Career lab technician-final copy,revised

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The University of Nairobi *

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MISC

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Biology

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Nov 24, 2024

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Career (Lab technician) Name Professors Institution Course Date

Biotechnology As the word suggests, biotechnology is a technology and biology combination. It is the utilization of technology to upgrade, use or modify a part or the complete biological structure for human and industrial welfares ("(PDF) Introduction to Biotechnology," 2021) . Biotechnology can be defined as the integrated utilization of microbiology, engineering sciences, and biochemistry to achieve industrial-technological applications of cultured tissue cells and microorganisms. However, this is one of the many definitions since biotechnology is quite a wide field. It is a collection of technologies that have been applied and combined to live cells comprising of biology, physics, mathematics, engineering, and chemistry ("(PDF) Introduction to Biotechnology," 2021) . Biotechnology is applied in various fields, from agriculture in various sectors such as animal husbandry, soil conservation, soil science, cropping system, seed technology, and plant physiology to pharmaceuticals, byproducts, and chemicals. All these have made biotechnology one of the fastest developing fields. Laboratory technician Lab technicians are the pillars of the scientific study laboratory. Technicians work nearly exclusively in laboratories and can work individually or as part of a group of scientists (skills & careers, 2021) . They are capable of working in a wide range of scientific fields, such as health, manufacturing, and forensics. The job that a laboratory technician does is primarily determined by the field in which they function. They may be analyzing body fluids or tissues, performing blood tests, or testing cells if they work in a medical setting. They may be checking food and drink products to identify contaminants or ensure consistency if they work for a food and beverage manufacturer (skills & careers, 2021) . The most common category of lab technicians is the medical lab technicians referred to as clinical laboratory technicians. Medical lab technicians

work in labs, as the name implies. Healthcare facilities, physician's offices, pharmacies, medical labs, and testing facilities are all popular places to find them. These unique workplaces vary significantly from what you'd find in a standard office setting. What is interesting about this career? One of the most interesting things about being a lab technician is the benefit of job security. Most of the lab technician positions are permanent. Due to acquiring of skills every time they engage in new things, they tend to gain experience quickly, which makes it easy to gain job promotions to chief technicians, then high-ranking technicians, and later lab supervisors (Prospects.ac.uk", 2021) . The other interesting thing is the opportunity of acquiring new expertise every time and being at the front position of research. Lab technicians spend a lot of time researching and discovering things, in addition to honing scientific and technological skills. They collaborate on a range of projects with coworkers, expanding their subject knowledge and learning new skillsets. In breakthroughs such as in the medical world, lab technicians always are at the first place in the involved research, thus gaining recognition quickly. Medical laboratory technician. However, Clinical lab technicians work with a wide range of specimens and research materials (Prospects.ac.uk. 2021) . Clinical lab technicians are at risk of being exposed to contagious diseases, and this requires them to work under stringent measures to minimize these risks. Medical lab technicians also have to work under time pressure because, in some cases, the patient's life depends on their efficiency of getting tests done quickly. Type of education required and types of degrees In this, we are going to focus on clinical or medical lab technicians. To do their jobs well, lab technicians need a combination of knowledge, training, expertise, and qualifications (2021) . According to the USBLS, in clinical lab technology, a bachelor's/associate's degree in clinical lab

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sciences is the minimum educational prerequisite for lab technicians. Both of these degrees require a range of educational classwork in chemistry, biology, mathematics, and data analysis from a laboratory technician college (2021) . However, a one-year certificate program may provide the requisite skills to medical practitioners that already have an associate's degree in their professions, like nurses. Students also can upgrade their education to further levels of education, such as masters and Ph.D. degrees. Students learn how to recognize human illnesses characteristics, handle clinical lab equipment, and treat specimens safely to avoid contamination. They are taught in classes and clinical labs, where they can get hands-on experience (2021) . After completion of the required education certificates, it is also required that one gets the MLT certification. An MLT, which can be obtained from the American Association of Bioanalysts or the American Society for Clinical Pathology, certifies the capacity to perform in a clinical lab. To function as a lab tech in a medical environment, numerous countries need an MLT. To get an MLT, one is required to have an associate's degree and complete a rigorous training program. An individual must pass a test after meeting the criteria (2021) . This certification is renewed every three years. How degree types can affect pay scale The degree types of the required courses in the lab technician job affect the pay scale of this job greatly (Salary.com, 2021; Study.com. 2021) . This is due to the different levels of qualifications and the experience gained in all the studying done. For instance in America, a technical certificate salary ranges from $52,087 to $55,234, bachelor’s degree $52,591 to $55,626, an associate’s degree $52,339 to $55,397, master’s degree $53,012 to $56,009, PhD $53,180 to $56,162 (Salary.com, 2021) .

What this career does in a typical workday Medical lab technicians are responsible for processing samples and testing specimens, among other tasks. Technicians perform simpler tasks and are often supervised. They disinfect and calibrate research equipment, as well as arrange, monitor, and clean laboratories (Indeed.com. 2021; Rasmussen.edu. 2021) . They use analytical instruments, like microscopes, to examine body fluids like urine and blood in order to diagnose unusual health issues. They also keep track of data and generate reports for the medical practitioner who requested the tests. They also consult pathologists to draw a conclusion regarding any irregular cells (Indeed.com. 2021; TARGETjobs. n.d) . clinical laboratory technicians work alongside other professionals, supervisory technicians, and healthcare professionals. Some lab technicians have direct contact with patients. To do their work, technicians should have outstanding interpersonal skills in all situations. What the outlook is for this career In this career, the employment outlook is quite optimistic, which means having a solid education and just enough experience, one is likely to find success in the medical laboratory technician field (2021) . Medical lab technician jobs are projected to increase 18% from 2014 to 2024, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, due to an aging and growing population. This is marginally higher than the 14% expected for all jobs in all fields but lower than the 26% projected across all healthcare professionals (Research Gate. 2021) . Although this field has various challenges, such as the risk of infections and working under pressure, a large number of individuals are currently pursuing this career which shows a positive attitude towards the lab medical lab technician field.

References Chron.com. (2021). What Does a Medical Lab Technician Do? . Work . Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://work.chron.com/medical-lab-technician-do-15514.html . Indeed.com. (2021). Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://www.indeed.com/career- advice/careers/what-does-a-lab-technician-do . Prospects.ac.uk. (n.d). Three best things about working as a lab technician | Prospects.ac.uk . Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work- experience/job-sectors/science-and-pharmaceuticals/three-best-things-about-working-as- a-lab-technician . Rasmussen.edu. (2021). A Closer Look at the Medical Lab Technician Job Description (and Beyond) .. Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health- sciences/blog/medical-lab-technician-job-description/ . Research Gate. (2021) . Introduction to Biotechnology . Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284169166_Introduction_to_Biotechnology . Salary.com, S. (2021). Salaries for Biology Lab Technician with a Bachelor's Degree | Salary.com . Www1.salary.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://www1.salary.com/Salaries-for-biology-lab-technician-with-a-Bachelors-Degree . TARGETjobs. (n.d). Laboratory technician: job description . Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/278949-laboratory-technician- job-description .

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Study.com. (2021). Retrieved 21 April 2021, from https://study.com/articles/Clinical_Lab_Technician_Occupational_Outlook_and_Career_ Profile.html .

Career lab technician-final copy,revised

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