Medical laboratory technologists – NOC : 3211

Unit Group

3211 Medical laboratory technologists

Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, blood banks, community and private clinics, research facilities and post-secondary educational institutions. Medical laboratory technologists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Example Titles

clinical immunology technologist

cytogenetics technologist – medical laboratory

histology technologist

immunohematology technologist

medical laboratory supervisor

medical laboratory technologist

medical technologist – medical laboratory

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Main duties

Medical laboratory technologists perform some or all of the following duties:

Set up, operate and maintain laboratory equipment
Conduct chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal and other body fluids
Study blood cells and other tissues to determine their relation to various physiological and pathological conditions
Prepare tissue sections for microscopic examinations using techniques to demonstrate special cellular tissue elements or other characteristics
Perform blood group, type and compatibility tests for transfusion purposes
Establish procedures for the analysis of specimens and for medical laboratory experiments
Conduct quality control assessment of testing techniques
May supervise and train other medical laboratory technical staff, students and helpers
May assist pathologists during autopsies.

Medical laboratory technologists may specialize in areas such as clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, histotechnology, immunohematology, cytotechnology and cytogenetics.

Employment requirements

A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology is required
and
A period of supervised practical training may be required.
Registration with a regulatory body is required in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is usually required by employers.

Classified elsewhere

Life science technologists in non-medical laboratories (in 2221 Biological technologists and technicians )
Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants (3212)
Physical science technologists in non-medical laboratories (in 2211 Chemical technologists and technicians )