Students spend the majority of their scheduled time in the core clinical laboratory program in chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, and microbiology. In addition, they can either spend time in a variety of clinical laboratory rotations designed to enrich their core clinical experiences or participate in research. In research, a collaborative project is supervised by a faculty member in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Students attend the Department of Laboratory Medicine Grand Rounds which provide current information on scientific advances in laboratory medicine and they also attend Medical Technology seminars where topics in laboratory management, educational methodologies, and informatics are covered. However, with advancement in scientific knowledge, newer and more sophisticated procedures are constantly being developed within all of these areas so that they have greatly expanded from their traditional content.
Molecular biology plays an increasingly important role in patient evaluation.
For example, individuals who have inherited a genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis can be identified at the DNA level. Chromosomal abnormalities found in many cancers such as breast cancer or leukemia can also sometimes be detected at the molecular level. Many bacteria and viruses can be identified using molecular techniques, frequently more rapidly than with traditional culturing methods. The following paragraphs give a brief description of the traditional major scientific disciplines, along with some examples of roles medical technologists have in patient care issues in these areas. Medical technologists in clinical chemistry analyze the blood and other body fluids to determine the level of the chemical constituents.