Patient Rights Healthcare Team What Is a Medical Technologist? These professionals analyze body fluid and tissue samples By Andrea Clement Santiago Andrea Clement Santiago Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Andrea Clement Santiago is a medical staffing expert and communications executive. She's a writer with a background in healthcare recruiting. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 11, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH LinkedIn Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH, is a board-certified specialist in family medicine and is the former medical director of a community health center. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Concentrations Procedural Expertise Subspecialties Training and Certification A medical technologist is a highly skilled health professional who tests and analyzes blood, other body fluids, and tissue samples. Medical technologists are responsible for operating and maintaining the equipment used to analyze specimens and ensuring that tests are completed in a correct and timely manner. Cultura / Jason Butcher / Riser / Getty Images Medical technologists' training is more extensive than that of the medical lab technicians with whom they often work. Although medical technologists do not often interact directly with patients, their work is vital to the appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients. Also Known As Clinical laboratory scientistMedical laboratory scientistMedical laboratory technologist Concentrations Medical technologists work in all areas of the lab, including immunology, microbiology, genetics, histology, hematology, chemistry, toxicology, and blood banking. The role of a medical technologist may be determined by the branch of pathology their lab specializes in, but is otherwise only limited by the tools they are provided. Regardless, it is purely diagnostic. Clinical Pathology In clinical pathology, the technologist would conduct and oversee lab tests on body fluids. The tests are performed to identify markers for infectious and non-infectious diseases. Among the specimens a medical technologist will typically analyze are: Blood Urine Sputum (phlegm) Stool (feces) Spinal fluid Pleural fluid Peritoneal fluid Joint fluid Bone marrow Anatomical Pathology Anatomical pathology involves the examination of tissues taken from the body during a biopsy or surgery. While some of the diagnostic tests can be performed by a technologist, others require the expertise of the pathologist. The types of examinations a technologist may perform or assist in include: Gross examination: Examination of tissue with the naked eyeHistology: Examination of tissue under a microscopeCytopathology: Examination of loose cells under a microscopeElectron microscopyCytogenetics: Visualization of chromosomes using various techniques The combined branches of clinical and anatomical pathology are referred to as general pathology. Procedural Expertise Medical technologists are responsible for preparing tissue samples, slides, and cultures for the pathologist to examine, streamlining the diagnostic process and allowing for faster lab results. In larger facilities, technologists will perform more exacting tasks, such as molecular, genetic, or genomic testing. They will also step in when confronted with diagnostic challenges, including uncommon or contradictory lab findings. The training that medical technologists undergo provides them the insights needed to know which testing methodologies, tools, and agents are most appropriate for each case. Medical technologists typically work under a pathologist but may be independently tasked to operate a lab itself. Among their duties, medical technologists will oversee the work of lab technicians in addition to managing their own duties. Although the pathologist is ultimately in charge of the lab and its staff, the medical technologist will usually be the one who ensures that the lab operates smoothly, safely, and properly on a day-to-day basis. This includes setting up, calibrating, and sterilizing lab equipment, as well as analyzing and checking the accuracy of lab reports. Most medical technologists operate behind the scenes and do not have direct contact with patients. The health professionals generally tasked with obtaining specimens are phlebotomists and lab assistants. Other specimens are delivered directly to the lab by doctors and surgeons. Subspecialties Certain medical technologists will work in a narrow field of practice. For instance, some labs may specialize in genetics or cytopathology only. Others may have specific roles and functions within a hospital or institutional setting. Transfusion Medicine A technologist working in transfusion medicine ensures that there is an adequate and safe supply of blood in a blood bank. Other tasks may include blood typing and screening the blood for infectious diseases, such as HIV and viral hepatitis. Forensic Pathology Forensic pathology involves the examination of clinical and anatomical evidence after a sudden, unexpected death. While the forensic pathologist would typically be responsible for obtaining the human and non-human specimens (such as clothing fibers), the medical technologist would run many of the tests needed to determine the cause of death. Organ-Specific Pathology There are pathology subspecialties focused on specific organs or physiological systems. Working within these subspecialties would usually require additional training to better understand the diseases affecting these systems and the ways they are accurately diagnosed. Examples include: Cardiovascular pathology (heart and circulatory system)Endocrine pathology (glands that produce hormones)Gastrointestinal pathology (digestive tract)Genitourinary pathology (genitals and urinary tract)Gynecological pathology (female reproductive system)Neuropathology (brain and nervous system)Oral and maxillofacial pathology (mouth, jaw, and related structures)Orthopedic pathology (bones, joints, and related structures)Pulmonary pathology (lungs)Renal pathology (kidneys) Training and Certification A medical technologist career requires at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in an applicable scientific field such as biology, microbiology, or biochemistry. Students who have majored or obtained a degree in another science program and who are interested in being medical technologists may pursue this path by taking hospital-based courses during their senior year of college, if offered. In addition to this, students must complete a pathology lab internship. The completion of a medical technologist program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Science (NAA-CLS) is also required. For optimum success, medical technologists should become certified after completing all of their educational and training requirements. The American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) offers a national certification exam that should ideally be renewed every three years. This certifies that a technologist is proficient in the field and allows them to add the initials MLS(ASCP) after their name (MLS stands for Medical Lab Scientist). Certain states require licensing for all medical lab personnel, while others do not. Because the requirements can vary by state, contact your local state board or Department of Health for details. Who Else Works in a Medical Lab? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 0 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational and employment statistics - occupational employment and wages, May 2016: 29-2011 medical and clinical laboratory technologists. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Labor; March 31, 2017. Desjardins M, Fleming C. Competency assessment of microbiology medical laboratory technologists in Ontario, Canada. J Clin Microbiol. 2014;52(8):2940-5. doi:10.1128/JCM.01035-14