ROLE OF MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY

THE ROLE OF MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY 
A lab tech is a person who performs the practical hands-on work in laboratories. Lab techs work in diverse settings which include health care, industry, research, and educational institutions. Lab techs may work in a wide variety of fields such as medicine, biology, chemistry, electronics, geology and then environment.
IN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
Pharmaceutical Technician orPharmaceutical Research Technician orDrug Technician is a job title for a laboratory assistant or research assistant employed in thepharmaceutical industry under the direct supervision of a physician,veterinarian, or scientist involved in theresearch and development of new or existing medications. In most cases, job responsibilities include supervising ongoing experiments, recording laboratory results, keeping records, testing for various compounds, and maintaining laboratory cleanliness. More responsibilities are typically given as the pharmaceutical technician gains experience in laboratory techniques and proper research methodology.
Job Description:

1) Prepares vaccines, biologicals, and serums for prevention of animal diseases: Inoculates fertilized eggs, broths, or other bacteriological media with organisms.

2) Incubates bacteria for specified period and prepares vaccines and serums by standard laboratory methods.

3) Tests vaccines for sterility and virus inactivity.

4) Prepares standard volumetric solutions and reagents used in test
IN DOCTOR WITH OUT BORDERS
As a laboratory technician on assignment with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) you might manage the laboratory associated with atuberculosis (TB) treatment program, training the technicians you supervise in sputum microscopy. Alternatively, you might find yourself tasked with establishing a laboratory facility, introducing quality control to an HIV laboratory, or testing people for sleeping sickness in an outdoor mobile clinic.

MSF laboratory technicians are primarily responsible for management of the laboratory, supervision of laboratory personnel, and implementation of laboratory training programs for locally hired staff. Responsibilities could also include the ordering and distribution of laboratory supplies, data collection, and quality control of laboratory testing.
IN HOSPITAL
Organizes work by matching computer orders with specimen labeling; sorting specimens; checking labeling; logging specimens; arranging reports for delivery; keeping work surfaces clean and orderly.

Maintains quality results by running standards and controls, verifying equipment function through routine equipment maintenance and advanced trouble shooting; calibrating equipment utilizing approved testing procedures; monitoring quality control measures and protocols.

Serves as technical resource by participating in staff training; answering questions of other professionals; participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.

Identifies and communicates abnormal patient conditions by alerting supervisory personnel, the pathologist, the patient physician, or nurse; reporting mandated information to the public health department or other designated officials.

(toxicology) identifies the presence or quantity of drugs of abuse, therapeutic drugs, and toxic substances by operating toxicology instrumentation and performing manual methods for the performance of drug screens, blood alcohol levels, and carbon monoxide levels.

(chemistry) provides test results for patient diagnosis and treatment by operating chemistry equipment; performing hand chemistries.
(hematology) provides test results for patient diagnosis and treatment by operating hematology, urinalysis, and coagulation equipment; performing manual methods of differentials.

(immunology) provides test results for patient diagnosis and treatment by operating equipment such as the gamma counter, spectrophotometer, densitometer, and through methods such as radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunossay, and serological testing.

(microbiology) provides physician with information for treatment of patient infection by performing technical procedures for the identification or susceptibility of bacteria, parasites, fungi, and mycobacteria.

(blood bank) ensures the patient of receiving compatible blood/blood components by completing blood typing, antibody screening, compatibility testing, and antibody identification procedures.

(blood bank) assures future retrieval of patient transfusion information by preparing patient packets and maintaining blood bank database.

Contributes to a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers by following established standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations.

Maintains patientconfidence by keeping laboratory information confidential.

Serves and protects the hospital community by adhering to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and jcaho standards.

Enhances laboratory services and hospital reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.