Medical Laboratory Technician Training Ensures Knowledge for Range of Workplaces

It is essential that medical labs stay organized with the incoming specimens to be examined and the outgoing results to be reported to various clinics and doctor’s offices. The professionals who work in this area begin their day, according to Health Care Salary World, by setting up and adjusting lab equipment. They then move onto collecting and analyzing blood, tissue, urine, and other body fluid samples from patients. To do this, they test the samples using a microscope or automatic analyzer, which offers results by detecting any abnormalities or diseases. The results are then entered into a computer program for further analysis using graphs, charts, tables, and more. In some cases, samples are stored under controlled conditions for future use. To end their day, the professionals who work in medical laboratories clean up the lab equipment in preparation for the next day.

Centennial College offers one of the most effective Medical Laboratory Technician programs in Toronto. The two-year offering not only results in an Ontario College Diploma but also ensures that students are eligible for certification as Medical Laboratory Assistants/ Technicians (MLA/ T) with the Ontario Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists and the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science.

Applicants to this offering must have completed Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older); English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission; Mathematics Grade 12 C, M, or U, or equivalent or take a Centennial College Engineering Math Skills Assessment for Admission; and Biology Grade 11 or 12 / C or U or equivalent.

In the Medical Lab Technician program, students are trained in state-of-the-art labs that lend themselves to a practical approach. With a well-paced delivery, the theoretical and practical portions of this program are completed within a year. Included during the offering are topics such as: applied anatomy and physiology, clinical laboratory techniques, communication and professional practice, clinical data management, practical haematology and immunohaematology, practical microbiology, cytology and histology, and many others.

To complement each Medical Laboratory Technician course and the knowledge students gain, they enjoy a final-semester internship during which they apply theoretical knowledge in a clinical practice setting under the direction of a medical laboratory assistant. The focus of this experience is to allow for easy transition into the workplace environment.

It is worth noting that this is a collaborative program that is taught by Centennial’s School of Community and Health Studies and School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science, with representatives from hospitals, private laboratories and the Ministry of Health.

Once they complete the Medical Laboratory Technician offering, graduates may apply for jobs with various healthcare facilities including hospitals, offices of physicians, research laboratories, health clinics, veterinary laboratories, medical diagnostic laboratories, and biotechnology companies.