Occupation

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Human Advantage 71%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.5 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Also Known As: Biotechnician, Blood Bank Laboratory Technician, Blood Typer, Blood and Plasma Laboratory Assistant, Blood or Blood Bank Technician, Catheterization Laboratory Technician (Catheterization Lab Tech), Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician, Certified Dialysis Technician +37 more

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Core Tasks

  1. Conduct chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood or urine, using microscope or automatic analyzer to detect abnormalities or diseases and enter findings into computer.
  2. Analyze the results of tests or experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical or electrical devices.
  3. Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
  4. Prepare standard volumetric solutions or reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
  5. Collect blood or tissue samples from patients, observing principles of asepsis to obtain blood sample.
  6. Supervise or instruct other technicians or laboratory assistants.

Supplemental Tasks (7)

  1. Conduct blood tests for transfusion purposes and perform blood counts.
  2. Obtain specimens, cultivating, isolating, and identifying microorganisms for analysis.
  3. Examine cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities.
  4. Consult with a pathologist to determine a final diagnosis when abnormal cells are found.
  5. Perform medical research to further control or cure disease.
  6. Test raw materials, processes, or finished products to determine quality or quantity of materials or characteristics of a substance.
  7. Analyze and record test data to issue reports that use charts, graphs, or narratives.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Perform quality control analyses to ensure accuracy of test results.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
46%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
31%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
10%
Master's Degree
7%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
4%
Some College Courses
1%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
0%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
0%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Google Docs
  • MEDITECH software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Software (33)

  • Billing software
  • Commercial plate reader software
  • Data entry software
  • Database software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Email software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Hematology laboratory workflow management software
  • IBM Notes
  • Laboratory information system LIS
  • Medical digital imaging software
  • Medical software
  • Medical system integration software
  • Microscopic image capturing software
  • Minitab
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Quality control software
  • Quizlet
  • Reimbursement screening software
  • Specimen tracking software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Laboratory
  • Test result delivery software
  • Test routing software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (88)

  • 22-gauge needles
  • 5-part differential automated hematology analyzers
  • 8 and 12 channel pipettes
  • Agglutination viewers
  • Anaerobe jars
  • Analytical balances
  • Antigen-coated test plates
  • Autoclaves
  • Automated chemistry analyzers
  • Automated coagulation analyzers
  • Automated platelet analyzers
  • Automated/semi-automated dipstick analysis systems
  • Automatic pipetters
  • Bench refractometers
  • Blood agar plates
  • Blood bank refrigerators
  • Blood collection needles
  • Blood collection syringes
  • Blood culture incubators
  • Butterfly needles
  • Candle jars
  • Capillary sticks
  • Capillary tubes
  • Cell counters
  • Cell washers
  • Centrifuges
  • Chemistry analyzers
  • Chromatographs
  • Coagulation analyzers
  • Collection tube holders/adapters
  • Colorimetric devices
  • Compound microscopes
  • Desktop computers
  • Differential hematology analyzers with laser technology
  • Diluters
  • Dropping pipettes
  • Dry bath incubators
  • Electrical mixers
  • Electrolyte analyzers
  • Evacuated blood collection tubes
  • Flow cytometers
  • Fluorescence microscopes
  • Gas chromatographs GC
  • Glass slides
  • Glucose monitoring systems
  • Hemacytometers
  • Hematology analyzers
  • Hematology task-targeted automation TTA systems
  • Heterologous test systems
  • Homologous test systems
  • Incubators
  • Label printers
  • Laboratory vacuum pumps
  • Laminar flow hoods
  • Laser printers
  • Light microscopes
  • Microhematocrits
  • Micrometers
  • Microtiter plates
  • Needle holders
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
  • Petri dishes
  • Plasma extractors
  • Plasma thawers
  • Plate washers
  • Platelet rockers
  • Portable coagulation analyzers
  • Scintillation counters
  • Semiautomated hematology analyzers
  • Sensitivity plates
  • Serological kits
  • Serology tube rotators
  • Single-channel pipettes
  • Spectrometers
  • Spectrophotometers
  • Sterile blood lancets
  • Sterile transfer tubes
  • Stylets
  • Thermal cyclers
  • Tissue cassettes
  • Tissue embedding equipment
  • Tourniquets
  • Triple beam balances
  • Ultracentrifuges
  • Unopettes
  • Urinometers
  • pH meters

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Physical Health Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
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