Test laboratory technician vs dialysis technician

The differences between test laboratory technicians and dialysis 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 dialysis technician. Additionally, a test laboratory technician has an average salary of $50,765, which is higher than the $40,195 average annual salary of a dialysis technician.

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

Test laboratory technician vs dialysis technician overview

	Test Laboratory Technician	Dialysis Technician
Yearly salary	$50,765	$40,195
Hourly rate	$24.41	$19.32
Growth rate	-	9%
Number of jobs	64,233	100,653
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Associate Degree, 25%
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 dialysis technician do?

A dialysis technician is responsible for the control and maintenance of a dialysis machine. Dialysis technicians' duties include monitoring the stable performance of the equipment, assisting patients on the dialysis process, and adhering to the safety standards and protocols on the dialysis operation all the time. A dialysis technician also reports to the respective doctors and nurses for any concerns and possible emergency scenarios. Dialysis technicians must also sterilize all equipment before usage to ensure its cleanliness, avoiding possible infection for patients.

Test laboratory technician vs dialysis technician salary

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

	Test Laboratory Technician	Dialysis Technician
Average salary	$50,765	$40,195
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $73,000	Between $29,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	Waltham, MA	Fresno, CA
Highest paying state	Maine	California
Best paying company	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	American Mobile Healthcare
Best paying industry	Technology	Health Care

Differences between test laboratory technician and dialysis technician education

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

	Test Laboratory Technician	Dialysis Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Associate Degree, 25%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Nursing
Most common college	Purdue University	University of Connecticut

Test laboratory technician vs dialysis technician demographics

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

	Test Laboratory Technician	Dialysis Technician
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9%	Male, 25.1% Female, 74.9%
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, 11.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between test laboratory technician and dialysis 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.

Dialysis technician example responsibilities.

Maintain national certification as CCHT and attain CE's as required.
Practice guidelines require by national standard and regulatory agencies and infection control when sterilizing equipment, catheter sites, puncture sites.
Initiate, monitor, and terminate dialysis treatments for individual patients through intravenous and/or catheter ports.
Observe patients during hemodialysis treatments and identify patient problems and/or complications and report any unusual findings to the nurse supervisor.
Operate hemodialysis machines, calculate fluid removal/replacement, monitor venous and arterial pressures, and check patients for adverse reactions.
Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory procedures and equipment functions to perform duties accurately; comply with standard procedures and cleanliness guidelines.

Test laboratory technician vs dialysis 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 dialysis technician skills

Patients, 31%
Vital Signs, 13%
Direct Patient Care, 7%
CPR, 5%
Phlebotomy, 4%
Catheter, 3%

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Test Laboratory Technician
Test Laboratory Technician vs Dialysis Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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