Medical Laboratory Technology Today

Laboratory scientists (medical and clinical technologists as well as medical and clinical laboratory technicians) facilitate the diagnosis of diseases, as well as the implementation and monitoring of therapies to treat disease. Laboratory scientists are responsible for examining and analyzing blood, body fluids, tissues, and cells in an effort to help clinicians determine the underlying cause of an illness, the stage of a disease, or the effectiveness of therapy. To accomplish their objectives, laboratory scientists perform a wide variety of laboratory tests, often with the aid of complex, computerized, and automated instrumentation.

Tests performed by laboratory scientists include:

Microbiology tests that isolate and identify pathogenic bacteria, yeast, fungi, parasites, and viruses and determine antibiotic sensitivity.
Chemistry tests that measure the chemical content of plasma, body fluids and cells including electrolytes, glucose, lipids, proteins, hormones, enzymes, trace metals, drugs, and toxins.
Blood banking tests, such as typing, antibody screening, and cross matching, that are used to identify and prepare blood components that are compatible for transfusion.

Immunology tests that are used to determine a person's ability to resist infections, diagnose autoimmune diseases, allergies, and infectious diseases, and determine tissue compatibility for organ transplantation.
Hematology tests that count and classify blood cells, diagnose blood diseases, diagnose bleeding disorders, and monitor anticoagulant therapy.
Histology procedures that prepare specimens for microscopic examination by pathologists.
Cytology procedures such as the Pap smear test, which identify cancerous changes within cells.
Cytogenetic procedures which identify abnormal chromosome counts, morphology, and disease genes.

Over the past few decades the proliferation of laboratory automation has significantly decreased the hands-on nature of the work. Today, many experienced laboratory scientists spend more time analyzing results, developing and modifying procedures, and establishing and monitoring quality control programs than they do performing tests