Clinical Laboratory Services



Eddie Boncato
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Sutter Davis Hospital
Clinical laboratory staff play a vital role in helping to detect, diagnose and treat illnesses. They prepare, test, and examine blood and other bodily fluids and tissue samples to find disease, infection, and chemical imbalances in patients. Diagnostic tests are extremely important, and advances in technology and medicine have increased their accuracy and application. Computerized and automated equipment is often used and the complexity and accuracy of this equipment is expected to increase in the future.

Ideal Career For
Individuals who are detail-oriented and have a strong scientific background. Most laboratory jobs are best suited for people who are interested in the science of medicine, but desire to have limited direct contact with patients.

Job Classifications:

Job Title| back to top
Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Nature of Work:
Clinical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Clinical laboratory technologists, also referred to as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists. Clinical laboratory personnel examine and analyze body fluids, tissues, and cells. They look for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions; and test for drug levels in the blood to show how a patient is responding to treatment. These technologists also prepare specimens for examination, count cells, and look for abnormal cells. They use automated equipment and instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously, as well as microscopes, cell counters, and other sophisticated laboratory equipment. Then, they analyze the results and relay them to physicians. With increasing automation and the use of computer technology, the work of technologists and technicians has become less hands-on and more analytical.

Job Outlook:
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians held approximately 302,000 jobs in 2004. About half worked in hospitals. Most of the remaining jobs were found in medical laboratories or offices and clinics of physicians. Employment of clinical laboratory workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014, as the volume of laboratory tests increases with population growth and the development of new types of tests.

Entry Level Salary for Sacramento Sierra Region:
$66,959 (full time)

Education and/or Training:
Clinical Laboratory Scientists must be licensed in California by the Department of Health Services. Certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists is preferred. The requirements for licensure are a bachelor's degree in medical technology, microbiology or clinical laboratory studies, and one year of clinical experience.

Career Path:
At the highest level of experience, they may supervise staff, train other technologists or direct a section of a laboratory. Advancement into laboratory management is also possible.

Licensure/Certification:

Schools in Sacramento Sierra Region:Societies:

 

Job Title | back to top
Laboratory Assistant

Nature of Work:
Laboratory assistants perform routine tasks in a medical laboratory under the direction of a clinical laboratory scientist or senior laboratory assistant. If certified as a phlebotomist, they may also collect blood samples from patients. They check-in specimens that have been collected in the laboratory or hospital and perform clerical tasks. Cleaning and sterilizing laboratory equipment and preparing media solutions used in the lab are among their other duties. They may also perform simple lab tests by operating automated equipment that does not require interpretation or judgment of results.

Most laboratory assistants work in hospitals, medical laboratories, and clinics.

Job Outlook:
Laboratory assistants held 146,630 jobs in 2004. Employment of clinical laboratory workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations with laboratory assistants growing by 25% through the year 2014, as the volume of laboratory tests increases with population growth and the development of new types of tests.

Entry Level Salaries for Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region
$30,399 - $34,143 (full time)

Education and/or Training
Laboratory assistants need to be detail oriented and accurate. They must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Training is often offered at the community colleges and vocational schools. Many departments require phlebotomy certification.

Career Path:
With additional training and experience, laboratory assistants may advance to senior laboratory assistants.

Licensure / Certification

Schools in Sacramento Sierra Region:

Societies:


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