A Guide on Medical Laboratory Technician Course

An Overview

One of the bright spots in Para-medical profession today is the development of a new niche called as ‘Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)’.  Medical profession has widened its avenues and students of a number of disciplines can pursue career in medical field. So did subjects like Chemistry and Biology have always seemed fascinating in your high school? If yes, then pursuing a course in Diploma in Medical Laboratory technology (DMLT) or Certificate in Medical Laboratory Technology (CMLT) would be a great choice.

The duration for these courses varies from institute to institute. Diploma in Medical Laboratory technology (DMLT) is a course of 2 years whereas Certificate Medical Laboratory Technology (CMLT) is for a year.  One should ensure that the courses offered are government recognized and the institutes running them have an affiliation with governing bodies like National Skill Development Corporation, Healthcare Sector Skill Council and are registered with National Skill Development Agency. Read the Tips to boost your Engineering and Medical Preparation.

Why choose DMLT Course?

The medical field is not restricted for medicine professionals but it also serves to various parallel running domains across the healthcare fraternity. Health care service is oriented into broad areas – diagnostic and applied clinical services.  To help the diagnosis of illness, doctors need to investigate through the blood test, urine test, stool test and others. Doctors prescribed the medicine as per the result of these tests. Medical lab technology is the subject that covers all these testing activities & process. Diagnostic services offer first hand help in terms of primary investigations for a clinical condition.  This builds a strong interface between the basic patient-care and renders further support to diagnostic with clinical implications.

Eligibility & different options to do DMLT Course

The minimum eligibility criteria for candidates aspiring to become medical laboratory technologist in India is: one must have study one of the paramedical professional courses. Minimum education qualification required for applying courses like DMLT and/or CMLT is Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and graduation for an advanced diploma. 

Short-term Course – Certificate in Medical Laboratory Technician:

This is also referred to as a certificate course wherein the duration of such certificate courses are from 6 months to one year. Students can pursue certificate courses in DMLT after completing their class X/Secondary School Certificate (SSC).

Diploma Course – Medical Laboratory Technician:

It is a bit detailed compared to certificate courses. A candidate must be at least XII pass with minimum 40% marks with English as a compulsory subject.

Advanced Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology:

This advanced course is of 18 months and eligibility required for enrolling requires candidate to be a graduate in science discipline. A certificate course in DMLT and at least a year of experience in this field are obligatory for registering the course.

The critical skills that employers require from a medical laboratory technician are:

• Communication skills
• A knack in handling patients and their relatives
• Maintain confidentiality (reports)
• Keep oneself updated about the patients’ safety regulations
• Infection control
• Demonstration of ECG at cardiac skills station

Personal skills like the ability to pay attention to detail, work precisely, not getting bored by mundane work and working with minimal supervision are highly preferred. 

Skill sets that would be taught in DMLT Course

Nowadays employers seek candidates who are professional technicians, hence clearing diploma or certificate examination will improve one’s career opportunities.   Students engaged in this course will learn skills which will train them to:

1. Perform phlebotomy
2. Conduct laboratory specimen test
3. Procedure documentation under supervision of the laboratory manager or doctor
4. Maintain the equipments used in the laboratory
5. Prepare and stain slides used for microscopic examination
6. Communicate results of tests to doctors

Scope after completion of the Course

The demand for professionals who can provide diagnostic service has been growing at a much faster pace than the number being trained every year. Students can pick up careers in:

Medical Technology Industry:

Medical technology includes a whole gamut of healthcare services for treating medical conditions meant to develop quality healthcare delivery through early diagnosis. This option is an economical one as it will reduce invasive treatment options.

Home-Care Industry – Collection:

With the purpose of bringing healthcare at the door-step for the patient, DMLT practitioners can serve the sick at their convenience by visiting the patients & conducting the tests.  

Diagnostic Centers & Pathology Laboratories:

Over here their job revolves around clinical applications which ranges from hematology, bio-chemistry, pathology, microbiology, histopathology, cytology, immunology, virology, mycology and many more. It also covers issues dealing with analysis of body fluids like blood, saliva, urine and tissues. It also covers chemical analysis and micro-organism screening.

Sampling:

A student will learn the techniques for collecting blood and cell samples. This assists doctors in determining the presence of certain diseases or conditions.

Testing

One may have to execute tests on the various fluids of a human body to determine or detect intake of any prohibited material. This is very common in the sports industry.

Documentation:

A technician maintains and updates documents (manually and computerised) for reference or for the purpose of cross-checking.    

Current Trends in Medical Laboratory Technology Industry:  

Good pay scale:

As the health-care facilities are growing in a great scale many super specialty hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are springing up. This in turn is raising the pay scale of the technician.

Job diversity:

Once certified, the Laboratory assistant can work in diverse roles and at different places. Laboratory is not the only one place where a technician will land, post completion of the course he/she can opt for private hospitals, blood banks centers or pathology clinics.

Job mobility:

The diagnostic sector is expanding across the geographical strata as per the patient needs, thereby opening doors to the new job opportunities for the DMLT/CMLT pass-outs.

Work environment:

The working environment varies a lot and it totally depends on the culture, infrastructure and policy adopted by the employer. High-end clinical setups, private hospitals or academic laboratory setups are the various avenues the technician can work.

Skill upgradation:

Practical knowledge is way much valuable than theoretical as a laboratory technician picks up new skills on the training or on the job. 

Different Job Profiles

After the completion of course, these healthcare professionals or DMLT students are called Medical Laboratory Technologist or a Technician. Then, the trainees/freshers start off by working as a technician. Few years down the line post gaining work experience, one may become a laboratory manager! 

Scope for students in India 

MLT professionals may work as technologists or technicians at medical laboratories. And success comes to those who toil and are consistent in their profession. They have to keep upgrading knowledge and maintain pace with the industry for few years. And down the line the executive technician should be promoted to laboratory manager.

Further, DMLT candidates who want to explore international career will have to have to appear for an examination conducted by the host country. Therefore it depends on the country as some have strict guidelines for DMLT and compulsorily requires license to perform the job. The criteria differ from country to country and same goes for number of years of experience required. 

Therefore, sky is the limit for hard-working and enthusiast candidates in this field. One can accentuate their profession by taking up further studies. A graduate in science background can opt for PHD course or a graduate from any discipline can consider taking ‘health-care’ management course (MBA) and start their own business. And having gained experience of healthcare industry in terms of practical exposure these professionals can venture into administration as well. In administration , they can channelize appropriate workflow bringing-in strategic planning based on versatile exposure from across the industry. Check out How To Make A Career in Medicine In US – The Process and The Journey.

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