A Career in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences A Perfect Blend of Science, Medicine and Biotechnology

Would you like to know…. How you can join an expanding field with multiple and flexible career opportunities?How you can join an expanding field with multiple and flexible career opportunities? How you can be a medical detective to investigate and find causes of illness?How you can be a medical detective to investigate and find causes of illness? How you can have an exciting and rewarding career helping to save lives and cure disease?How you can have an exciting and rewarding career helping to save lives and cure disease?

Consider A Career in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences! Center photo reprinted with permission of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Chicago, IL

Why Choose to Become a Clinical Laboratory Professional… Clinical laboratory professionals analyze blood, body fluids, tissues and cells to determine the presence or absence of disease They are highly skilled in the use of the latest in biomedical techniques and instrumentation They are highly skilled in the use of the latest in biomedical techniques and instrumentation

Important Work! Clinical laboratory professionals are vital members of the health care team Up to 70% of physician decisions regarding patient diagnosis and therapy are based on lab test results Up to 70% of physician decisions regarding patient diagnosis and therapy are based on lab test results Modern medicine could not function without clinical laboratory professionals Modern medicine could not function without clinical laboratory professionals

Unlimited Opportunities! Clinical lab professionals are in great demand! Clinical lab professionals are in great demand! Multiple employment opportunities immediately after graduationMultiple employment opportunities immediately after graduation Flexibility in working hours and shiftsFlexibility in working hours and shifts Highly versatile skills that translate into an unlimited choice of practice settingsHighly versatile skills that translate into an unlimited choice of practice settings An excellent background for careers in research, medicine and biotechnologyAn excellent background for careers in research, medicine and biotechnology

Join a Large Component of Healthcare! Clinical lab professionals are the third largest group of health professionals after doctors and nursesClinical lab professionals are the third largest group of health professionals after doctors and nurses Over a quarter of a million clinical lab professionals work in clinical labs nationwideOver a quarter of a million clinical lab professionals work in clinical labs nationwide There are over a thousand different clinical lab testsThere are over a thousand different clinical lab tests Over 7 billion clinical lab tests are performed each year in 171,000 laboratories in the USOver 7 billion clinical lab tests are performed each year in 171,000 laboratories in the US

Job Ratings! Medical technologist and medical laboratory technician ranked 16 and 18 in a list of 250 jobs according to Jobs Related Almanac (Les Krantz, 1999)Medical technologist and medical laboratory technician ranked 16 and 18 in a list of 250 jobs according to Jobs Related Almanac (Les Krantz, 1999) They also ranked 3 rd and 4 th in the healthcare and medicine occupational category based on factors such as salary, stress levels, work environment, outlook, security and physical demands.They also ranked 3 rd and 4 th in the healthcare and medicine occupational category based on factors such as salary, stress levels, work environment, outlook, security and physical demands.

Where Do Clinical Laboratory Professionals Work? Although most clinical laboratory professionals work in:Although most clinical laboratory professionals work in: Hospital clinical labs Hospital clinical labs Physician office labs Physician office labs Commercial or reference labs Commercial or reference labs Public Health labs Public Health labs There are many other exciting employment opportunities for clinical laboratory professionalsThere are many other exciting employment opportunities for clinical laboratory professionals

Clinical Lab Professionals Also Work In………….. Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries Biotechnology Companies Biotechnology Companies Forensic and Law Enforcement Laboratories Forensic and Law Enforcement Laboratories Veterinary Clinics Veterinary Clinics Research and Teaching Institutions Research and Teaching Institutions Transplant and Blood Donor Centers Transplant and Blood Donor Centers Fertility Clinics Fertility Clinics Cosmetic and Food Industry Cosmetic and Food Industry

A Degree in a Medical Laboratory Science is an Also Excellent Starting Point for Career Advancement in: Medicine Medicine Dentistry Dentistry Public Health Public Health Biomedical Technology Biomedical Technology Health Care Management and Administration Health Care Management and Administration

And more…. Medical Informatics Medical Informatics Basic Science and Cancer Research Basic Science and Cancer Research Sales, Marketing, Product Development Sales, Marketing, Product Development Law and Public Advocacy Law and Public Advocacy Education Education Many others Many others

Requires excellent technical skills as well as problem solving, data analysis, computer skills, and good oral and written communication The Clinical Lab is a Biomedical Environment

Directors, Managers, CoordinatorsMasters, PhD, MD Histotechnologist (HTL) Cytotechnologist (CT) Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) or Medical Technologist (MT) Baccalaureate (4 Year Degree) Histotechnician (HT) Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT) or Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Associate (2 Year Degree) Phlebotomist (PBT)Post HS Who Works in a Clinical Laboratory?

Clinical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians Analyze body fluids for many diverse proteins, sugars, enzymes, lipids, hormones and drugs Provide information to physicians to help diagnose: Provide information to physicians to help diagnose: CancerCancer Diabetes and kidney diseaseDiabetes and kidney disease Drug overdosesDrug overdoses And many other conditions …And many other conditions …

Clinical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians Detect and identify disease-causing bacteria and parasites Determine the best antibiotics to use for bacterial infections

Clinical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians Examine and count blood cells to detect abnormalities found in anemias, leukemias and infections so appropriate therapy can be started

Clinical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians Analyze blood to find causes for abnormal bleeding or clotting Test plasma to monitor therapy with anticoagulant drugs

Clinical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians Use techniques to detect antibodies to Strep Infections, Lyme Disease, Infectious Mono, and many other diseases Prepare red blood cells, platelets, plasma for safe transfusion

Clinical Laboratory Scientists Perform testing on DNA, RNA or chromosomes to help identify genetic causes of disease or to identify pathogens and their drug resistance mutations From: National Human Genome Research Institute

Cytotechnologists Examine cell samples on slides to determine the presence of cancerous or benign diseases Analyze microscopic cellular changes that can directly affect a patient’s course of treatment Assist in early detection of cancer Photo reprinted with permission of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Chicago, IL

Cytotechnologists Examine cells from all body sources taken by swab or fine needle biopsy A Pap Smear is a commonly performed test

Histotechnologists and Histotechnicians Section, stain and analyze tissues from surgery for examination by a Pathologist Allow pathologists to determine if disease is present in that tissue Photo reprinted with permission of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Chicago, IL

Phlebotomists Collect blood specimens from patients Are careful and accurate in processing samples Are excellent communicators with patients Photo reprinted with permission of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Chicago, IL

At Masters, Doctoral and MD Level Pathologists (MD)Pathologists (MD) Administrative DirectorsAdministrative Directors ManagersManagers Technical SupervisorsTechnical Supervisors Laboratory Information SpecialistsLaboratory Information Specialists Quality Assurance CoordinatorsQuality Assurance Coordinators Point of Care Testing CoordinatorsPoint of Care Testing Coordinators Marketing and Outreach CoordinatorsMarketing and Outreach Coordinators And more…And more…

Clinical Laboratory Professionals Enjoy the challenge of science theory, lab discovery, technology and medicineEnjoy the challenge of science theory, lab discovery, technology and medicine Have a high level of responsibility and commitment to help othersHave a high level of responsibility and commitment to help others Have the capacity for calm and reasoned judgmentHave the capacity for calm and reasoned judgment Are organized, efficient and are good problem solvers, communicators and team playersAre organized, efficient and are good problem solvers, communicators and team players Have high standards and demand quality performance and accuracyHave high standards and demand quality performance and accuracy

For Medical Lab Professionals, Safety Always Comes First! Protective clothing: gloves, lab coats, gogglesProtective clothing: gloves, lab coats, goggles Safety needles, sharps containersSafety needles, sharps containers Biological and chemical safety hoodsBiological and chemical safety hoods Automatic loading instrumentsAutomatic loading instruments

US Labor Statistics According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, through the year 2010: 12,200 new laboratorians needed in hospitals per year12,200 new laboratorians needed in hospitals per year Only 4000 graduates from educational programs per yearOnly 4000 graduates from educational programs per year Projected need of 8,200 new laboratorians per year!Projected need of 8,200 new laboratorians per year!

Vacancy Rates NationalNortheast Clinical Lab Scientist (Medical Technologist) 7.0%8.3% Cytotechnologist7.6%2.9% Histotechnician8.7%No data Medical Lab Technicians8.6%3.5% Phlebotomist9.1%8.0% Source: 2002 Wage and Vacancy Survey of Medical Laboratories, American Society of Clinical Pathology. Lab Med (2003), 34:

NJ Educational Programs Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology) Jersey Shore Medical CenterJersey Shore Medical Center Monmouth Medical CenterMonmouth Medical Center Morristown Memorial HospMorristown Memorial Hosp University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseyUniversity of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Valley HospitalValley Hospital Universities with Clinical Lab Science and Medical Technology Majors Bloomfield CollegeBloomfield College Caldwell CollegeCaldwell College College of St. ElizabethCollege of St. Elizabeth Fairleigh Dickinson UnivFairleigh Dickinson Univ Felician CollegeFelician College Kean CollegeKean College Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University New Jersey City UnivNew Jersey City Univ Ramapo CollegeRamapo College Rutgers Univ – NewarkRutgers Univ – Newark St. Peters CollegeSt. Peters College Cytotechnology University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Baccalaureate Degree Professional Component Preprofessional Component

NJ Educational Programs Clinical Lab Technician (Medical Lab Technician) Northern NJ Consortium for Medical Laboratory Technology Education (Bergen, Passaic and Sussex County Colleges)Northern NJ Consortium for Medical Laboratory Technology Education (Bergen, Passaic and Sussex County Colleges) Camden County CollegeCamden County College Mercer County CollegeMercer County College Middlesex County CollegeMiddlesex County College Associate Degree Post HS Certificate Phlebotomy Phlebotomy Mercer County CollegeMercer County College University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseyUniversity of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Clinical Laboratory Professionals Highly versatile skillsHighly versatile skills Solving medical mysteriesSolving medical mysteries Providing vital information to save a life and cure a diseaseProviding vital information to save a life and cure a disease

Further Information American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Society for Clinical Laboratory Science UMDNJ - Video clip on clinical laboratory profession - Video clip on clinical laboratory profession New Jersey Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Jersey Society for Clinical Laboratory Science National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science American Society for Clinical Pathology Society for Clinical Pathology

Acknowledgments was developed by the New Jersey Society for Clinical Laboratory Science with support from the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Clinical Laboratory Management Association to promote awareness of careers in the clinical laboratory professions Photo credits: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Chicago, IL Photo credits: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Chicago, IL