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 useÂ
- Forwarding test results to requesting doctors
- Keeping clear records of the test results in the lab’s record bookÂ
- 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
