establish procedures for the analysis of specimens and for medical laboratory experiments

• Conduct quality control assessment of testing techniques

• May supervise and train other medical laboratory technical staff, students and helpers

• May assist pathologists during autopsies.

Medical laboratory technologists may specialize in areas such as clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, histotechnology, immunohematology, cytotechnology and cytogenetics.

Employment requirements

• A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology is required
  and
  A period of supervised practical training may be required.

• Registration with a regulatory body is required in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

• Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is usually required by employers.