Regional College of Health Sciences

Ministry of Health and family welfare curriculum says the following about Medical Laboratory Technology. 
“A medical laboratory professional (also referred to as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, or Clinical Laboratory Technologist) is a healthcare professional who performs chemical, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and microbiological diagnostic analyses on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, and synovial fluid, as well as other specimens. Medical laboratory scientists work in clinical laboratories at hospitals, reference laboratories, biotechnology laboratories, and non-clinical industrial labs.” 
Medical laboratory science is the branch of science that deals with all the clinical laboratory investigations on clinical samples for laboratory diagnosis of various diseases. Blood, tissue, and body fluids are analyzed and examined for various types of foreign organisms and abnormalities. This information is then used by the medical team to make decisions regarding a patient's medical care. 85% of all medical decisions are based on the results of clinical laboratory investigation reports. 
Medical Laboratory Science is an important subject in the field of Medicine. In each system of Medicine, diagnosis of the disease is a primary step because no treatment is possible without a proper diagnosis. It is the Medical Laboratory Technocrat, who performs this important task with various scientific tools and techniques. In today‘s modern world of technology, the diagnosis, treatment & prognosis of various diseases depends upon the results of investigations carried out in a clinical laboratory. Thus, these professionals play a key role in the field of health care. Medical Laboratory Science has played a significant role in the advancement in the field of Medicine, especially in the past few decades. As modern medicine becomes more of a team effort, the Medical Laboratory Scientist/Technologist is an important member and integral part of the Medical team.
 

Scope of practice

• Collection and receiving of specimens (infectious samples i.e. blood, urine, stool, sputum, pus, semen, tissues, and body fluids) for various biochemical, pathological, microbiological, hematological, and blood bank investigations, etc. 
• To perform and validate various investigations for the purpose of differential diagnosis

• Calibration and standardization of glassware and other laboratory equipment

• Standardization and selection of test analytical procedures
• Maintenance of supplies of laboratory reagents / diagnostic kits

• Evaluation of reagents and diagnostic kits for diagnostic suitability 
• Maintenance of quality control for the reliability of laboratory reports

• Preparation of chemical and biological reagents 
• Supervision, organization of work, and personnel management

• Maintenance of records and preparation of statistics 
• They look for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms; analyze the biochemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions, and test for drug levels in the blood to show how a patient is responding to treatment
• Technologists also prepare specimens for examination, count cells, and look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids 
• They use automated equipment and computerized instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously, as well as microscopes, cell counters, and other sophisticated laboratory equipment 
• Then they analyze the results and relay them to physicians 
• With increasing automation and the use of computer technology, the work of Technologists has become less hands-on and more analytical
• The complexity of tests performed, the level of judgment needed, and the number of responsibility workers assume depend largely on the amount of education and experience they possess 
• They make cultures of body fluid and tissue samples, to determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, or other microorganisms 
• Clinical laboratory technologists analyze samples for chemical content or a chemical reaction and determine concentrations of compounds such as blood glucose and cholesterol, enzymes, and hormones levels
They also type and cross-match blood samples for transfusions. Clinical laboratory staff evaluate test results, develop and modify procedures, and establish and monitor programs, to ensure the accuracy of tests. Senior technologists supervise junior laboratory technologists. 
• Medical Laboratory Tech. staffs in small laboratories perform many types of tests, whereas those in large laboratories generally specialize 
• Laboratory Technology staff prepare specimens and analyze the chemical, hormonal and enzyme contents of body fluids 
• They also examine and identify bacteria and other microorganisms 
• In blood bank or Immuno-Haematology, technologists collect, type and cross match blood and prepare its components for transfusions. They also analyze the blood for safe and infection-free transfusion (Like HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, TPHA, Malaria Parasite, etc.) 
• In Immunology, technologists examine elements of the human immune system and its response to foreign bodies 
• In Molecular Biology, technologists perform complex protein and nucleic acid testing on human cell samples