Medical Laboratory Assistant

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Medical Laboratory Technicians (3212) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Medical Laboratory Technicians (D212) 
• 2011 NOC: Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants (3212) 

Medical laboratory assistants work under the direction of various medical professionals. These include pathologists, medical lab technologists, and combined lab and x-ray technologists.

Duties vary but, in general, medical laboratory assistants:

• label and sort tissue samples and specimens
• load and operate lab testing equipment
• collect blood samples and body fluids from patients for lab testing
• prepare slides of blood and other fluids for study under a microscope
• perform simple tests on body fluids using control procedures
• make chemical solutions and stocks of culture media
• plant specimens to culture bacteria
• use computers to input data
• follow quality control and safety standards
• dispose of hazardous waste
• clean and sterilize lab utensils and equipment
• maintain stock levels of lab supplies.

They also may answer phone calls and keep records.

Medical laboratory assistants may work in areas such as:

• biochemistry (studying chemical reactions in the body)
• cytology (studying the structure and function of cells)
• hematology (analyzing diseases of the blood and blood-forming tissues)
• histopathology (examining the structure of diseased tissue)
• immunology (examining how the immune system works)
• microbiology (studying bacteria and viruses).

Hours of work vary. Medical laboratory assistants may work full time, part time, or casual relief hours. In diagnostic labs they may rotate day, evening, and night shifts. This may include weekends and holidays. In research labs they often work standard weekday hours.

Medical laboratory assistants may spend a lot of time standing or sitting in a lab. They may have to perform repetitive tasks. They must follow safety precautions. These measures reduce the risk of exposure to infectious body fluids, dangerous chemicals, or hazardous radiation.

Medical laboratory assistants need to possess:

• the ability to follow instructions
• the ability to pay attention to detail
• the ability to work quickly, carefully and precisely
• good fine motor skills to handle specimens and small lab equipment
• normal colour vision
• good listening, speaking and writing skills
• an aptitude for solving problems
• an aptitude for being organized
• the people skills to work well with co-workers and the public
• a basic grasp of biology and medical terms
• a thorough knowledge of lab safety procedures
• basic computer skills
• good skills at keeping records
• basic math skills
• the practical skills to operate and maintain lab equipment.

They should enjoy:

• taking a step-by-step approach to their work
• setting up and maintaining lab equipment
• helping people and assisting medical personnel.

Medical laboratory assistants work in:

• private diagnostic testing labs
• hospitals
• doctors’ offices and clinics
• public and private research institutes.

Experienced medical laboratory assistants may move into related jobs in:

• industrial process or manufacturing company labs
• pharmaceutical company labs
• veterinary labs
• government science labs.

Advancement opportunities depend on the assistant’s ability, experience, and education.

Medical laboratory assistants are classified in the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3212: Medical laboratory technicians and Pathologists’ Assistants. In Alberta, 91% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events that affect overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities that come up when people leave existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities that come up when new positions are created)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the D212: Medical Laboratory Technicians occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.4% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 129 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) website: www.csmls.org

For more information on career planning, education and jobs call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Supports Centre near you.