Medical Technologist Workshop

Helping People One Test at a Time

Presented by: Elsa Moniz. H (ASCP), Senior Hematology Medical Technologist and Martha Shaughnessy, MT (ASCP), Senior Hematology Medical Technologist, Lahey Clinic Medical Center

Workshop Description

The title of this workshop is borrowed from this year’s theme celebrating “National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week”. We will “follow” a patient who comes into a hospital emergency room and arrive at a diagnosis for this patient through brief role-playing. In addition, you will participate in a laboratory investigation comparing the patient’s cells under a microscope to cells of a normal patient. Microscopic analysis of blood cells are one of the most important “tests” that a hematology medical technologist performs to help the physician diagnose a patient so that they may receive proper treatment.

Leader's Job Description

Martha Shaughnessy

A Medical Technologist works as a laboratory detective, providing vital clues to the physician to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The laboratory’s primary sections of chemistry, hematology, blood bank, immunology and microbiology are areas where cellular, microbial and chemical analysis of blood, tissue and other body fluids takes place.

A patient’s physician orders specific laboratory tests. The medical technologist analyzes and performs these requested tests ordered by physicians on specimens collected from their patients.  To perform these tests, the Medical Technologist uses manual technique, sophisticated automation and advanced technology while adhering to strict quality control guidelines. The Medical Technologist also acts as a resource for other health care professionals and works closely with pathologists who can help guide special testing and aid in interpretation of test results. The test results that are reported to the physician allow him to properly diagnose and treat a patient accordingly.

Elsa Moniz

Medical Technologists are also responsible for the operation, maintenance, calibration and troubleshooting of instruments and equipment; performance and evaluation of internal and external quality control; and review of quality assurance for laboratory tests. New testing methods and new technologies are continually being evaluated to provide new tests for the physician and to improve existing testing methodologies.

In the Hematology department where we work, we count the white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in a patient’s blood or other body fluids.

We may also look at those cells through a microscope to determine whether there are any abnormalities. Some abnormal cells are difficult to identify with the microscope and further specialized tests may be performed on these cells to assist in identification.

Advice For Career Path

In high school you should take biology, chemistry and math classes that prepare you for a degree in science. The traditional path for a career in Medical Technology is a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology or related science. An internship in a hospital clinical laboratory is also required.

There are national agencies that certify Medical Technologists Technicians, as the American Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) and the National Certification Agency (NCA). 

Not all medical technologists choose a career in a hospital laboratory.  Opportunities for the medical technologist also exist in research, marketing, sales, technical support, education, regulatory agencies and laboratory information systems to name a few.