Laboratory tests play an important role in the detection, diagnosis,
and treatment of many diseases. Laboratory professionals perform a
myriad of such tests to aid the physician in the management of disease.
With advances in scientific knowledge, new laboratory methods are
developing to aid in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up
of diseases. Laboratory professionals play a multidisciplinary role
in health care and may work as generalists or specialists in any one
discipline. For example, some laboratory professionals work as clinical
chemists and analyze body fluids for substances including glucose,
potassium, cholesterol, cardiac enzymes, and hormones to aid in the
diagnosis of conditions such as diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction,
and thyroid disorders. In hematology, the laboratory professional
will determine the number and types of blood cells to determine
the presence of anemia, leukemia, and other disorders of the blood.
Disorders of blood clotting, such as Hemophilia are determined through
coagulation testing. In the microbiology laboratory, the laboratory
professional will determine the cause of infection and possible antibiotic
treatment for infections. Other laboratory professionals determine
blood types and perform crossmatches to determine the compatibility
of blood between the donor and the recipient. Laboratory professionals
also perform immunologic procedures to determine the presence of antigens
and antibodies to aid in the diagnosis of AIDS, hepatitis and autoimmune
disorders.
The medical laboratory offers a career full of various options. These
include work “at the bench level” where most of the hands-on
technical procedures are performed. Bench work also includes quality
assurance and quality control measures that ensure that laboratory
procedures are performed accurately. Opportunities exist in
private clinical laboratories as well as those located in hospitals,
physician’s offices and health clinics. There are also opportunities
available at the research level where one may be involved in laboratory
testing to develop new healthcare products or pharmaceutical agents.
Positions are also available as technical representatives for laboratory
instrumentation companies where one may train other laboratory professionals
on new methods or instruments or trouble-shoot those analyzers that
are malfunctioning. Positions also exist in education and teaching
where students are taught the theory and laboratory exercises essential
to the laboratory profession. The Clinical Laboratory Technician (Medical
Laboratory Technician) program is a two-year program leading to the
Associate in Applied Science.
The Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology) program is a
four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science.
Histotechnician
The two-year histotechnician program is a two-year program that leads
to an Associate in Applied Science degree. Students in the program
are required to have a physical examination and provide records of
their immunizations. The Hepatitis B vaccine series is strongly recommended.
The program requires five semesters of study including one summer
semester.
Pathologists and other scientists specializing in biological sciences
work in partnership with medical laboratory workers to analyze blood,
tissues, and fluids from humans using a variety of precision instruments.
The results of these tests are used to detect and diagnose disease
and other abnormalities. The main responsibility of the histotechnician
in the clinical laboratory is preparing sections of body tissues for
examination by the pathologist. This includes the preparation of tissue
specimens of human and animal origin for diagnostic, research, and
teaching purposes. Tissue sections prepared by the histologic technician
for a variety of disease entities enable the pathologist to diagnose
body dysfunction and malignancy.
The curriculum includes both didactic instruction and practical demonstration
in the areas of biology, chemistry, laboratory mathematics, computer
technology, histology, instrumentation, microscopy, anatomy, quality
control. The first three semesters of the program consist of laboratory
and didactic courses taught on the YSU campus. The final two semesters
consist of the clinical practicums that are held at affiliated laboratories.
The program is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency
for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). To ensure that graduates
are competent and able to perform high quality laboratory tests, the
Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
gives a national certification examination. Upon successful completion
of their academic and laboratory education requirements, graduates
are eligible to take the certification examination and become certified
as HT(ASCP).
Histologic technicians play important roles in the detection of cancer
cells. Once a sample tissue is taken from a patient, the histotechnician
prepares very thin sections of body tissue for microscopic examination.
With the information learned from the section of tissue biopsy, the
physician can determine if disease is present, if it has spread and
determining the best course of treatment for the patient. The histologic
technician works with fragile, delicate instruments as well as knives,
chemicals, and glass slides. He or she must value precision and have
good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity. Histologic technicians
have an unlimited choice of practice settings. Hospitals, for-profit
laboratories, clinics, public health facilities, business andindustrial
settings currently have positions for qualified histologic technicians.
Other opportunities may be found in industrial research, veterinary
pathology, marine biology, and in forensic pathology.
Histotechnician (HT-AD) Curriculum All biology, chemistry, and CLTEC
courses must be completed with a minimal grade of “C”. Students
are permitted to repeat a maximum of six hours of coursework. Any
student receiving over six hours of grades of “D” or “F”
in biology, chemistry, or CLTEC will be dismissed from the program.
Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology)
The clinical laboratory science (medical technology) program is a
four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science
degree with a major in clinical laboratory science. Students in the
program must have a physical examination and provide records of their
immunizations. The Hepatitis B vaccine series is strongly recommended.
All course work in the CLS program must be completed with a minimum
grade of “C”. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.5
and a GPA of 2.5 in all CLTEC courses. Students receiving a total
of 6 semester hours of D or F grades in CLTEC, biology, or chemistry
courses will be dismissed from the program. Readmission to the program
is based on GPA and on the availability of space in the class.
The program follows the “3+1” format with the student completing
a pre-professional phase of courses in clinical laboratory technology,
general chemistry, biological sciences, organic and biochemistry,
microbiology, immunology, and mathematics during the first three years
of the program. The final year of the program is completed at an accredited
CLS/MT hospital program. The program meets the requirements of NAACLS.
Upon successful program completion, graduates are qualified to take
the certification examinations offered through ASCP and ASCLS (NC)
and become certified as MT (ASCP) or as a CLS (NCA).
CLS Internship Guidelines
Students should apply for clinical internship upon completion of the
second year of the program or after completing approximately 60-65
semester hours. Application packets containing information on clinical
affiliations and the application process are available from the program
director or in the Department of Health Professions. Students should
apply for graduation at the beginning of the junior year so that their
transcripts may be evaluated by an academic advisor in the Bitonte
College of Health and Human Services. This will help ensure that all
of the requirements for internship and graduation have been fulfilled.
The University does not guarantee acceptance into the fourth year
of hospital clinical internship. Selection and acceptance into a particular
hospital program is based on that program’s admission and selection
process. Thus, students are selected by the hospital programs, which
are very competitive. Students are urged to maintain a minimum 3.0
GPA, especially in all science and clinical laboratory courses. To
enhance their chances of acceptance into clinical internship, students
are encouraged to apply to several accredited programs. A list of
these programs is available through the program director. Students
should notify the program director upon their acceptance by a professional
program.
Clinical
Laboratory Technician Curriculum (requires Acrobat Reader)
Histotechnician
Curriculum (requires Acrobat Reader)
Clinical Laboratory
Science (requires Acrobat Reader)
Course Descriptions
Useful Clinical Lab
Related Links
The CLT and HT programs are accredited by NAACLS, 8410 W. Bryn Mawr,
Suite 670, Chicago, IL 60631. (1-773-714-8880), www.naacls.org.
|
Copyright© 2006 Youngstown State University,
All Rights Reserved
Site Redesign: Media & Academic Computing
|
|
