Test laboratory technician vs clinical laboratory technician

The differences between test laboratory technicians and clinical laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a test laboratory technician and a clinical laboratory technician. Additionally, a test laboratory technician has an average salary of $50,765, which is higher than the $50,756 average annual salary of a clinical laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a test laboratory technician include test equipment, troubleshoot and test results. The most important skills for a clinical laboratory technician are patients, test results, and patient care.

Test laboratory technician vs clinical laboratory technician overview

	Test Laboratory Technician	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$50,765	$50,756
Hourly rate	$24.41	$24.40
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	64,233	119,050
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	12	12

What does a test laboratory technician do?

A test laboratory technician is responsible for conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients' conditions and identify their treatment plans. Test laboratory technicians safely operate laboratory tools and equipment, adhering to the strict safety standards and regulations to avoid contamination and prevent potential hazards within the laboratory. They also maintain the cleanliness of the area, as well as sanitizing the instruments and properly segregating disposable materials. A test laboratory technician analyzes results and writes medical reports under the supervision of an attending physician or medical technologist.

What does a clinical laboratory technician do?

A clinical laboratory technician typically works under the direction of a physician or medical technologist to perform tests that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and illnesses. You will perform various duties, including preparing samples for analysis, monitoring tests and procedures, and matching blood for transfusion. Additionally, you are expected to participate in staff training and educational opportunities and contribute to a secure and safe environment for patients, physicians, co-workers, and visitors. This role will also require ensuring that laboratory information remains confidential.

Test laboratory technician vs clinical laboratory technician salary

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

	Test Laboratory Technician	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$50,765	$50,756
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $73,000	Between $36,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	Waltham, MA	Stockton, CA
Highest paying state	Maine	Alaska
Best paying company	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	Claxton Hepburn
Best paying industry	Technology	Media

Differences between test laboratory technician and clinical laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between a test laboratory technician and a clinical laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

	Test Laboratory Technician	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Biology
Most common college	Purdue University	New York University

Test laboratory technician vs clinical laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between test laboratory technicians' and clinical laboratory technicians' demographics:

	Test Laboratory Technician	Clinical Laboratory Technician
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9%	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 11.6% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 12.9% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between test laboratory technician and clinical laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Test laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Used LabVIEW to collect data from measurement equipment (transducers, etc . )
Assist in the design of all RF and environmental fixtures need to test these components.
Assist product engineering to make changes to products in order to meet UL and CSA standards.
Test soil, asphalt, and concrete samples for moisture, density, durability, and other characteristics.
Test done on the asphalt must pass due to the specification of GDOT specs for the contractor to use.

Clinical laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
Provide oversight of training and competency testing of technicians to ensure compliance with CLIA, HIPPA and OSHA guidelines.
Collect, process, and analyze clinical specimens for several departments including microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis
Experience working in a hospital laboratory in automate chemistry, hematology, blood bank, urinalysis, and immunology departments.
Dispose of biohazard wastes according to OSHA standards ..
Screen blood products for pathogens and co-treatment success.

Test laboratory technician vs clinical laboratory technician skills

Common test laboratory technician skills

Test Equipment, 8%
Troubleshoot, 7%
Test Results, 6%
Test Lab, 6%
Test Methods, 5%
Data Collection, 5%

Common clinical laboratory technician skills

Patients, 16%
Test Results, 7%
Patient Care, 6%
Hematology, 5%
Body Fluids, 4%
Proficiency Testing, 4%

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Test Laboratory Technician
Test Laboratory Technician vs Clinical Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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