Medical lab scientists play a crucial but often unseen role in healthcare. As detectives of the medical field, they analyze biological samples to detect diseases and provide insights that guide doctors' treatment decisions. Their work identifying positive COVID-19 cases helped doctors begin early treatment and reduce spread. While advances in technology have improved turnaround for test results, the important role medical lab scientists play remains underappreciated by the public who rarely see them. Their efforts in testing samples and analyzing results are key to patient care and outcomes.
2. MEDICAL
MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGISTS
TECHNOLOGISTS
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2020
The identification, diagnosis and treatment of disease require a skilled detective,
someone who knows what clues to look for and can communicate their findings to provide
insight on the best course of action. Medical lab scientists exist as the detectives of the
healthcare field. With a broad base of expertise — chemistry, hematology, microbiology
and more — they are often the first people to spot cancer,
diabetes and other life-threatening conditions. Medical lab scientists are among the most integral
parts of healthcare teams. They analyze biological specimens — from cells to blood and other
bodily fluids — and their analysis can help guide doctors’ decisions.
3. Lab science professionals work very closely with physicians and are at
the frontlines of testing and analyzing samples from patients. The
amount of information that can be gleaned from these lab results span
from early disease detection and prevention to providing insight on how
to treat cancers, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions.
WHAT IS MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE?
Medical lab scientists touch almost every aspect of healthcare, but the
general public is largely not familiar with the work they do. This
unfamiliarity has led to misconceptions about the role, including about
the specifics of what medical lab scientists do on a day-to-day basis. In
addition to this lack of understanding of medical lab scientists’ roles, the
public is unfamiliar with their importance. Because patients often don’t
see medical lab scientists, it can make it difficult for them to understand
the crucial work they do.
4. The role that medical lab scientists play in healthcare
extends to how doctors read and interpret data.
Specifically, by providing doctors with detailed analysis
of test results, scientists can lay the groundwork for
decisions regarding courses of treatment, diagnoses
and cross-matching blood transfusions. These
interactions can have a significant impact on the
everyday lives of patients. For example, the testing
conducted by scientists can be used to help diabetes
patients see how they’re managing their condition and
what courses of treatment have been effective. It also
impacts general health and lifestyle decisions patients
might make after their annual physical.
A Rewarding Career With a
Huge Impact on Patients’ Lives
5. The fight against COVID-19 proved how
instrumental medical lab scientists are. Early on,
they were on the frontlines ensuring that testing was
done quickly and accurately. This critical diagnostic
role shone a light on lab scientists and how they
work to save lives. In this case, by identifying
positive cases, lab scientists helped doctors begin
treatment quickly, start effective contact tracing
and take the first step in reducing the spread.
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2021
7. TECHNOLOGY SHAPING THE
FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
Like any scientific practice, lab science is an ever-evolving field. A
popular career track among MLS professionals is working to
research, develop and manufacture advancements in the latest
instruments. Recent advancements in the field include the
development of more sophisticated instruments that can
diagnose diseases in a much more timely fashion.
8. For example, if someone had an infection
and doctors wanted to know whether it
was resistant to certain drugs or
treatments, it used to take days, or even a
week, to figure out. Now, thanks to
advancements in instrumentation it can
be done in 24 hours. The same is true for
recent changes to the way tuberculosis is
diagnosed. Previously it took weeks for
organisms to grow to identify the disease,
but now it can be done at a molecular
level.
9. Other recent advancements include:
Machine learning. Uses of machine
learning include the quality review
of lab results and disease or
outcome prediction.
Expanded genome screening. A greater
understanding of patients’ genetic makeup
offers greater insight into diagnoses and
treatment.
3D printing. The expanded use of 3D
printing has led to the development
of custom 3D-printed equipment.
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11. There are different paths one can take to a medical lab science degree, but
Cavnar says she took one of the most common ones. She was a biology
major who was not interested in pursuing medical school or becoming a
doctor. She says that in her work at UWF, she tends to see a lot of biology
students who are unsure how they want to put their degree to work.
Making the decision to pursue a career in medical lab science is a good
choice; she says her department has close to a 100% job placement rate.
Making the jump from a medical lab technician to a medical lab scientist is also a popular career track. In
addition to being more intimately involved with analysis and diagnoses, there can be quite a big
difference between pay and advancement opportunities between an MLT and an MLS.
13. Given the importance of the
work conducted by lab
professionals, it’s crucial that
the public have a greater
awareness of the role they play
in healthcare. Cavnar says this
is a challenge because the
nature of the job tends to draw
people who are more interested
in the behind-the-scenes
aspects of medicine and the
intricacies of lab science.
14. CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
Medical Technologists are also frontliners that you may not see physically in
reason of they are inside the laboratories, facilities, studying and testing your lab
results. They are in high-risk of getting several type of diseases, especially COVID-
19 because they are the one who tests, receive, and study your specimen and have
one of the most untidy work in medical fields. Their efforts are not acknowledged
enough by some of the people because they do not see them physically, but they
have the same effort and work as other medical frontliners we see like nurses, and
doctors. We should thank them for risking their life to save ours.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS.
15. Medical Lab Scientists: The 'Hidden Profession'
That Saves Lives. (2021, July 1). Retrieved from
https://onlinedegrees.uwf.edu/articles/how-
medical-lab-science-impacts-our-lives/
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