Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

Clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists) and clinical laboratory technicians (also known as medical laboratory technicians) perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

Duties

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically do the following:

• Test and analyze body fluids, such as blood, urine, and tissue samples
• Operate laboratory equipment, such as microscopes and automated cell counters
• Use automated equipment that analyzes multiple samples at the same time
• Record data from medical tests and enter results into a patient’s medical record
• Discuss results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures with physicians

Both technicians and technologists perform tests and procedures that physicians and surgeons or other healthcare practitioners order. However, technologists perform more complex tests and laboratory procedures than technicians do. For example, technologists may prepare specimens and perform detailed manual tests, whereas technicians perform routine tests that may be more automated. Clinical laboratory technicians usually work under the general supervision of clinical laboratory technologists or laboratory managers.

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians set up, calibrate, and maintain the microscopes, cell counters, and other equipment they use. Maintenance includes troubleshooting, cleaning, and testing sterility to ensure quality control. Technologists have more responsibilities related to overall quality assurance in laboratories than do technicians.

Some technologists specialize in a certain type of test. The following are examples of types of specialized clinical laboratory technologists:

Blood bank technologists collect blood, classify it by type, and prepare blood and its components for transfusions.

Clinical chemistry technologists prepare specimens and analyze the chemical and hormonal contents of body fluids.

Cytotechnologists prepare and examine slides of body cells under a microscope. They look for abnormalities that may signal the beginning of a cancerous growth.

Hematology technologists examine blood to identify conditions or diseases, such as blood clots or cancer.

Histotechnologists perform tests on human tissue to identify diseases.

Microbiology technologists examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms.

Molecular biology technologists perform protein and nucleic acid tests, such as gene sequencing, on cell samples.

Like technologists, clinical laboratory technicians may work in several areas or specialize in one area. For example, histotechnicians are a type of clinical laboratory technician who cut and stain tissue specimens for pathologists—doctors who study the cause and development of diseases.

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held about 351,200 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians were as follows:

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work with infectious specimens and other biohazardous substances.

Technologists and technicians may need to stand for long periods.

Injuries and Illnesses

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians may incur injury or illness on the job. For example, they may be subject to repetitive motion injuries because they do the same tasks repeatedly or to illness from working with biohazardous material. To reduce the risk of infection, they follow laboratory safety protocol and wear protective masks, gloves, and goggles.

Work Schedules

Most clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work full time. Because they may work in medical facilities that are always open, such as hospitals, they may have shifts that include nights, weekends, or holidays.

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Technicians sometimes qualify for jobs with an associate’s degree. Some states require technologists and technicians to be licensed.

The median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $61,890 in May 2024.

Employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.

Despite limited employment growth, about 22,600 openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.