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Accessioner vs clinical technician

The differences between accessioners and clinical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an accessioner and a clinical technician. Additionally, a clinical technician has an average salary of $35,760, which is higher than the $32,627 average annual salary of an accessioner.

The top three skills for an accessioner include laboratory specimens, laboratory analysis and lab tests. The most important skills for a clinical technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Accessioner vs clinical technician overview

AccessionerClinical Technician
Yearly salary$32,627$35,760
Hourly rate$15.69$17.19
Growth rate-9%
Number of jobs59,541161,812
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4444
Years of experience1212

What does an accessioner do?

An accessioner works at laboratories where they are primarily in charge of managing and organizing specimens, assisting scientists as needed. Their responsibilities include receiving and verifying samples, labeling and preparing specimens according to its purpose, updating databases, disposing of waste properly, and examining samples for any contamination. They may also answer client and staff inquiries, providing them with accurate information such as timelines and results. Furthermore, as an accessioner, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff and adhere to the laboratory's rules and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.

What does a clinical technician do?

A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.

Accessioner vs clinical technician salary

Accessioners and clinical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

AccessionerClinical Technician
Average salary$32,627$35,760
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $45,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyZoetisBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between accessioner and clinical technician education

There are a few differences between an accessioner and a clinical technician in terms of educational background:

AccessionerClinical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeNew York UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Accessioner vs clinical technician demographics

Here are the differences between accessioners' and clinical technicians' demographics:

AccessionerClinical Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 25.6% Female, 74.4%Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 11.8% White, 53.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 11.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between accessioner and clinical technician duties and responsibilities

Accessioner example responsibilities.

  • Achieve PHLEBOTOMY duties utilizing proper infection control techniques and perform a variety of laboratory tests.
  • Manage microbiology processing, customer care accounts, frozen splits, send outs and cytology processing.
  • Detail data entry base on patients requisitions and assist with various administrative functions.
  • Prepare specimens for FedEx shipments.
  • Follow company policies and procedures, including OSHA guidelines.
  • Create doctors schedules daily through EMR and Microsoft applications.
  • Show more

Clinical technician example responsibilities.

  • Prepare QC and QA samples for validity testing.
  • Resolve issues from level 1 EMR support as well as EMR issues transfer from other departments.
  • Recognize life threatening situations and activate the emergency response system while assisting with CPR and code cart.
  • Report and document description of patient care information in EMR in accordance with hospital policy and procedure.
  • Participate in reviews and QC of external central laboratory contracts, sample kits and manuals and ensure accuracy.
  • Assist in advance and basic life support techniques, perform EKG's, blood withdrawal, and computer order entry.
  • Show more

Accessioner vs clinical technician skills

Common accessioner skills
  • Laboratory Specimens, 26%
  • Laboratory Analysis, 10%
  • Lab Tests, 7%
  • Specimen Handling, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Data Entry, 5%
Common clinical technician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Phlebotomy, 7%
  • Direct Patient Care, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • EKG, 4%

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