What does a clinical laboratory technician do?

A Medical Technologist Generalist performs day-to-day operations in the laboratory such as routine testing, quality control, and maintenance of instruments. They also develop, perform, and evaluate the accuracy of laboratory procedures.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, clinical laboratory technician responsibilities require skills like "clinical laboratory technologist," "test results," "qc," and "customer service." Meanwhile a typical medical technologist, generalist has skills in areas such as "clinical laboratory," "microbiology," "laboratory tests," and "analyzers." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that clinical laboratory technician responsibilities requires skills like "clinical laboratory technologist," "test results," "specimen collection," and "clinical specimens." But a medical technologist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "clinical laboratory," "ascp," "microbiology," and "basic math."

The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, clinical laboratory technicians are more likely to have skills like "clinical laboratory technologist," "body fluids," "qc," and "laboratory procedures." But a laboratory supervisor is more likely to have skills like "clinical laboratory," "chemistry," "microbiology," and "corrective action."

A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly. A laboratory aide may also run errands, produce progress reports, sanitize areas and instruments, and properly dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy laboratory environment for everyone.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between clinical laboratory technicians and laboratory aides, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a clinical laboratory technician might have more use for skills like "clinical laboratory technologist," "body fluids," "proficiency testing," and "qc." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of laboratory aides require skills like "phone calls," "compassion," "computer programs," and "reference laboratories. "