Careers Laboratory Science

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Careers Laboratory Science

• Information Provided By
• Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Center
  (AHEC)
• http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index
• PowerPoint Presentation By
• Juliane Monko Dr. Frank Flanders
• CTAE Resource Network, June 2009
• Based On PowerPoint Ideas From
• Penny Howard, RN, Healthcare Science Instructor

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AHEC

• There are six centers in the Georgia AHEC
  Network, and each serves a multi-county region. 
• The AHEC mission is to meet the health needs of
  Georgia by improving the supply, distribution and
  quality of healthcare providers.
• AHECs offer enrichment programs, camps, learning
  tools, student counseling, volunteer and
  mentoring activity coordination, and access to
  other educational resources.
• Contact your regional AHEC for more information. 

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Objectives

• Students will be able to describe health careers
  in the field of Laboratory Science.
• Students will be able to plan a healthcare career
  path in Laboratory Science.

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Careers in Laboratory Science

• Cytotechnologist
• Histology Technician/Histotechnologist
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Medical Technologist
• Phlebotomist

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Cytotechnologist
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Cytotechnologist

• Cytotechnologists specialize in the study of
  cells.  They mount samples of the body's cells on
  slides and study them under a microscope.
• They look for changes in cell structures, color,
  shape, and size.  These changes could be signs of
  cancer, pre-cancerous growths, hormonal problems,
  or the presence of another disease. 
• These conditions are reported to a pathologist
  (physician specializing in the origin and nature
  of diseases) for further study.

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Cytotechnologist

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Educational institutions
• Hospitals
• Private laboratories
• Research facilities

• Average Starting Salary 39,832
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Cytotechnologist Educational Requirements

• Students must complete four years of formal
  education leading to a Bachelor of Science degree
  emphasizing biology and chemistry. 
  Cytotechnology programs are generally 12 months
  long.

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Histology Technician/Histotechnologist
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Histology Technician/Histotechnologist

• Histology is the microscopic study of tissues and
  their structures. 
• Histology technicians (HTs) and
  histotechnologists (HTLs) are experts in slide
  preparation.  They prepare tissues by immersing
  them in fluid to prevent decay, replacing the
  specimen's water with wax, slicing the tissue and
  applying dyes. 

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Histology Technician/Histotechnologist

• The slides are microscopically examined by a
  pathologist or scientist for diagnosis.  Samples
  are also used for teaching and research.
• Histotechnologists perform more specialized
  procedures, such as electron microscopy to
  identify tissue parts and relate them to body
  functions.  They can also establish new
  laboratory and quality control procedures.

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Histology Technician/Histotechnologist

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Hospital laboratories
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Physicians' offices
• Public health departments
• Research facilities

• Average Starting Salary 38,469
  (Histotechnologist), 31,450 (Histology
  Technician)
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Histology Technician/HistotechnologistAcademic
Requirements

• Students interested in becoming histology
  technicians may complete one of two routes of
  study.  They may enter accredited histology
  programs or acquire associate degrees plus one
  year of laboratory experience.  Students
  interested in becoming a histotechnologist must
  complete a histologic curriculum leading to a
  bachelor's degree.  Those with bachelor's degrees
  in related fields may also enter accredited
  histologic programs.

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Medical Laboratory Technician
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Medical Laboratory Technician

• Usually under the supervision of medical
  technologists, medical laboratory technicians
  (MLTs) collect, type and group blood. 
• They stain slides and perform routine tests on
  the body's blood, tissues, and fluids.  MLTs keep
  records and clean and sterilize equipment. 
• They use microscopes, computers, and other
  laboratory equipment to gather data used to
  determine the absence, presence, extent and cause
  of diseases. 

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Medical Laboratory Technician

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Blood donation centers
• Hospital labs
• Nursing homes
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Physicians' offices
• Public health departments
• Research facilities
• Universities

• Average Starting Salary 28,122
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Medical Laboratory Technician Academic
Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required. 
  Two years of course work and laboratory
  experience are required to obtain an associate
  degree.  Twelve-month certificate programs are
  also available. Students with two years of
  college or a related associate degree can become
  technicians by completing an accredited medical
  laboratory technician program and fulfilling
  other science and lab experience requirements.

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Medical Technologist
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Medical Technologist

• Medical technologists (MTs), also known as
  clinical laboratory scientists, are the backbone
  of nearly every laboratory. 
• They ensure a well run operation by providing
  reliable results, controlling quality, and
  training and supervising lab technicians. 
• They provide data so that doctors and researchers
  can determine the presence and extent of disease
  and evaluate effectiveness of treatment.

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Medical Technologist

• MTs often choose specialty areas such as drug
  testing, therapeutic drug monitoring and
  biogenetics.  
• Areas of Specialization
• Blood Banking
• Clinical Chemistry
• Hematology
• Immunology/Serology
• Microbiology

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Medical Technologist

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Blood banks
• Colleges and universities
• Consulting
• Forensics
• Government facilities
• Hospital laboratories
• Medical supply and sales
• Nursing homes
• Physicians' offices
• Private and commercial laboratories
• Public health departments
• Research facilities

• Average Starting Salary 37,003
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

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Medical TechnologistAcademic Requirements

• Bachelor degree programs include three to four
  years of course work and 12 months of clinical
  practice.  In some schools, college science
  graduates can complete a one-year program which
  leads to a certificate or degree in medical
  technology.  Certified medical lab technicians
  and students who have completed two years of
  general college courses may enter two-year
  medical technology programs.

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Phlebotomist
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Phlebotomist

• As part of the laboratory team, phlebotomists
  collect and process blood to be analyzed. 
• They have a great deal of patient contact and
  help calm nervous patients before beginning the
  blood collection process. 

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Phlebotomist

• Their education and experience help them to draw
  blood with the least possible anxiety and
  discomfort to the patient. 
• Phlebotomists are usually supervised by a medical
  technologist.

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Phlebotomist

• Work Environment

• Salary

• Average Starting Salary 21,673
• Figures according to 2006 data. To see updated
  figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC website at
  
  http//www.sowega-ahec.org/index

• Blood donation centers
• Clinics
• Home health agencies
• Hospitals
• Insurance companies
• Pheresis (blood separation) centers
• Physicians' offices
• Public health departments
• Reference laboratories  

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PhlebotomistAcademic Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required. 
  Training can be obtained through one-year,
  on-the-job instruction or through a formal
  phlebotomy program, which lasts several months.

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Summary

• There is a variety of careers available in
  Laboratory Science. Educational requirements vary
  by career and career level. Students interested
  in these careers should use the information
  provided here as a basis for a career plan. The
  student should also research the career further
  to complete a career plan.
• Career available in Laboratory Science include
• Cytotechnologist
• Histology Technician/Histotechnologist
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Medical Technologist
• Phlebotomist