The Medical Laboratory Technician is trained to perform procedures in the hospital laboratory departments of Blood Bank, Chemistry, Coagulation, Hematology, Microbiology, Mycology, Parasitology, Serology, and Urinalysis. They can also be the individuals who draw blood from patients who are in the hospital or come to the laboratory as an outpatient. The laboratory tests performed by the Medical Laboratory Technician are used by the clinician in the diagnosis of disease, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment, and the general maintenance of health.
The students in the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program take 52 semester hours of courses on campus during the first year of the program, which includes the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The second year, they spend most of their time in a hospital laboratory where they gain first-hand experience of what it is like to work in a clinical hospital laboratory. Coastal Carolina Community College is affiliated with eight area hospitals, all of which are within a 70 mile radius of Jacksonville. In addition, accommodations can be made for students to train in an out-of-area hospital if necessary.
The Medical Laboratory Technology program at Coastal Carolina Community College is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). After graduation from the two-year Associate in Applied Science degree program, the MLT graduate is eligible to take the certification exam given by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
The MLT works under the supervision of a Medical Technologist, but also has contact with nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, x-ray technicians, and other healthcare workers in addition to patients. A MLT can be employed by a variety of agencies other than a hospital, including pharmaceutical companies, health departments, doctor’s offices, research laboratories, veterinarian’s offices, industry, reference laboratories, the American Red Cross, lab supply companies, and instrument manufacturers.
The Medical Laboratory Technology curriculum prepares individuals to perform clinical laboratory procedures in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunohematology that may be used in the maintenance of health and diagnosis/treatment of disease.
Coursework emphasizes mathematical and scientific concepts related to specimen collection, laboratory testing and procedures, quality assurance, and reporting/recording and interpreting findings involving tissues, blood, and body fluids.
Graduates may be eligible to take the examination given by the Board of Certification of the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Employment opportunities include laboratories in hospitals, medical offices, industry, and research facilities.
Coastal Carolina Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science degree. This has been identified as a limited enrollment program and may involve certain deadlines. See an Academic Counselor for additional information.
Resources
Certifications & Professional Organizations
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS)
www.ascls.org
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
www.naacls.org
American Medical Technologists
www.americanmedtech.org
American Society for Clinical Pathology
www.ascp.org
College of American Pathologists
www.cap.org
Additional Resources
AABB – Advancing Transfusion & Cellular Therapies Worldwide
www.aabb.org
LabCE – Online Laboratory Continuing Education for Medical Technologists
www.labce.com
Clinical Laboratory Science Internet Resources
American Association for Clinical Chemistry
www.aacc.org