Others require focused attention, such as cross matches on blood, thyroid tests, specific hepatitis tests and HIV testing. The clinical labs staff performed 1.4 million tests last year, Smith said. There's a human, interpretive component that requires in-depth knowledge of the instrumentation and quality control. I like to think of every specimen I receive as if it were my own family member's. The responsibility level requires professional, educated personnel, Blevins said.
Technicians have a two-year degree.
Other specialists have specialized training and are certified in their respective fields. Medical technologists like Robbins hold a four-year degree, with professional certification from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. We can specialize in subclasses from there. Robbins instructs third-year medical students about office laboratory techniques and recently published an article on urine sediments in Advance , a physicians' magazine. We're going to find out.