Medical Lab Technician Responsibilities

Mainly responsible for the collection and analyst of specimens, Medical Lab Technicians (MLTs) play a vital role in the healthcare process.

In addition to working with other members of a healthcare team, these are some of the medical lab technician responsibilities:

Assisting in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease

Some ailments cannot be diagnosed through outward physical symptoms. Furthermore, the outward symptoms are usually caused by something going on internally. During the diagnosis process, a physician needs an inside look of the patient’s body. As a result, physicians are able to make clear, accurate diagnoses. Therefore, the testing of tissue, blood and other bodily fluids, an MLT provides the inside look a physician needs to make an accurate diagnosis.

After each test, an MLT will create a report, outlining their findings, and provide a physician with the information they need to make an accurate diagnosis. This type of report can also prove to be helpful in deciding on a treatment plan for the patient. Some treatment plans may even require regular monitoring of the disease, where an MLT will come into place again, performing regular tests and reporting back to the physician.

Creating Reports

Medical lab technician responsibilities include creating some or all of the following reports:

• Toxicology– This test is used to determine the amount of drugs, legal or illegal, and alcohol in a person’s system. For example, a toxicology test may be used to screen for drug abuse or monitor the effectiveness of a medication.
• Chemistry– A chemistry test analyzes bodily fluids for diagnostic or treatment purposes.
• Hematology– A hematology test analyzes blood and can be used to diagnose, and treat, blood disorders, like anemia or leukemia.
• Immunology– An immunology test is related to your immune system. This test can be used to detect allergies or diseases which may be attacking your immune system.

Matching Donors

Blood transfusions have helped to save numerous lives. Doctors and nurses often rely on MLTs in emergency situations to match the patient’s blood type to a donor. This ensures safe transfusion and helps to save a life.

Medical lab technician responsibilities are primarily in a lab, and although not always a visible role. In spite of their behind the scene role, a medical laboratory technician is vital in helping patients to live their healthiest lives!

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