Medical Lab Technician Assistant

In Medical Lab Tech Training? How to Maintain a Safe Work Environment

February 28, 2023

If you’re preparing to launch your career after medical laboratory technician school, safety will be one of your main priorities while on the job. Within a lab, adhering to safety protocols lowers the level of risk when conducting research, and enhances the accuracy and efficiency of laboratory processes. Safety rules around chemical handling, the use of personal protective equipment, the organization of laboratory tools and equipment, and more allow research to be conducted safely and accurately. 

When you complete your medical lab tech training at Medix College, you’ll build the knowledge and technical skills needed to contribute productively within a safe laboratory environment. As a medical lab technician, implementing and following good safety practices within your lab will enhance your success throughout your career, allowing you to conduct various medical laboratory tests while avoiding accidents. 

Here, discover a few key tips for maintaining a safe work environment throughout your career.

[Infographic] In Medical Lab Tech Training? How to Maintain a Safe Work Environment

Implement Housekeeping Safety Rules

Follow these general guidelines to enhance safety:

  • Keep your work area organized
  • Label items in your workspace
  • Avoid consuming food or drink
  • Maintain separation between personal items and lab work

These practices will help to avoid cross-contamination and unnecessary spillage.

Wear Proper Personal Protective Equipment

Dress appropriately for a laboratory setting by:

  • Not wearing clothing that leaves the skin exposed
  • Wear a smock or lab coat during experiments
  • Wear gloves when handling hazardous or toxic materials
  • Wear face shields/safety glasses when handling chemicals and heat

Wearing the right PPE will reduce the risk of injury and hazards in the lab.

Follow Protocol When Handling Chemicals

Chemical safety practices are critical in any lab. Make sure to:

  • Avoid skin contact with any solvent
  • Clearly label all chemicals
  • Use a fume hood when handling flammable chemicals
  • Clean up chemical spills immediately
  • Dispose of chemical waste properly

Be Mindful of Electrical Safety

Laboratories contain a variety of electrical equipment. In order to safely operate electronics…

  • Never alter high voltage equipment
  • Turn off high voltage power supplies before attachment
  • Avoid obstructing access to electrical panels

Following these rules can help you to avoid electric shocks and equipment damage.

Maintain Safety Equipment

Conduct regular maintenance on laboratory safety equipment, such as:

  • Fire extinguishers
  • Drench showers
  • Eyewash stations

When these tools are in working order, the severity of any accidents will be significantly lessened.

 

Sources:

https://blog.universalmedicalinc.com/10-ways-to-create-a-safe-laboratory/ 

https://ehs.ucsc.edu/programs/research-safety/safe-lab-practices.html 

https://www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/science-laboratory-safety-rules-guidelines-5727 

https://www.westlab.com/blog/2019/03/29/how-to-effectively-manage-the-safety-in-your-laboratory 

https://www.mlo-online.com/continuing-education/article/13017006/keeping-the-laboratory-environment-clean-and-safe 

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Medical Lab Technician Assistant

3 Sample Collecting Best Practices to Remember After Medical Lab Technician Training

February 03, 2023

For career seekers considering Medical Laboratory Technology training, sample collection will be a large part of your role. Patients getting medical tests for diagnostic purposes will come in to have blood drawn, urine tested, get a nasopharyngeal swab taken, or have tissue collected for a biopsy. As a Medical Lab Technician, your objective is to effectively collect samples without contaminating them, record important information accurately, and keep your work environment safe, all while keeping patients informed and at ease with the procedure. As a Medical Lab Technician, you play a vital role in the medical system. That being said, there are plenty of best practices to keep in mind to maintain the health and safety of the public. Keep reading for tips to help you thrive in your future role.  

1. Label With Caution After Medical Lab Tech Training 

Proper labelling will be a crucial skill to master as a Medical Lab Technician. Though labelling procedures differ depending on the sort of institution you’re working for–for example, hospital procedures may vary compared to research lab procedures–in general, the following information will be essential to include on your labels. 

  • The patient’s first and last name 
  • Your ID
  • The date and time of the sample collection 
  • Specimen type 
  • Test required 
  • The ordering physician 

To ensure accuracy as you collect this information, it’s important to identify the patient before taking the sample. In addition, it will be helpful to label samples in the presence of the patient to verify information when needed. Triple checking is an excellent habit to adopt after Medical Lab Tech training. 

2. Use the Correct Container for Each Sample Type

Depending on the bodily fluid, swab, or tissue sample you’re collecting, different containers may be needed. For example, blood samples may require an anticoagulant to prevent the specimen from clotting. Some samples require containers with preservative agents to stop the growth of microorganisms and maintain the purity of the specimen. After Medical Lab Tech courses, when preparing for sample collection, be sure to determine the container type you’ll need in advance to avoid an error that could require the patient to provide another specimen. 

After medical lab tech training, you’ll need to ensure that you’re using the correct container for each sample type.

3. Ensure Patients Are Adequately Prepared For Their Test

Depending on the type of sample collection, there may be precautions that patients must take to ensure the sample is pure. For example, physicians may request that patients abstain from alcohol or caffeine for a specific amount of time leading up to the sample collection. It’s essential to determine whether patients have taken the necessary precautions before they provide their samples.

Ensure that patients are adequately prepared for testing after medical lab tech school.

Another way you can help patients to prepare for their medical testing is to offer moral support. Surely, some of them will be anxious about the results of their test or, at the very least, nervous about the sample collection itself. Empathize with this and provide encouraging words along the way. 

 

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Medical Lab Technician Assistant

Enrolled in Medical Lab Tech Training? 3 Things to Remember When Handling Specimens

October 28, 2022

Medical lab technicians are an essential part of our medical system. As a lab tech, you are responsible for obtaining, testing, and reporting the results of various specimens, including blood, body fluids, and tissue samples.

These services help provide doctors with the information they need to properly diagnose and treat a patient. Lab techs must be meticulous when collecting and handling specimens for the safety of the patients and the validity of the tests they’ll run.

If you’re considering becoming a medical lab tech, here are four things to remember when handling specimens in your career.

1. Always Double-Check That Your Samples Are Accurately Labelled

The samples you collect need to be processed and their information sent to the doctor, who will then make the right decision regarding the patient’s care. The label contains information about the patient, such as their first and last name, the identification number, and the time the sample was taken. For this reason, labelling the samples is important to ensure the correct test is performed and the information is passed on to the relevant doctor. 

Before collecting samples, check the patient’s armband and ask for their name and date of birth. Then collect the samples, labelling them as the sample is collected. Your medical lab technician training at Medix College will feature lessons on properly collecting and labelling collected samples. At Medix, you will practice in front of professional lab technicians to learn the process effectively.

2. Best Practices for Specimen Collection

Today science has enabled medical professionals to identify a whole host of illnesses and problems using samples collected from the patient. These samples could be blood, saliva, urine, and more. As a medical lab technician, it’s your responsibility to collect these samples safely and effectively. Below we’ll go into some best practices for collecting the different samples you’ll have to collect. 

After your medical lab tech training, you’ll know how to handle patient samples properly.

Before collecting any sample, ask the patient if they’ve been preparing for this test. Many tests require that the patient fasts for a certain amount of time before the test. Some patients may need to avoid caffeine, alcohol, or other substances before a test. It’s essential to check with the patient to see if they’ve followed these guidelines before coming in for their test. 

After your medical lab tech training, you’ll learn the importance of ensuring your patient feels at ease. They may feel uncomfortable providing a urine sample or be nervous about having blood drawn. If this is the case try to offer support and listen empathetically.

3. Good Communication Is Essential After Medical Lab Tech School

A laboratory technician communicates with patients daily as they collect samples. Some patients may have fear or discomfort about having their test done. It’s your job to do your best to make them as comfortable as possible. You can build a positive rapport with them by discussing their day or weekend plans.

Your medical lab tech training will dedicate time to practical hands-on training.

Ask them if they have any questions or concerns about the procedure. If they have any, try to accommodate them as best you can. 

An example of this might be when you perform an excisional biopsy, where technicians collect a sample of abnormal skin. The test can be uncomfortable for most people, so properly explaining the procedure and making sure the patient feels as comfortable as possible with what’s happening will make the experience less troublesome.

 

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Medical Lab Technician Assistant

Quality Assurance Explained for Students in Medical Lab Tech Training

July 15, 2022

Quality Assurance is an ongoing, comprehensive component of any lab that is taken seriously by both companies and governing bodies. Anyone considering medical lab tech training should brush up on what Quality Assurance really means in various lab settings to ensure their full compliance and support of the laboratory’s policies.

At Medix College, students studying to become medical lab technicians earn their diploma covering a number of related subjects in both theory-based lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions. Some of these topics include anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, professionalism & ethics, laboratory safety, ECG fundamentals, clinical chemistry and Quality Assurance. Continue reading to learn the basics when it comes to Quality Assurance so you’re well prepared for your courses at Medix College!

 

Effective Lab Policies and Procedures

Every quality assurance program ensures that the lab has effective policies and procedures in place to maintain the safe and successful production of products. At Medix College, students in our Medical Lab Technician Training get to try their hand at examining Quality Assurance procedures around various testing techniques in the lab component of the program.

Effective lab policies and procedures are in place not only to protect the product and ensure the success of the company, but also to protect the employees who are handling the product at various vulnerable stages of production. With adherence to the lab’s policies and procedures that outline safe handling, preservation, labeling and more, employees don’t have to worry about putting their health at risk for the sake of their work.

During Medical Lab Tech Training, you’ll become comfortable with Quality Assurance procedures and policies

Identify and Correct Problems After Medical Lab Tech Training

An important aspect of Quality Assurance is identifying when there is a problem and being able to come to a logical solution. Correcting problems or holes in policies and procedures can help keep yourself, other team members, and the public safe. When problems occur, initiating corrective action is essential to recover from the issue and minimize damages.

After completing Medical Lab Tech Training, you will be accustomed to working in a lab setting, possessing a general understanding of how to perform testing techniques, how to position materials and equipment, and how to maintain a safe working environment. If you come across an issue in your future career where you notice something is outside of these standards, you can speak up to ratify the issue. In such a dynamic workspace, your contributions can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of Quality Assurance measures.

 

Identifying and correcting any errors will come in handy as a lab tech as you learn to receive, document, and test patients

Assure Test Results are Accurate and Reliable

Another aspect of Quality Assurance involves assessing test results to ensure that they are accurate and reliable, as well as prompt. If ever in your future career you notice that test results seem to have errors, then it’s important that the procedures are altered in a timely manner to ensure no further tainted results are acquired or used.

The importance of Quality Assurance reaches far and wide across a number of laboratory operations, including pre-testing, testing, and post-testing procedures. Proper communications, assessments, and comparisons are essential to uphold the standards of each laboratory and the work they perform.

While quality assurance may seem like a big responsibility, each lab will have its own dedicated department so that the work doesn’t solely fall on the medical lab technicians. But with the extensive hands-on experience you’ll receive in the lab, as well as the academic and career support you’ll receive from our teams, you’ll graduate the program feeling confident and ready to start your career.

 

Interested in enrolling at our Medical Laboratory Technician School?

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Common Lab Tests Performed After Medical Lab Tech Training

May 27, 2022

As an aspiring medical lab technician, you can look forward to joining an exciting career in a medical laboratory setting, where you’ll get to work with a diverse group of peers within the healthcare field. You’ll work under the guidance of a medical lab technologist as you conduct routine laboratory tests, and much more. In this setting, it’s important to know what common lab tests you’ll be performing after you complete your proper training.

At Medix College, you’ll receive both the theoretical and practical training you need to become a medical lab technician. You’ll gain valuable information in the classroom as well as in a medical laboratory setting, which will help prepare you to conduct a variety of common medical laboratory tests with confidence when you launch your career. Continue reading to learn about some of these tests.

The Basic Metabolic Panel Test 

A common laboratory test that you may be conducting when you start your career is a basic metabolic panel test. This test is thorough; as it measures a patient’s chloride, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, sodium, glucose, calcium, and potassium. This helps determine the level of a patient’s blood sugar, kidney function, electrolyte, and fluid balance. 

With your medical lab tech training, and under the guidance of a medical lab technologist, you’ll have the confidence to collect patient samples and carefully complete lab testing procedures. The results of these basic metabolic panel tests help doctors determine the effects of various medications that their patients are taking and help them determine a course of action.

Learning Urinalysis Tests for Medical Lab Tech Training 

If you’re interested in taking medical lab tech courses, then you’ll get the chance to cover the topic of urinalysis and bodily fluids. Urinalysis testing is used for patients who are being admitted to the hospital, or who are in the process of having a pregnancy evaluation. It can also be used before a patient goes into surgery, or simply when they need a wellness health exam performed.

This testing requires the examination of a patient’s urine under a microscope to detect any signs of urinary tract infections or kidney disorders. The urinalysis test results help a doctor analyze the concentration of a patient’s urine, bacteria, and the pH (acidity) of the urine. It can also exhibit the amount of protein and sugar present in urine samples, as well as the number of white and red blood cells.

Urinalysis is a common test you’ll conduct after medical lab tech training

Complete Blood Count (CBC) Tests 

It’s common for medical lab technicians to conduct many Complete Blood Count (CBC) tests during their careers. It’s a versatile test that can screen a patient for disorders and help doctors evaluate symptoms of fatigue, bruising, and weakness. It can also be used to diagnose severe illnesses like leukemia, malaria, and anemia. 

A CBC test is the most common blood test you’ll be conducting during career

A CBC test has many uses, but can be performed to measure blood chemistry, genetic numbers, and markers of inflammation by recording the types of cells found in the blood, which include white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. With the skilled training in these routine lab test procedures and sample analyses, you’ll be confident to progress your career as a medical lab technician.

Are you interested in attending medical laboratory technician school?

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Maintaining a Safe Work Environment After Medical Lab Tech Training

February 25, 2022

medical lab tech training

Working as a Medical Lab Technician/Assistant is a fulfilling career which provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic medical laboratory field. In this profession, you’ll be working in a number of diverse settings, which could include: hospitals, clinics, research facilities, medical laboratories, doctor’s offices, veterinary laboratories, government research laboratories, university research facilities and more. However, in order to ensure a successful career, you’ll need to know how to maintain a safe work environment at all times. A safe work environment not only enhances your safety, but the safety of others around you.

At Medix College, you’ll gain hands-on experience throughout your Medical Lab Technician/Assistant training. With a focus on maintaining a safe working environment, you’ll be prepared to launch a successful career.

Read on to discover some work environment safety tips to keep in mind during your career!

Ensure You’re Not Eating Inside the Lab

When it comes to working in a medical lab, it’s important to make sure that no food or drinks are present inside the laboratory at any time. If your appetite suddenly kicks in and you’re craving the delicious meal you’ve prepared, you’ll need to eat in a designated area away from the lab. Bringing food and drinks near your workspace can cause cross-contamination–potentially compromising the quality and accuracy of the experiments you conduct. Scattered food and drink can also pose a safety hazard as they can cause slips and falls, possibly leading to serious injury. After completing your medical lab tech training, you’ll have to ensure that you haven’t left any food or drink behind in the lab in order to avoid a dangerous situation.

Make Use of Storage Containers After Medical Laboratory Technician School

Working in a lab environment as a Medical Lab Technician/Assistant will expose you to different chemicals and toxic materials. After you complete your medical lab tech courses, you’ll have to assist in making sure that these toxic materials and chemicals are properly stored. Chemicals should be stored in specific containers made of non-reactive materials, as a measure to avoid causing any hazardous chemical reactions. For flammable materials, fire-rated storage units should be used. It’s also important to note that acidic chemicals should be stored separately from other chemicals with plastic linings, in order to prevent any vapours from reacting with the metal components of storage units.

medical lab tech courses
Ensure chemicals are stored in their proper containers after your medical lab tech training

Be Safe and Wear Your PPE

In order to maintain a safe work environment within a medical lab, you’ll have to remain vigilant about wearing the proper protective gear and uniform. Lab coats, gloves, and protective goggles or glasses are all essential in keeping you safe and free from injury. Additionally, dress in long pants and a lab coat in order to prevent your body and skin from exposure to chemical spills, splashes or burns. Gloves also provide an added layer of protection for your hands, helping you to avoid potential chemical burns or skin irritation when handling lab equipment. Wearing eye protection is also crucial, as any minor splashes or spills can cause irreversible damage to the eyes. 

medical laboratory technician school
Always wear your PPE to maintain a safe work environment

Practice Good Hygiene

Upon launching your career as a Medical Lab Technician/Assistant, you’ll need to follow good hygiene practices to maintain your safety and the safety of everyone around you. Following good hygiene practices is all about taking the necessary steps to limit the spread of hazardous materials and reagents inside and outside the lab. As with food and drinks, your personal belongings should always be separated from your working area or station. This will prevent you from touching or spreading any hazardous materials that may have accidentally come in contact with your personal belongings. Also, one of the most important hygiene practices to follow is hand washing. Ensure that your hands are washed thoroughly, both before and after you leave the lab and before and after you eat.

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Medical Lab Technician Assistant

[Infographic] Is a Career as a Laboratory Technician a Good Fit for You?

August 16, 2021

Individuals with medical lab tech training are key figures in the field of healthcare, working behind the scenes to collect and assess biological samples from patients. The results of these tests assist doctors in making diagnoses and formulating appropriate treatment options. To become a competent and reliable member of the extended clinical team, aspiring lab techs learn many new skills through specialized medical lab tech courses.

Want more details to see if you’re suited to this type of work? Take a peek at the infographic below to get a better feel for the role!

Is a Career as a Laboratory Technician a Good Fit for You?

A laboratory technician’s primary role is to perform tests within a medical laboratory to assist doctors in their efforts to diagnose and treat all kinds of diseases.

Think you’re the right fit for this job?

As a person are you naturally:

  • Compassionate
  • Curious
  • Methodical
  • Analytical
  • Logical
  • Persistent
  • Adaptable
  • Effective as a communicator
  • A team player

Are you interested in these disciplines:

  • Medical terminology
  • Anatomy
  • Clinical chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Hematology
  • Urinalysis
  • Histology
  • Cytology
  • Laboratory math
  • Analytical quality assurance

Can you see yourself performing the following duties:

  • Collecting and handling bio-specimens from patients
  • Explaining lab testing procedures to patients
  • Logging patient samples and prepping them for tests
  • Preparing various lab reagents and standard volumetric solutions for use 
  • Forwarding test results to requesting doctors
  • Keeping clear records of the test results in the lab’s record book 
  • Maintaining a clean and safe working environment

Fun fact: Canadians generate over 440 million medical test results a year, all of them processed by medical laboratory technicians and technologists!

Would you like your career opportunities to include:

  • Medical lab technician
  • Medical laboratory assistant
  • Clinical lab assistant
  • Phlebotomist
  • Cardiology technologist

Can you imagine working in these environments:

  • Hospitals
  • Medical clinics
  • Rehabilitation centres
  • Research facilities
  • Blood and organ banks
  • Pharmaceutical labs
  • Public health organizations

Did you know? Employment prospects for medical laboratory technicians over the next three years are good in Canada, with a need to fill a shortage in the profession forecasted by the government.

If you feel intrigued by these various elements of the job, it sounds like you’d be an excellent candidate for medical lab technician training!

Sources:

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/medical-laboratory-technician

https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technician/

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/4187/ca

https://toughnickel.com/industries/Want-to-Become-a-Medical-Laboratory-Technologist-Qualities-you-MUST-Have

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/i-want-to-be-a-medical-lab-technologist-what-will-my-salary-be/article25523823/#:~:text=Approximately%2070%20per%20cent%20of,remainder%20work%20in%20private%20laboratories.

https://www.livingin-canada.com/salaries-for-medical-laboratory-technicians.html

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Medical Lab Technician Assistant

How Professionals with Medical Lab Tech Training Can Stay Organized in the Lab

June 10, 2021

Medical lab technicians have plenty to keep track of. In addition to analyzing samples and performing tests, they’re responsible for maintaining laboratory equipment and handling administrative tasks. Medical lab technicians might also be working with physically or biologically hazardous materials, working to take the proper safety precautions to prevent accidents or health issues. 

In order to ensure that they’re maintaining a safe and effective work environment, it’s important for medical lab technicians to keep their laboratories and work spaces organized. Staying organized can prevent accidents while on the job, in addition to enhancing the ability of a lab technician to keep track of their workload, meet deadlines, and perform tests accurately. 

If you’re considering a career as a medical lab technician, read on to discover some tips which can help you to stay organized at work. 

After Medical Lab Tech Training, Keep Your Lab Bench Organized

As a medical lab technician, keeping your lab bench organized will go a long way towards improving the efficiency of your workflow throughout the day, in addition to aiding in the prevention of spills and contamination. A cluttered lab bench can lead to confusion, equipment damage, and even a failed lab test. 

Keeping your lab bench organized will improve your efficiency as a medical lab technician

Even while attending medical laboratory technician school, you can get into the habit of keeping your lab bench organized by ensuring that only the materials you need are taking up space on the surface of the bench. When you’ve removed additional clutter, you can organize the equipment you need by placing tips, pipettes, and other tools on the side of your bench that correspond with your dominant hand. This will make it easier to perform routine laboratory tasks and prevent a buildup of clutter. On the other side of your space, you can make room for solutions that you use daily. Take it one step further by labeling these solutions for easy access. When you take the time to keep your lab bench organized, you’ll reduce the risk of spills or cross-contamination, while simultaneously optimizing your workflow.

Make a Schedule in Order of Priority

Medical lab technicians have a range of duties on any given day. If you have medical lab tech training, you’ll be responsible for maintaining equipment, running tests and experiments, handling administrative tasks, and ensuring that you’re meeting important deadlines. In order to avoid becoming overwhelmed or accidentally forgetting about a task, you can stay organized by making a to-do list in order of priority. 

Making a to-do list can help you stay organized in a medical lab tech role

When writing your to-do list for the day, include mandatory items first, such as meetings or training sessions. Next, you can fill in the tasks that you need to get done by the end of the day. When you’ve gotten the high-priority things onto paper, you can fill in the rest of your availability with other routine duties that can be completed if you have time. Completing your tasks by priority will help you to stay on track and ensure that you aren’t missing any important meetings or deadlines.

Keep Track of Inventory

Without an organized stockroom, much of a lab technician’s time can be wasted. If the proper equipment isn’t available, it can take much longer to conduct a lab test. Keeping track of consumable equipment, reagents, samples, and other stock inventory is crucial to maintaining an efficient lab—in addition to ensuring that no money is being wasted on unnecessary orders. 

During your lab technician career, take the steps to organize your stockroom by maintaining an updated list of inventory. In the list, you can include the item’s name, its associated vendor, and the quantity of that item that’s typically ordered. When you keep this list updated, you’ll be able to see clearly when an item is running low and place an order before it causes a delay. 

With these simple steps, you can stay organized throughout your career as a medical lab technician. Not only will staying organized improve your efficiency, but it will also help to ensure that the lab environment you’re working in is as safe as possible. 

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What to Expect After Medical Lab Tech Training

September 25, 2020

Lab technicians are essential healthcare workers, performing all kinds of routine medical lab tests to assist with patient care. Dealing directly with patients day-to-day, lab techs must be compassionate and thorough. This is important when it comes to collecting and handling bio-specimens, as well as accurately performing chemical analyses of these samples.

It can take less than a year to complete a diploma program. Industry approved certification is key to many employers at medical facilities looking for techs with the thorough training and practical experience gained from accredited colleges. So what kind of work can you expect after graduating? 

To answer this question, let’s take a closer look at the lab tech role, and the many exciting career opportunities this qualification presents.

What Exactly Does a Lab Technician Do?

A laboratory technician’s primary role is to perform tests within a medical laboratory to assist doctors in their efforts to diagnose and treat diseases. The tech frequently collects samples of blood, body fluids, etc. They use these samples to carry out tests and analyze the results. They also share the information afterwards with the doctor that was assigned to the patient.

medical lab tech training
Protective clothing like lab coats, goggles, and gloves must be worn when handling specimens

Due to the biological nature of the samples being collected and processed, lab technicians must spend a good part of their day wearing protective goggles, masks, gloves, and medical gowns in order to prevent contamination to or from specimens.

What Are Some Examples of a Lab Tech’s Duties?

To perform a chemical analysis of a patient sample, a person with medical lab tech training will use specialized equipment such as microscopes, automated analyzers, and other high tech lab tools–recording their findings in the medical lab’s system of computer logging.  The lab tech’s duties are reliant on several learned disciplines, including: anatomy, medical terminology, clinical chemistry and microbiology, hematology, urinalysis, histology, cytology, and more.

medical lab tech courses
A chief duty of the lab tech is performing chemical analyses of patient sample

A lab tech is responsible for blood, urine, and other sample collection. They also prep solution to combine with samples, as well as maintain and sterilize lab tools and areas of the lab, analyze fluid chemical content, and more. Other job duties can include performing electrocardiograms, positioning Holter monitors, and performing quality assurance of testing techniques.

Where Can a Graduate of Medical Lab Tech Courses Find Work?

After training at medical laboratory technician school, a graduate’s career opportunities may include work as a medical lab technician, a medical laboratory assistant, a clinical lab assistant, a phlebotomist, or a cardiology technologist.  

The grad can find work in many different medical environments, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmaceutical labs, veterinary labs, and postsecondary educational institutions. The graduate may also find work at research facilities, blood and organ banks, and more.

Accredited schools like Medix College will usually provide a real-world field placement opportunity to students, helping them gain work experience and become desirable candidates once they are ready to launch their careers. 

Looking for a rewarding and challenging career in which you can have a truly positive impact on people’s health? 

Get the training you need at Medix College through our medical lab tech courses to become a medical lab tech or assistant lab tech! 

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Safety Precautions Graduates of Medical Lab Technician Training Can Take During COVID-19

July 03, 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated greater precautions to be taken by various industries to keep employees safe. In particular, professionals working in medical laboratories have had to adopt unique protocols of their own. 

Since clinical laboratory personnel typically find themselves close to their colleagues, social distancing becomes extremely difficult to practice. This is compounded by the fact that this type of work involves being in contact with high-touch materials and surfaces, and also cannot easily be done remotely.

Given the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that any medical lab technician go about their job as safely as possible to avoid infection to themselves or others. Here are some safety precautions that can be taken by medical lab tech graduates during the pandemic.

Labs Should Be Inspected, Cleaned, and Disinfected Regularly

Although cleaning and inspecting labs is a common practice, it’s highly recommended that lab professionals do these routine cleaning practices more often in light of the pandemic. Make sure all areas of the lab — especially ones that are frequently touched — are thoroughly cleaned and then disinfected at least twice daily. 

Examples of high-touch surfaces include handrails, counters, and door handles. Beyond this, you can also put tape on the floor to establish physical distancing in the lab, as well as making sure you and all colleagues are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times on the job.

Make sure all surfaces are disinfected and cleaned properly and frequently

Graduates of Medical Lab Technician Training Should Also Practice Good Hygiene

This shouldn’t need to be explained, but it bears repeating. Any graduate of a medical laboratory technician program who is employed in a lab should: 

  • Wash their hands frequently 
  • Avoid touching their face without washing their hands first
  • Stay home if they are exhibiting symptoms 
  • Avoid contact with others who are showing symptoms or have been in contact with suspected or confirmed cases 

Furthermore, despite the confined spaces of medical labs, try your best to practice physical distancing by staying a minimum of two metres apart from your colleagues, if possible. If you feel sick, inform your supervisor as soon as you begin showing symptoms. Following rules related to hygiene and distancing is key to getting through this type of work during the pandemic, for you and all others involved.

Medical lab technicians must wear PPE at all times

The Laboratory Must Be Prepared Accordingly 

Although practicing proper preparation is a good habit for students completing their medical lab technician training to pick up at any time, it’s especially pertinent to our current circumstances. 

With this in mind, any lab that is short-staffed or lacking certain resources must take certain precautions. For example, do not perform any potentially risky procedures while alone in the lab without first informing supervisors and colleagues. 

Additionally, lab professionals should not perform tests that generate aerosol if the lab does not have the correct infrastructure or protocols in place for them. Lastly, make an effort to ensure there is a sufficient supply of N95 masks and other forms of PPE in the lab, especially since orders for supplies of any kind can be delayed during the pandemic.

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