Who are Clinical Laboratory Scientists?
Have you ever wondered whom the doctor, nurse, or phlebotomists refer to when they need lab reports, what happens to the tubes of blood they draw at the hospital, and why they are waiting for the reports to understand and plan out the next steps in health management?
In these moments, you will realize that a group of professionals work hand in hand with the healthcare professionals you may be able to see.
The lab professionals are considered the backstage healthcare workers that directly impact your health findings. You may not visibly know them or see them but are connected to the health diagnosis and management of the patients by analyzing, testing, and reporting the findings.
Lab professionals are referred to various titles. By certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), we are referred to as Medical laboratory scientists(MLS); however, different schools, programs, and work settings use the term lab technology, medical technologist (MT), and clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) interchangeably.
The terms CLS, MLS, and MT, refer to the same profession, but medical laboratory technicians (MLT) differ.
My bachelor's degree states clinical laboratory sciences, my certification states MLS, and my job title was lab technologist. So this, you see, may cause much confusion as to who we are, what we do, and whether all these titles are the same.
CLS/MLS titles are obtained with a bachelor's degree, whereas medical technicians have earned an associate's degree. CLS/MLS professionals can perform high complexity tests and move to supervisory roles. But MLTs have to obtain additional education to obtain MLS certification to progress in their career goals.
Another difference you can see would be in the pay rate between MLS and MLTs. According to Glassdoor, MLS make a $76,320/year salary, and MLTs get $62,376/year. The compensation may depend on years of experience and State as well.
Both MLS and MLT professionals work in various settings such as hospitals, core labs, research labs, independent labs, doctor's offices, etc.
During the pandemic, the emergence of various new labs solely for COVID-related tests is seen everywhere, highlighting lab technologists' importance and crucial role.
Lab professionals can now travel to other places and work under contract with possible housing and other benefits if you enjoy traveling.
Linkedin is a great place to receive job opportunities in your inbox and connect with other lab technologists.
Feel free to connect with me on Linkedin and comment if you are ready to start your career as a CLS/MLS or MLT. We all are lab professionals regardless of the titles that help serve patient health diagnosis and treatment.
