3211- Medical laboratory technologists

Canada NOC: 
3211
Job Title: 

Medical laboratory technologists

Job Description: 

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.

Main Duties: 

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


Set up, operate and maintain laboratory equipment
Conduct and interpret 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 and interpret 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)
Science technologists in non-medical laboratories (in 2211 Chemical technologists and technicians)

International Careers(ISCO): 
Source Of Info: 

National Occupation Classification, (2011)

Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,

February 2012,

Catalogue no. 12-583-X