The clinical laboratory is staffed by highly trained professionals with degrees in medical laboratory science. Medical laboratory science is the health profession that educates people in performing laboratory tests on patient blood and other specimens. These laboratory tests are ordered by physicians and other healthcare providers who use the laboratory test results to diagnose, treat, and manage patients.
Medical laboratory scientists (MLS) are trained to work in all departments of the clinical laboratory, but they may work exclusively in one department or rotate between departments. MLSs that rotate between departments are known as generalists. There are also supervisory and administrative roles in the clinical laboratory. Below is a list of some of the various specially trained and certified personnel working in the clinical laboratory:
Specimen Collection and Processing Personnel
- Phlebotomist
- Performs venipuncture on patients to collect venous blood specimens
- Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)
- Processes specimens collected by phlebotomists and nurses and performs other tasks
Diagnostic Testing Personnel
- Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
- Performs diagnostic testing in any department of the clinical laboratory
- Requires a 2-year associate degree and a certification exam
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)
- Performs diagnostic testing in any department of the clinical laboratory
- Requires a 4-year bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science and a certification exam
- Note: this title is synonymous with Medical Technologist (MT) and Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), which are still used in the laboratory
Most professionals in the clinical laboratory are medical laboratory technicians (MLT) or medical laboratory scientists (MLS) who have been trained and certified in medical laboratory science. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 330,000 medical laboratory scientists and medical laboratory technicians in the United States in 2018.
Laboratory Leadership Personnel
- Medical Director
- Oversees laboratory quality and is ultimately responsible for results generated by the clinical laboratory
- Typically a pathologist or PhD
- Laboratory Director/Manager
- Oversees all laboratory duties, maintains laboratory regulations, and supervises staff
- Manages laboratory budget and capital allocations
- Lead Technologist/Charge Technologist
- Manages a specific department of the clinical laboratory
Larger clinical laboratories may have additional specialized personnel, including dedicated compliance officers, safety managers, education coordinators, quality managers, and more.
