Medical Technologist: Job Description, Duties and Requirements

Med tech jobs entails analyzing samples samples of blood, tissue and body fluids to determine chemical content, cell count, drug levels or blood type; medical technologists' duties may also include searching for specific microorganisms like bacteria or parasites. Preparing the samples for examination, using automated equipment and specialized instrumentation, performing numerous complicated tests simultaneously, and accurately interpreting the results are all part of a medical technologist's job. Some medical technicians work on vaccine trials, blood work analysis, and other areas of specialization detailed below.

Whether in a medical facility or independently run laboratory, medical technologists often work with infectious specimens. Infection control and sterilization protocols must be followed to minimize these hazards, which can make the jobs of medical technologists significantly more risky. This is something to consider carefully when choosing if this job is right for you. Medical technologists can also expect to spend many hours standing in a laboratory during their working days, as they will spend a lot of time performing specific and delicate medical tasks and tests. Hospital employees often work irregular hours or are on call for emergency situations, especially in cases of large scale crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are different areas in which medical technicians can specialize. Medical technologists work in six main areas of the hospital laboratory: chemistry, blood banking, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and microbiology. In each of these areas, they need to work with a number of different kinds of medical samples in order to analyze data that will give doctors required information on patient health. In addition to helping individual patients, med techs sometimes also engage in large-scale medical research in their area of specialization.

Medical Technologist Duties

What does a medical technologist do? The day-to-day duties of a medical technologist include complex analysis of microscopic, immunologic, biologic, bacteriologic, hematologic, and chemical tests and their results. The specific job duties of a medical technologist will vary based on specialization and on the specific needs of the hospital. Some tasks that a medical technologist might be asked to perform could include:

• Preparing cultures of tissue samples
• Establishing and monitoring programs that ensure data accuracy
• Microscopically examining slides of bodily fluids
• Cross-matching blood for transfusions
• Chemically analyzing blood or urine for toxic components
• Analyzing lab reports for accuracy
• Operating and calibrating equipment
• Delivering test results to physicians, researchers or patients
• Collecting and studying blood samples to determine morphology
• Communicating with doctors and other medical professionals about required tests
• Performing blood tests and other routine medical tests on patients
• In cases of patient contact, performing first aid as needed

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a bachelor's degree is the minimum entry-level requirement for a medical technologist. Some formal training may be provided on the job, especially in medical establishments that are expecting med techs to perform a very specific set of tasks. Advancement to laboratory director is a relatively common career step for medical technologists, and this position usually requires a master's degree.

Bachelor's degree programs in medical technology, clinical laboratory science or allied health technologies all prepare students for work in this field. These 4-year programs are heavily focused on the natural sciences and often include an internship. Common course topics include anatomy and physiology, lab management, immunology, clinical microbiology, parasitology and medical ethics. Unlike doctors and other medical professionals, med techs are not required to complete medical degrees or residency, as they are not typically interacting very much with patients, instead performing most of their job duties in laboratories with relatively minimal direct patient interaction.

Medical Technologist Certification

Depending on the state, medical technologists may need to be certified before they are licensed or registered, according to the BLS. This often includes proof of a bachelor's degree and a written exam. State boards of occupational licensure or departments of health administer medical technologist licensure. Be sure to look into the specific requirements that exist in your state when you are becoming a medical technologist.

While not required, employers may prefer to hire medical technologists who are professionally certified. Specialized medical technologists can become certified through organizations that administer to their specialty. The American Medical Technologists (AMT) agency offers a professional AMT designation. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited program and either a recognized medical technology internship or a year of approved experience to sit for the written examination.

The BLS projected that the number of jobs for medical and clinical laboratory technologists would grow at a rate of 7% between 2019-2029, which is faster than average for all jobs across the United States. Many jobs in the medical field are growing in a similar way, partly due to the aging population of the United States and the increased need for medical care for those members of the population. The majority of medical and clinical laboratory technologists were employed by hospitals as of 2019, while the rest worked in laboratories, physicians' offices, or colleges and universities. Additionally, the BLS reported that clinical and medical laboratory technologists' median salary was $53,120 in 2019.

Medical technologists perform tests and analyze results in a laboratory setting. A bachelor's degree is necessary to enter this field, and certification may be necessary.