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Clinical laboratory assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Patrick Tracy,
Dr. Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera
Clinical laboratory assistant example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical clinical laboratory assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for clinical laboratory assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.1% of clinical laboratory assistant resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a clinical laboratory assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 clinical laboratory assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use patients:
  • Differentiated between significant and insignificant laboratory findings based on patients' clinical history and tests results.
  • Placed and prepared patients in exam room for doctor evaluation or laboratory procedure.

2. Phlebotomy

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use phlebotomy:
  • Perform a variety of clinical support duties involved in the identification and processing of clinical specimens and phlebotomy collection.
  • Helped implement hospital wide mobile-care phlebotomy computer system by holding formal and informal training sessions with nursing departments.

3. Clinical Lab

A clinical lab is a healthcare facility where tests are carried out on clinical specimens to obtain information. Information is used to aid in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use clinical lab:
  • Worked with a team of clinical laboratory scientists and veterinary clinical pathologists to evaluate biologic samples for evidence of disease.
  • Performed clinical laboratory tests and procedures in microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and coagulation under supervision.

4. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use customer service:
  • Provided excellent customer service and professionalism, also performed and submitted environmental safety checks.
  • Provided exemplary customer service and used conflict resolution skills when necessary.

5. Specimen Collection

Specimen collection refers to process of collecting any tissue or fluid like substance in order to be analyzed and tested in a laboratory. Specimen collection is the initial necessary step for the diagnosis of a problem, providing a pathway to the eventual treatment.

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use specimen collection:
  • Assist Physicians/Nurse Practitioners with various laboratory test requirements for proper specimen collection and precise patient diagnosis.
  • Followed regulatory specimen collection and handling policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations.

6. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use patient care:
  • Communicate effectively with all diagnostic departments and hospital staff to coordinate and schedule patient care accurately and expeditiously.
  • Provided laboratory service for inpatient and outpatient care in a hospital setting, Presbyterian Hospital.

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7. Medical Terminology

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use medical terminology:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of medical terminology, infection control procedures, quality assurance support, data entry and retrieval.
  • Developed a familiarity with medical terminology, insurances, billing, diagnoses and hospital protocol.

8. Capillary Puncture

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use capillary puncture:
  • Performed venipuncture and capillary puncture on diverse population following principles and policies of safe practice.
  • Obtained patients specimen via venipuncture or capillary puncture on newborn up to geriatric populations.

9. Microbiology

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use microbiology:
  • Received 300+ specimens/day for microbiology tests/procedures, checked for proper identification and requisitions, and troubleshooted specimen and order problems.
  • Received and processed biological specimens for departments such as Hematology, Chemistry, Toxicology, Endocrinology, Serology and Microbiology.

10. Computer System

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use computer system:
  • Reviewed and processed orders for laboratory procedures; entered patient data into computer system.
  • Enter specimen tracking, laboratory data and patient information into computer system.

11. Blood Samples

A blood sample is a specimen of blood extracted from the body of an organism to run laboratory tests on it. Lab tests are conducted to determine if a person has optimum mineral content and has no illness. Blood is extracted from the vein with the help of a hypodermic needle. The blood is then analyzed to perform multiple tests such as; glucose tests, cholesterol tests, hemoglobin tests, blood count tests.

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use blood samples:
  • Verified shipment of blood samples Prepared samples for laboratory testing Complied with and verified all standard operating procedures Completed general clerical services
  • Centrifuge all blood samples in preparation for transport to the hospital laboratory and other laboratory facilities.

12. Laboratory Procedures

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use laboratory procedures:
  • Developed a training program for new nursing and laboratory personnel in laboratory procedures in accordance to specific clinical trial protocols.
  • Developed knowledge of laboratory procedures and the location of stored specimens.

13. EKG

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use ekg:
  • Performed EKG, Blood Pressure assisted the doctor for testing as well with the patient.
  • Administered EKG's, cleaned wounds, drew labs, and applied dressings.

14. Patient Identification

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use patient identification:
  • Performed accurate patient identification, verification and specimen labeling, handling and disposal of contaminated waste and sharps.
  • Directed the collection of specimens with rigid attention for proper patient identification.

15. Phlebotomy Training

Here's how clinical laboratory assistants use phlebotomy training:
  • Received Phlebotomy training and certification.
  • Assisted with phlebotomy training and assigned supervisory duties.
top-skills

What skills help Clinical Laboratory Assistants find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on clinical laboratory assistant resumes?

Patrick Tracy

MLT Program Coordinator, Wenatchee Valley College

-Good critical-thinking skills
-Good problem-solving skills
-Able to prioritize tasks
-Pay attention to detail
-Take a process from beginning to end
-Maintain focus for periods

What soft skills should all clinical laboratory assistants possess?

Dr. Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera

Associate Professor, University of Alabama in Huntsville

Planification.

What hard/technical skills are most important for clinical laboratory assistants?

Dr. Luis Rogelio Cruz-Vera

Associate Professor, University of Alabama in Huntsville

Pipetting, quantitative analysis, computer writing.

What clinical laboratory assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Benjamin FordBenjamin Ford LinkedIn profile

Professor and Chair, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Students taking a gap year should think about where they want to end up, both geographically and in terms of a career, and position themselves accordingly. That might mean moving to where they eventually want to live, taking a job to pay the bills, and volunteering with an organization to build local contacts. They should also work to develop the skills that will make them necessary in their intended career. The world became much more digital in the last nine months. We will likely return to many of our pre-pandemic physical practices, but aspects of our remote-everything existence will likely stick with us. Developing skills to be successful in a digital environment will be important.

What type of skills will young clinical laboratory assistants need?

Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska Ph.D.Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Department Chair, Palm Beach State College

Graduates [of all ages] will continue to need hands-on skills, the ability to work both in the group and individual settings, and, most importantly, be curious and teachable. Soft skills have taken on greater importance over the years, so we provide ongoing events for outreach, scientific communication, interview preparation, etc., to help provide students with ways to improve and grow their soft skills.

We are seeing scientific communications transitioning from in-person to remote settings, and our students are excelling at rising to the challenges. South Florida has a diverse life science career field, and our students continue to be well prepared to enter the job market and succeed in their career paths.

List of clinical laboratory assistant skills to add to your resume

Clinical laboratory assistant skills

The most important skills for a clinical laboratory assistant resume and required skills for a clinical laboratory assistant to have include:

  • Patients
  • Phlebotomy
  • Clinical Lab
  • Customer Service
  • Specimen Collection
  • Patient Care
  • Medical Terminology
  • Capillary Puncture
  • Microbiology
  • Computer System
  • Blood Samples
  • Laboratory Procedures
  • EKG
  • Patient Identification
  • Phlebotomy Training
  • CLIA
  • Blood Specimens
  • Test Results
  • Patient Samples
  • Chemistry
  • Centrifuges
  • Specimen Integrity
  • Patient Specimens
  • Body Fluids
  • Specimen Handling
  • Hematology
  • CLS
  • Reference Lab
  • CLA
  • Lab Tests
  • Safety Procedures
  • Cleanliness
  • Compassion
  • Process Specimens
  • HIPAA
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Lab Equipment
  • Patient Registration
  • Centrifugation
  • Stat
  • Test Order
  • Lab Results
  • Blood Collection
  • Proficiency Testing
  • Phone Calls
  • Pathogens
  • Sunquest

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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