A medical laboratory technician typically works in a laboratory, carrying out diagnostic and other kinds of tests that provide important medical information about people with injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions. The role of the medical laboratory technician is a demanding one that requires both general and specific skills.

Regardless of the type of laboratory in which they work, the medical laboratory technician tends to have a fairly similar type of job description, although the types of tests they routinely carry out often differ depending on the specific nature of their job. Medical tech jobs typically involve tasks such as preparing patient samples for examination, testing blood and other body fluids for the presence of bacteria and viruses, screening blood for diagnostic markers of disease, examining cells and tissues for signs of disease, and testing bacterial samples for antibiotic sensitivity.

One thing that may differentiate these types of medical jobs is the size of the lab in which an individual works. For example, someone working as a clinical laboratory technician in a smaller laboratory is more likely to have a fairly general job description, and will probably carry out several different types of tests as part of a normal day. In contrast, a medical laboratory technician working in a large laboratory is more likely to specialize in one or more types of diagnostic or analysis tests, or in a particular scientific field.

Medical laboratory technicians have several options for specialization. Microbiology typically concentrates on diagnosis of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, while immunology involves testing patient samples for signs that indicate immune function or dysfunction. Hematology is the study of blood, and a technician working in this specialty is usually involved in testing patient blood samples for signs of disease and blood disorders. Still others specialize in histology or cytology, and concentrate on examining tissues and cells for signs of disease.

Wherever they work, and however they choose to specialize, a medical laboratory technician should possess certain skills and personality traits in order to succeed at the job. Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills are extremely important. The ability to concentrate on repetitive tasks and follow strict protocols without losing focus, good motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and good record-keeping skills, are also vital for a clinical laboratory scientist. Finally, the ability to multi-task is crucial, because people working in medical lab tech jobs will often have to carry out several different types of tasks during the same time frame.