Laboratory Technician in Blood and Plasma: Job Description, Education, Skills and Duties and Outlook
Submitted by: paula
JOB OVERVIEW A laboratory technician in blood and plasma is part of the team in the medical laboratory in any hospital ,as an allied health care professional who perform routine medical laboratory tests of the samples coming from the patients (blood or plasma only) for the following purposes: for the diagnosis of blood and plasma disorders and discrepancies, aiding in monitoring and treatment of conditions, as well as for prevention of further deterioration and even prevention of a forseeable disease. He/ She may work under the supervision of a senior laboratory technologist or a licensed medical technologist.
EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND TRAININGS REQUIRED
An educational degree is required in order to become a staff as a laboratory technician, specifically dealing with tests of blood and plasma. Laboratory technicians in blood and plasma, as they are called, usually needs to have a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Medical Technology or in equal courses such as Bachelor's Degree in Public Health. A licensure examination and certification is needed on a state to state law basis.
ABILITIES AND SKILLS
One of the most important skills for a laboratory technician in blood and plasma is their ability to collect and store samples from the patients, to preserve the eligibility in testing. The expertise in the field including the ability to distingush from the normal to the abnormal conditions are a must. Since he/she is responsible for running tests with the aid of a microscope and computers. These tasks which are too routine for doctors and sometimes for nurses, and these tasks are delegated to them to ease the schedule of these professionals as well as to gain more accuracy in the test results. One thing that is also important in being a laboratory technician in blood and plasma is their integrity. At times, this kind of work may be tiring and too routinary yet the results are important to each and every patient who is seeking medical attention. Any discrepancy in the results should be verified then to avoid harming the patient cascadingly, after the release of the reports of tests to the other medical professionals.
DUTIES
A laboratory technician in blood and plasma is tasked to have a regular duty, on a shifting schedule if working in a laboratory to assist the diagnostic test needs of the patients. Primarily, upon collection of the blood sample, they should be able to store then properly before the sample hemolyzes and be rejected for tests. The samples may be prepared as well, at times through centrifugation, depending on the tests, before conducting physical and chemical analyses of the blood. The tools needed are high grade microscopes or automatic analyzer to determine abnormalities or diseases though blood chemical testings.
The technician will have to verify the result to a senior for more accuracy usually. After verification, the findings will then be entered onto the computer and then printed out. Also, they should participate in the laboratory maintenance to include after care of the equipment, reagents and computers.
SALARY AND JOB OUTLOOK
The yearly estimated salary earnings of laboratory technicians in blood and plasma is around $49,700 . The range of salary though starts from $41,680 can go up to $58,560. To date, the highest estimate of salary from a senior position points to approximately $69,260. Employment of laboratory technicians in blood and plasma is also expected to grow to about 14 percent within six year most probably due to the advent of higher medical technology discoveries and population and morbidity growth. This is considered faster than the average for all the other occupations.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of the opportunities and trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
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