Career Opportunities
Admission | Application
| Degree Plan | Course Descriptions
Career Opportunities | Technical Standards
Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT)/Clinical Laboratory Technicians (CLT) play a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. They examine and analyze body fluids and cells. They examine specimens for bacteria, parasites or other micro-organisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions, and test for drug levels in the blood to show a patient's response to treatment. MLT's use automated equipment and instruments that perform a number of tests simultaneously, as well as microscopes, cell counters, and other kinds of sophisticated laboratory equipment. They analyze the results and relay them to physicians. They also monitor programs that insure the accuracy of tests.
The role of the MLT requires an understanding of scientific principles and theories, the ability to perform a wide variety of laboratory procedures with accuracy, the ability to analyze data for accuracy, and the ability to detect and correct problems.
Medical laboratory technicians are ranted in the top 20 list of best jobs (according to the best-selling 1999 book, Jobs Related Almanac: The best and Worst Jobs). It is rated fourth in the "Healthcare/Medicine" occupational category. Clinical laboratory positions are projected in increase 15% by 2006 with a 22% increase in Texas.
MLTs are needed in:
• Hospitals
• Clinic labs
• Reference labs
• Offices of physicians
• Blood banks
• Veterinary labs
• Public Health Service
• Institutes of medical research
• Development department of chemical or pharmaceutical companies