1. Chapter 24 Medical Laboratory
Health Care Science Technology
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Objectives
Summarize the roles and responsibilities of a phlebotomist, medical laboratory assistant, medical laboratory technician, and medical technologist.
List the various places where a medical laboratory worker can be employed.
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3. Objectives (cont.)
Define phlebotomy and explain the various methods that can be used to draw blood.
Identify various methods used for a drawing blood.
Practice aseptic techniques during laboratory procedures.
Successfully complete 8 medical laboratory procedures.
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4. Careers in Medical Laboratories 24-1
The Phlebotomy Technician
Medical Laboratory Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist
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5. The Phlebotomy Technician
Phlebotomy – an incision, or cut, made into a vein to draw blood.
The most common method used to obtain blood is called venipuncture, puncturing a vein using a specifically-designed needle with a holder for special tubes.
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6. The Phlebotomy Technician (cont.)
Performs capillary punctures that are used to collect small blood samples.
May collect urine specimens and throat cultures.
Commonly works in hospitals or large clinics; also works in physician offices, laboratories, nursing homes, blood banks, and health departments.
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7. The Phlebotomy Technician (cont.)
Job Responsibilities
Properly identify blood samples. This is the most important part of the job.
Explain the procedure to the clients.
Accurately label all samples.
Treat all samples correctly.
Maintain confidentiality.
Obtain the correct specimen in the correct manner.
Transport the specimen in the right manner to the designated location.
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8. Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)
Often starts as a phlebotomy technician.
May work in the lab under the control of a medical technologist.
May be directed by a nurse or physician in a physician’s office.
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9. Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)
Job Responsibilities
Performs many tests to diagnose diseases.
Collects specimens, prepares them for testing, analyzes samples, and reports results.
Performs waived tests.
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10. Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
May perform electrocardiograms, calculate and give injections, and perform breathing tests.
Can remove sutures and change wound dressings.
May be trained to perform front office responsibilities and may assist the office manager.
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11. Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Collect throat specimens for culture of organisms.
Prepare bacteriological smears.
Stain culture smears with Gram’s stain for use in organism identification.
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12. Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Test urine with chemical reagent strips.
Test urine for glucose using copper reduction.
Collect capillary blood samples.
Perform blood glucose and cholesterol tests.
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13. Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Identify the client.
Identify the proper procedure for specimen collection.
Collect the specimen properly.
Accurately label the specimen.
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14. Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Properly transport the specimen.
Perform lab tests.
Transmit accurate and timely reports to the physician.
Maintain confidentiality.
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15. Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
Involved in preparing specimens and running automatic analyzers rather than collecting samples.
May be the person in charge in a physician’s office lab.
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16. Medical Laboratory Technician (cont.)
Job Responsibilities
Perform routine clinical lab tests to help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Perform less complex tests and lab procedures than technologists.
Usually work under the supervision of a medical laboratory technologist or laboratory manager.
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17. Medical Laboratory Technician (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Operate automated instruments.
Troubleshoot problems that occur with the equipment.
Prepare chemical solutions.
Maintain quality control for the tests being performed.
Keep accurate records.
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18. Medical Technologist (MT)/ Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)
Performs tests from the routine to the most complex.
Requires little or no supervision.
May be a teacher, supervisor, or researcher.
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19. Medical Technologist/ Clinical Laboratory Scientist (cont.)
Job Responsibilities
Analyze the chemical content of fluids.
Match blood for transfusions, test for drug levels in the blood, prepare specimens for examination.
Use automated equipment and instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously.
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20. Medical Technologist/ Clinical Laboratory Scientist (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Examine and analyze tissues, cells, blood, and other body fluids.
Analyze the chemical content of body fluids.
Prepare blood for transfusion.
Perform drug tests.
Identify fungi, parasites, or bacteria.
Report the sensitivity to antibiotics of identified microorganisms.
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21. Medical Technologist/ Clinical Laboratory Scientist (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Operate complex precision equipment.
Interpret results to assist physicians in the diagnosis of diseases.
Evaluate test results.
Develop procedures, quality control, and quality assurance.
Maintain the integrity of equipment.
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22. Section 24-1 Apply Your Knowledge
Which laboratory position requires the least amount of supervision?
Answer:
Medical Technologist/
Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
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23. Medical Office Procedures 24-2
Collecting Specimens
Performing Tests on Urine
Additional Career Skills
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24. Collecting Specimens Practice aseptic technique.
Obtain the specimen without causing harm, discomfort, or embarrassment to the client.
Give clear, complete instructions to the client regarding the collection method.
Collect the specimen in the proper manner and at the correct time.
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25. Collecting Specimens (cont.)
Assemble the correct collection methods, containers, and transport systems.
Collect the proper quantity of the specimen to avoid repetition.
Ask the client about any allergies or current medications that might affect test results.
Label all specimens with required information including the client’s name and date of collection.
Establish the legality of a diagnostic test before performing.
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26. Performing Tests on Urine
Urinalysis is the oldest screening tool for diseases.
The urinalysis provides information about:
Carbohydrate metabolism.
Liver and kidney function.
Acid-base balance.
The presence of infection.
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27. Additional Career Skills
Various additional tests are performed by the medical laboratory staff.
Blood collection is an invasive procedure and is regulated by state and federal guidelines.
When handling blood and other body fluids you should follow strict standard precautions at all times.
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28. Section 24-2 Apply Your Knowledge
What might an elevated cholesterol reading indicate?
Answer:
Liver malfunction, hypothyroidism, or atherosclerosis.
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29. Procedures in Student Text
24A Preparing Bacteriological Smears
24B Inoculating an Agar Plate
24C Staining Culture Smears with Gram’s Stain
24D Performing a Rapid Strep Test
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30. Procedures in Student Text (cont.)
24E1 Assessing Urine for Color and Turbidity
24E2 Measuring Specific Gravity Using a Urinometer
24E3 Testing Urine with Chemical Reagent Strips
24E4 Microscopic Urine Analysis
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31. Additional Procedures in Lab Activity Manual
LM24-1 Performing the Test for Infectious Mononucleosis
LM24-2A Testing Urine for Glucose Using Copper Reduction
LM24-2B Testing Urine for Protein
LM24-2C Performing a Pregnancy Test
LM24-3 Collecting a Capillary Blood Sample
LM24-4 Performing a Hematocrit
LM24-5 Performing a Hemoglobin Test
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32. Additional Procedures in Lab Activity Manual (cont.)
LM24-6 Making a Blood Smear
LM24-7 Manual Method for Counting Cells
LM24-8 Collecting a Venous Blood Sample
LM24-9 Performing a Butterfly Blood Collection
LM24-10 Performing an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test
LM24-11 Performing a Cholesterol Test
LM24-12 Determining ABO Group
LM24-13 Determining Rh Blood Factor
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