Allied Health Professions in the Clinical Laboratory Cheri Goretti, ma, mt(ascp), cma(aama) Professor & director, allied health programs Quinebaug valley community college

Ever wonder what happens to your blood tubes after you’ve had your blood drawn?

What is the Clinical Laboratory? Department of the hospital where blood and other body specimens are processed for testing Routine wellness testing Urinalysis Screening for diseases Cardiac Risk Profile Diagnosing diseases Glucose Tolerance Test

Specific Departments Chemistry Hematology Coagulation Microbiology Immunology/ Serology Urinalysis Blood bank

Chemistry Department Tests performed include: Fasting blood glucose Cardiac risk panel Hormone levels Liver function tests Kidney function tests

Chemistry Autoanalyzer

Hematology/Coagulation Department Complete Blood Count (CBC) – looks at all of the blood cells in the body. Proper amount, size, shape Used to help diagnose anemia, infections, leukemias, thrombocytopenia Prothrombin Time/INR Partial Thromboplastin Time Both tests used to monitor patients who are on Coumadin or heparin Bleeding Time Clotting Time

Blood smear for a CBC

Microbiology Department Tests performed on blood and other body fluids to determine the presence of bacteria Throat culture Urine culture Tests performed to determine presence of intestinal parasites Ova and Parasite test Tests performed to determine presence of viruses Herpesvirus culture

Microbiologist

Immunology/Serology Department Rheumatoid Factor Test –test for rheumatoid arthritis Mono Test – test for mononucleosis Hepatitis A, B, and C antibody and antigen testing HIV antibody and antigen testing

RF Serology Test – for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Blood Bank Department Tests performed to determine a patient’s blood type and compatibility to a donor unit of blood ABO and Rh Typing Type and Screen Type and Crossmatch

Blood Bank

Professions in the Clinical Laboratory Phlebotomist Medical Laboratory Technician Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist

Phlebotomist Must have some sort of formal training – credit or non- credit Credit programs offer a ladder to other health care fields such as medical assisting or medical laboratory technician Must be nationally certified by taking certification exam Phlebotomist perform more tasks than just drawing blood Specimen processing Collect and/or test urine Perform glucose tolerance test or bleed time test

Phlebotomist Graduates in phlebotomy have gone on to: Medical assisting degree Medical lab technician Clinical lab scientist Histology technician Nursing

Curriculum Techniques of phlebotomy Internship (not always required) Credit Programs Non-credit Programs Medical terminology Medical law and ethics Techniques of phlebotomy Phlebotomy internship Techniques of phlebotomy Internship (not always required)

Medical Laboratory Technician Also known as clinical laboratory technician 2 year associates degree Performs wide range of laboratory tests Nationally certified

MLT General Education Courses English Composition Intermediate Algebra or higher Medical Terminology Chemistry Human Biology Medical Law & Ethics Humanities elective Social Science elective

Core MLT Courses Intro to Clinical Lab Techniques of Phlebotomy Urinalysis and Body Fluids Clinical Hematology & Coagulation Clinical Chemistry Clinical Immunohematology & Serology Clinical Microbiology Internships – 400 hours

Clinical Laboratory Scientist Also known as medical technologist or medical laboratory scientist 4 year bachelors degree Performs all types of specimen analysis Can hold department supervisor positions Can hold laboratory manager positions Can hold other management positions Nationally certified

CLS Curriculum – General Education Core English Composition Intermediate Algebra or higher Statistics General Chemistry I & II Organic Chemistry I & II Biochemistry Genetics Human Biology or A&P I & II Physics

CLS Core Courses Intro to Clinical Lab Techniques of Phlebotomy Urinalysis and Body Fluids Clinical Hematology & Coagulation Clinical Chemistry Clinical Immunohematology & Serology Clinical Microbiology Quality Assurance and Quality Control Laboratory Information Systems Internships – 400 hours

Employment– US Bureau of Labor Statistics Phlebotomists – expected to grow by 25% from 2014-2024 Median annual salary $31,000 ($15/hr) Medical Laboratory Technician – expected to grow 16% from 2014-2024 Median annual salary $50, 550 ($24.30/hr) Clinical Laboratory Scientists – expected to grow by 16% Median annual salary $65,000 ($31/hr)

Where are Lab Professionals Employed? Hospital laboratories Reference laboratories State and federal laboratories College and universities Pharmaceutical companies – research and sales (Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb) Biotechnology companies – research and sales (Genzyme, Arvinas)

Anatomical Laboratory Section of the laboratory that deals with processing and diagnosing conditions of cells and tissues Histology – the study of tissues. Prepare surgical specimens for macroscopic & microscopic examination Histologist histotechnician Cytology – the study of cells. Prepares cellular specimens for microscopic examination Cytologists/Cytotechnologist

Anatomical Laboratory Pathologist Specialized physician who diagnoses diseases by microscopically examining tissues and other body fluids. Also the medical director of the clinical laboratory

Employment Outlook Histologist Median annual salary $60,500 Rapid job growth of 16% from 2014-2024 Requires a bachelors degree and national certification Histotechnician Median annual salary $47,000 Requires an associates degree and national certification

Employment Outlook Cytologist/Cytotechnologist Median annual salary $50,000-65,000 Requires a bachelors degree and national certification Pathologist Median annual salary $255,204 Rapid job growth 18% from 2012-2022 medical school then a 4 year pathology residency Licensed

Professional Society for Lab Personnel American Society for Clinical Pathologist (ASCP) Largest professional membership organization for pathologists and laboratory professionals Offers national certification exams for all lab personnel (phlebotomists, MLT, CLS, HT, CT, etc) https://www.ascp.org/content