Medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) generally work in hospital and private laboratories (clinical or research) or physician office labs. At career entry, the MLT will be able to perform routine clinical laboratory tests in hematology, chemistry, immunohematology, microbiology, immunology and coagulation. In addition, to possessing the basic laboratory skills required for entry-level positions in these areas, they also qualify for additional education and training in other emerging laboratory fields, such as molecular diagnostics.
Students in the program at Amarillo College participate in practicums in clinical laboratories, not only within the city of Amarillo but in other towns and cities throughout the Texas Panhandle.
Medical laboratory technicians may function behind the scenes, but the work that they do is exciting, varied and vital to the quality of a patient’s healthcare.
You will be trained to professionally conduct lab tests ordered by doctors and other healthcare providers, working with human bodily fluids and tissue samples to determine diagnoses and identify abnormalities. You will work with microscopes, computers and other automated laboratory instruments, keeping detailed records of the data you compile.