Medical Laboratory Science: An area of the medical field that performs tests to see how the body is functioning in order to help doctors identify diseases and treat them properly. The individuals who run these lab tests are called Medical/Clinical Laboratory Scientists (MLS/CLS). It is estimated that roughly 70-80% of medical decisions are based on lab results, so having trained people in the lab running the tests is incredibly important to patient care. 

Medical Lab Scientists are a part of one big team; they’re always willing to help those around them. Many scientists will discuss abnormal results before giving them to the doctor, to make sure the results are accurate. They’re also problem solvers. They look at lab results and have to figure out if they’re accurate based on the patient’s medical history, as well as their current treatment. This can be challenging, especially if the patient is really sick and in the hospital and is getting a lot of different treatments. In these cases, Scientists rely on the nursing staff to help them determine if the lab results make sense with the patient’s current treatment. Medical Lab Scientists have a passion for helping patients get the right diagnosis and the right treatment. They are always willing to go the extra mile to get the correct results to the doctor in a timely manner. 

In a hospital setting, Medical Lab Scientists work in one of four main areas of the lab: Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, and Blood Bank.

In the Hematology area, scientists look at a patient's blood cells to see if they’re working correctly. Scientists make sure that there are enough red blood cells (RBC) to carry oxygen everywhere in the body. They also look under the microscope to make sure that the patient’s cells look like they should. Some illnesses can cause a patient’s white blood cells (WBC) to look abnormal, or have a higher than normal amount of one type or another. To learn more about RBCs and WBCs, check out the article RBCs, WBCs, and Platelets: Oh My! Posted on the Pink Space Theory blog!

In the Chemistry area, scientists run a lot of different tests and help diagnose a lot of different illnesses. They run tests to look at a patient’s blood sugar, which could help diagnose diabetes. They run tests to look at how different organs are functioning, like the kidneys or the liver. They run tests on hormones, which can help figure out if someone is pregnant. The Chemistry area is a very busy area, running a lot of tests that help the doctors rule in and out many different diseases. If you ever get labs drawn for a BasicMetabolic Panel (BMP) or Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP), you’re getting chemistry labs drawn! 

In the Microbiology area, scientists are looking for different bacteria and viruses in the body that shouldn’t be there. Everybody has naturally occurring bacteria; these bacteria live inside us and help us break down different foods and medications. The Microbiology area of the lab is looking to make sure that there aren’t any harmful bacteria inside the body. Microbiology can test many different body fluids for bacteria, including our blood, saliva, and urine.  

In the Blood Bank area, also called the Immunohematology area, scientists test patients' blood to see what their blood type is. There are four blood types: A, B, AB, and O, and each type can be positive or negative. Sometimes, patients come in and they have lost some blood. We need blood to move oxygen to our cells, so scientists in the Blood Bank determine a patient’s blood type so they can give them proper blood transfusions. In addition to giving out red blood cells, the Blood Bank also gives out plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate. These other parts of the blood are important to give patients who have had a lot of blood loss, to help them be able to clot and move nutrients throughout their body.

Being a Medical Laboratory Scientist can be very challenging, but it is also very rewarding. They are actively helping doctors determine what is wrong with their patients, so they can get the best treatment possible. We help give answers to the many questions patients have, and help show when treatments are working. Although many people don’t think about where their lab results come from, just know that behind every lab result is a qualified scientist making sure that your results are right every time. This April, in honor of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, be sure to thank a Lab Scientist for their hard work. 

To learn more about what Medical Lab Scientists do, visit the American Society of Clinical Pathologists website, or check out this interactive exploration below:

https://www.knowitall.org/interactive/medical-lab-technician-kids-wor

References

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Dreamstime. (2021). Chemistry kids. Science children school characters in lab vector cartoon people. School lab and student experiment, scientific research illustration. Science Lab Cartoon Stock Illustrations – 12,275 Science Lab Cartoon Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart - Dreamstime. https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/science-lab-cartoon.html

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Lab Week. (2021). American Society of Clinical Pathologists. https://www.ascp.org/content/get-involved/get-recognized/lab-week

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. (2021). The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. https://www.ascls.org/participate/lab-week-mlpw

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