2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 37. Professions and Occupations › Chapter 34. Clinical Laboratory Science Practitioners › Part 1. General › 37-34-103. Definitions

37-34-103. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Board" means the board of clinical laboratory science practitioners established in 2-15-1753.
(2) "Clinical laboratory" or "laboratory" means any facility or office in which clinical laboratory tests are performed.
(3) (a) "Clinical laboratory science practitioner" means a health care professional who performs clinical laboratory tests or who is engaged in management, education, consulting, or research in clinical laboratory science.
(b) The term includes laboratory directors, managers, supervisors, clinical laboratory scientists, clinical laboratory specialists, and clinical laboratory technicians who work in a laboratory.
(c) The term does not include:
(i) persons employed by a clinical laboratory to perform supportive functions not related to direct performance of laboratory tests; or
(ii) clinical laboratory trainees.
(4) "Clinical laboratory scientist" means a person who:
(a) performs clinical laboratory tests pursuant to established and approved protocols requiring the exercise of independent judgment and responsibility;
(b) maintains equipment and records;
(c) performs quality assurance activities related to test performance; and
(d) may supervise and teach within a clinical laboratory setting.
(5) "Clinical laboratory specialist" means a person who:
(a) performs laboratory testing in a specialized testing area, such as microbiology, chemistry, immunology, or hematology, according to approved protocols requiring the exercise of independent judgment and responsibility;
(b) maintains equipment and records;
(c) performs quality assurance activities related to test performance; and
(d) may supervise and teach within the specific area of the clinical laboratory.
(6) "Clinical laboratory technician" means a person who performs laboratory tests pursuant to established and approved protocols that require limited exercise of independent judgment and that are performed under the supervision of a clinical laboratory scientist, laboratory supervisor, or laboratory director.
(7) "Clinical laboratory test" or "laboratory test" means:
(a) a microbiological, serological, chemical, hematological, radiobioassay, cytological, biophysical, immunological, cytogenetical, or other examination that is performed on material derived from the human body; or
(b) any other test or procedure conducted by a laboratory or facility that provides information for the assessment of a medical condition or for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.
(8) "Department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in 2-15-1701.
(9) "License" means the clinical laboratory science license issued under this chapter.
(10) "Practice of clinical laboratory science" means the performance and interpretation of microbiological, serological, chemical, hematological, radiobioassay, cytological, biophysical, immunological, cytogenetical, or other examination on material that is derived from the human body and that provides information for the assessment of a medical condition or for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.
History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 345, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 139, Ch. 483, L. 2001.