This branch has two prime career options, including medical laboratory technologists and technicians. A technologist performs most of their tasks such as preparation of slides human tissues or other specimens, using laboratory equipment. On the other hand, medical laboratory technicians help MLTs and carry out tasks such as blood tests and blood typing.
B. Sc. in Medical Laboratory Technology involves the study prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases by the utilization of laboratory equipment to perform clinical tests.
It is one of the most important parts of the healthcare system as it plays the role of diagnosis and collection of information required to provide the suitable and best medical facilities to the patient. Without the help of MLT, modern would be incapable of providing the right treatment to its patients.
What does a Medical Laboratory Technician do?
Still not interested in making a career as a Medical Laboratory Technician? Before you choose a career, you need to be able to answer the question: What does a medical lab technician do?
A medical lab technician works in laboratory settings that help in disease diagnosis. But is it just ‘it’? That would be a NO. The number of duties that a medical lab technologist performs makes the position highly demanding. The work of a medical laboratory technician requires creativity, problem-solving skills, innovation and much more.
What role does a Medical Laboratory Technician play in the healthcare field?
Before you make up your mind if you want to pursue this course or not, read on to find out more about the role of a Medical Laboratory Technician in the healthcare field.
Do you feel hospitals and doctors’ clinics would be the same without the support of medical lab technicians? They play a very critical role in the functioning of any healthcare facility. Working under the supervision of laboratory managers and technologists, doctors conduct tests on the specimens.
For Example, you are due for a blood test. The nurse takes your sample and stores it in the medical container. But what happens after that? The blood is taken to the laboratory and it is the Medical Laboratory Technician who conducts the test on the sample.
Duration and eligibility criteria for the degree course of BMLT
The undergraduate program for B.Sc in Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT) is a three-year course. The qualification to take admission in this course is a score of a minimum of 55 percent in 10+2.
BMLT, also known as clinical laboratory science in some institutions, is an allied healthcare professional course that helps the candidates to learn the various operations of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that are carried out through clinical laboratory tests.
The various kinds of testing techniques taught to the students during the program help them to conduct clinical trials in job conditions and detect various diseases that have caused the patient to fall sick. Not only testing but a sampling, documentation, and reporting is also an important part of a BMLT.
Colleges that teach BMLT in India charge an average tuition fee ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 4 lakh for a three-year undergraduate course. A student should have passed their 10+2 with science subjects from a recognized board of education or University.
Most of the institutions that offer programs in BMLT provide admissions to the students based on skills and performance in the relevant entrance examinations which are usually followed by a PI round before offering admission to the course.
Some colleges provide direct admission based on the marks obtained in 10+2 examinations like that of Hindustan College, Asian Institute of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences and many more. Some of the important entrance examinations which offer students chances to study BMLT programs in some of the top institutes of India are:
- JEE MAIN
- AICET
- JEE ADVANCED
- JNU engineering entrance exam.
Medical Laboratory Technology Courses – Essential skillset
Students who graduate in Medical Lab Technology are provided with ample opportunities for practice in public health facilities, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and commercial laboratories laboratory professionals or experts.
These settings are the optimal environment for such students to conduct research and experiments with new medical technologies. So, students who are interested in becoming medical laboratory technologists should have research-oriented technical abilities.
Research requires a lot of hard work and thorough knowledge of all medical and clinical aspects as well as great accuracy in the conduction of tests. The students should have an interest in biology, chemistry as well as mechanical and computer knowledge to pursue this career.
Specialization Opportunities in Medical Laboratory Technology
To excel in your career as a medical lab technologist, it is important to further study post-graduation in medical laboratory technology. Post-graduates in medical lab technology are offered a job as Laboratory Technicians, Medical Officer, Laboratory Manager, Medical Record Technician, Research Associate, Resident Medical Officer, Laboratory Testing Manager, Lab Assistant, Associate Professor or Lecturer.
BMLT Course Curriculum
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Main Subjects | Biochemistry 2 | Biochemistry 3 |
| Human Anatomy | Microbiology 2 | Microbiology 3 |
| Physiology | Pathology 2 | Pathology 3 |
| Biochemistry 1 | Subsidiary subjects | Subsidiary subjects |
| Pathology 1 | Sociology | Ethics Database Management |
| Microbiology 1 | Constitution of India | Research and Biostatics |
| Subsidiary subjects | Environmental Science and Health | Computer Application |
Medical Laboratory Technology Courses – Career prospect and salary
Medical lab technology is one of the most vital parts of the healthcare system and therefore, the salary paid to the MLT’s is good. Most of the job opportunities in the field of medical lab technology depend upon the technical and academic skills of the technician or technologist.
After the completion of the graduation or post-graduation, they can join any medical laboratory as a certified medical laboratory technologist and earn experience in their specializations.
The rise in several private hospitals, nursing homes, biochemical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, pathological laboratories, and many more medical facilities has helped in increasing demand for a medical laboratory technologist.
With sufficient experience, the medical laboratory technicians can occupy supervisory positions in laboratories and hospitals as Laboratory Manager, Hospital Outreach Coordinators, Laboratory Information System Analyst, Consultant, Health Care Administrator and Educational Consultant.
The medical laboratory technologist can expect an average annual salary of up to Rs 6 LPA depending upon their expertise and experience in the field as a medical technologist. Some of the common job positions of BMLT and their expected salaries are given below:
| Job Position | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| R&D Lab Technicians | Rs 4-5 LPA |
| Technical Executives | Rs 7-8 LPA |
| Medical Technicians | Rs 5-6 LPA |
| X-Ray Technician | Rs 6-7 LPA |
| Lab Technician | Rs 6-7 LPA |
A career in Medical Laboratory Technology is one of the most challenging and satisfying careers. Every day, a technician/ technologist gets to learn something new, which is great for one’s career. So what are you waiting for? If the medical field interests you, then this course is one of the options you can consider venturing into.
So why not be a part of this interesting and intriguing field of medicine already? You can as well share this article with your friends and loved ones after reading.
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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