As it is clear from its title, a medical laboratory assistant is someone who works in a lab, conducts different kinds of tests, collects samples, and performs clerical tasks, etc. This blog talks about some of the most important skills that one needs to excel as a lab assistant.
A successful medical laboratory assistant is precise, organized, calm under pressure, a practical problem-solver and careful with equipment and specimens. Medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) collect and process samples, perform basic tests and keep accurate records, and a small error can affect a patient’s results. These five qualities matter most in the role, and you can build all of them through training and practice.
If you are planning to start a career as a medical laboratory assistant or interested in any other related field, this blog will definitely help you. If you are looking for a laboratory assistant certificate program, you can check out Edison College’s medical lab assistant course program. This 8-month medical lab assistant certificate is hybrid, and it also has a 6-week practicum. The program provides both a theoretical foundation and practical skills that include medical terminologies, clinical chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, ECG, and phlebotomy, etc.
What Does a Medical Laboratory Assistant Do?
Medical laboratory assistants support medical laboratory technologists and other laboratory professionals. Typical duties include:
- collecting blood samples (phlebotomy);
- receiving, labelling, processing and accessioning specimens;
- performing ECGs;
- carrying out basic tests in areas such as urinalysis, hematology and clinical chemistry;
- following quality control, safety and infection control procedures;
- recording patient and specimen information accurately.
MLAs work in settings such as hospital and private laboratories, specimen collection centers, community clinics and public health laboratories.
1. Attention To Detail
Medical professionals, such as pathologists and x-ray technologists, usually oversee the work of medical laboratory assistants. In a scientific setting such as a lab, precision is essential.
This entails carefully following lab protocols, precisely recording data, and closely examining outcomes. Using this ability reduces the possibility of mistakes, guaranteeing the validity and precision of your work. Attention to detail is a very important skill to have for a laboratory assistant because of the handling of samples and personal data of patients in the laboratory.
Every sample has to be matched to the right patient, labelled correctly and handled according to procedure. A mislabelled tube or a missed step can lead to a delayed or incorrect result.
Strong MLAs:
- double-check patient identification before every collection;
- follow procedures exactly, even on routine tasks;
- notice when something looks wrong, such as a damaged sample or an unusual reading, and report it.
Medical laboratory assistants also handle different fluids like blood samples on a routine basis; therefore, it is important that everything in the laboratory is done carefully to avoid possible human errors.
For instance, any mistake in the data recording after receiving a blood sample of a person can create a serious problem for the patient as well as the laboratory. Lab assistants also carry out different tests; therefore, it is crucial to do everything step-by-step to get exact results without making any possible mistakes.
2. Record-keeping Skills
Laboratories rely on accurate records to track specimens from collection to result. MLAs enter patient information, specimen details and test data, often in laboratory information systems.
Medical laboratory assistants do a lot of clerical work. They may be tasked to receive patients, collect patients’ data and save it on computers, etc. This kind of record-keeping in the laboratory is crucial because any mistake in the data recording or sample collection can cause serious trouble for the patients. Therefore, without these meticulous record-keeping skills, it is difficult to amicably work in a lab.
Good record-keeping means:
- entering data accurately and completely;
- documenting each step in the specimen’s chain of custody;
- keeping patient information confidential.
3. Ability To Work Under Pressure
Labs can get busy, with urgent samples, high patient volumes and time-sensitive tests. MLAs need to stay calm and accurate when the pace picks up.
Working in a laboratory can be difficult when you have to handle a sudden increase in a work load. For instance, there is an outbreak of viral fever in your city, and your laboratory suddenly starts receiving patients for tests.
In such a situation, as a laboratory assistant, you will need to accommodate a higher number of patients and work patiently and precisely according to the situation.This is the precise skill that hospitals and labs demand from laboratory assistants in such circumstances.
MLA ability to:
- prioritizing urgent (STAT) samples;
- staying patient and reassuring with nervous patients during blood collection;
- keeping quality steady when the workload increases.
4. Problem-solving Skills
Not every collection or test goes smoothly. A vein may be hard to find, a sample may be unsuitable, or a piece of equipment may give an error.
In a laboratory context, problem solving entails determining problems with test results or lab procedures and coming up with workable remedies. This ability can boost overall efficiency and encourage effective laboratory workflow. Lab assistants often work in teams to perform their operations, and the ability to solve problems while working in a team can significantly increase your standing at the workplace.
MLA’S are problem-solvers:
- know when to try again and when to ask for help;
- understand why a procedure exists, so they can spot when something is off;
- escalate issues to a supervisor or technologist promptly.
5. Care with Sensitive Equipment and Materials
MLAs handle biological specimens, chemicals and precise instruments every day. Careful handling protects patients, co-workers and the accuracy of results.
Modern laboratory equipment is getting smaller and smaller, but at the same time they are also becoming more sensitive. Therefore, it is important for laboratory assistants to not only have up-to-date knowledge of newer technologies but also have the ability to use them for different kinds of tests. The more familiar you are with the machines, the more accurately you can use them for the tests.
Similarly, if you are accurate with your work and also show the ability to operate newer technologies, there is a higher chance that you get more opportunities to grow professionally.It is not only about the machines; sometimes it is also about dealing with sensitive materials. For example, lab assistants also follow quality control and biosafety standards and dispose of hazardous waste with proper safety protocols, etc.
Their daily routine also includes identifying potential hazards, handling chemicals, donning personal protection equipment, and disposing of trash properly. To avoid mishaps and preserve a secure workplace, it is essential to comprehend and follow safety protocols.
MLAs are careful:
- following biosafety and infection control procedures;
- using personal protective equipment correctly;
- disposing of hazardous waste safely;
- running quality control checks and reporting equipment problems.
How MLA Training Builds These Qualities
Formal training gives you supervised practice with the procedures above before you work with patients independently.
Edison College’s Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate is a 36-week, 870-hour program:
| Component | Duration |
|---|---|
| Theory | 30 weeks / 750 hours |
| Practicum | 6 weeks / 120 hours |
Courses include Laboratory Safety and Asepsis, Phlebotomy in the Medical Laboratory, Hematology Basics, Clinical Microbiology Basics, Clinical Chemistry Basics, Urinalysis and Bodily Fluids, The Cardiovascular System and ECGs, and Laboratory Mathematics and Measurements. The practicum is completed in person at a partner laboratory.
BCSLS certification
The BC Society of Laboratory Science (BCSLS) lists Edison College’s Medical Laboratory Assistant program as an approved program. Graduates of BCSLS-approved programs can apply for BCSLS certification after graduation. Certification is not automatic, and it is a separate step from completing the program.
Edison also offers career services.
Conclusion
It is difficult to encompass all the necessary skills in this limited space; there are still many traits that are necessary to have a good career as a lab assistant. However, you must have got a good idea of what it is like to be working in a laboratory.
If you are someone who has these abilities and also wants to work in a lab environment, then you can definitely choose a career as a medical laboratory assistant.
Join The Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate Program at Edison College
If you are interested in making a career as a medical lab assistant, check out Edison College’s certified medical laboratory assistant course.
This 8-month certificate program can open up new doors of opportunity for you because of its reputation, especially through its relevant practicum component that links its graduates with the industry.
If you have questions or concerns or you need career guidance, then you can contact us today to learn more about any of these programs.
Read more industry-related blogs here.
Pictures by Freepik
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills does a medical laboratory assistant need?
Key skills include attention to detail, accurate record-keeping, the ability to work under pressure, problem-solving, and careful handling of specimens and equipment. Technical skills such as phlebotomy, specimen processing and ECGs are learned through training.
Who supervises medical laboratory assistants?
Medical laboratory assistants typically work with and under the direction of medical laboratory technologists and other laboratory professionals.
How long is Edison’s Medical Laboratory Assistant program?
Edison College’s Medical Laboratory Assistant Certificate is 36 weeks, or 870 hours, including a 6-week, 120-hour practicum.
Is Edison’s MLA program approved by BCSLS?
Yes. The BC Society of Laboratory Science lists Edison College’s Medical Laboratory Assistant program as approved. Graduates can apply for BCSLS certification after graduation; certification is not automatic.
