Job Shadowing for Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)

Using information from your job shadowing, complete the following questions.
Name:
Date:
Job Shadowing Site:
Job Shadowing Supervisor:
Shift Time:
1. What did you observe in the following departments?
Phlebotomy:
Specimen Management:
Hematology:
Chemistry:
Microbiology:
Histotechnology:
Job Shadow Review
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2. Did you see anything that was new information to you (i.e. made you think “I
did not know that medical laboratory assistant (MLA) did that”)?
If so what was it and what was your reaction to it?
3. Based on the job shadowing experience why do you feel you will make a good
Medical Laboratory Assistant?
4. Please explain your definition of work ethic and professionalism?
5. Based on your job shadow experience how important are work ethic and
professionalism in a typical medical laboratory department?
6. Please list what medical facilities you have gone to and what you have
experienced to investigate your career choice. Please include dates, location and
encounters.
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7. If applicable, what is the Medical Laboratory Assistant responsible for in terms
of patient care and technical duties?
8. Define attributes (qualities, traits or characteristics) that you observed
successful and competent technologists displaying throughout the work day?
9. What attributes do you possess that will assist you in to be a successful as a
student in the training program?
10. Describe any potential drawbacks and/or risks that may be encountered while
working in this profession.
11. Consider an urban hospital, a rural hospital and a private clinic. Compare the
Medical Laboratory Assistant’s work schedule, volume of work, and variety.
How do they differ?
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12. Describe the types of people that the Medical Laboratory Assistant may interact
with as patients.
13. List the various areas of the hospital or clinic the Medical Laboratory Assistant
may work in.
When making this career choice you must first consider the demands of the program
and the occupation. Besides the Job Shadow Review it is recommended you speak to
current students as well as program graduates to discuss the emotional, mental and
physically challenging conditions that you will experience while training and in the
workplace upon completion of this program.
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Job Shadowing Objectives for Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)
General Objectives
1. To ensure the applicants are fully aware of the scope of medical
laboratory tasks, both academic and day-to-day demands
2. To acquaint the applicant with the medical laboratory and related
terminology
Specific Objectives
1. To become familiar with the following medical laboratory departments.
○ Phlebotomy
○ Specimen Management
○ Hematology
○ Chemistry
○ Microbiology
○ Histology
2. To meet departmental staff (technologists, porters, administrative and/or
receptionist staff)
3. To become aware of the concept of team approach to health care and how
a clinical site organizes each component of the team.
4. To gain an introductory understanding of medical laboratory work and
the roles of various disciplines within medical technology.
5. To become familiar with the blood collection process (phlebotomy) and
the analysis of biological specimens.
6. To gain a respect and awareness of the potential hazards associated with
the collection and handling of biological specimens, and safety measures
which must be implemented.
Expectations of the Clinical Sites
1. To provide the applicant with introductions to the department staff.
2. To provide an overview of how their department fits into the health team
approach of patient care.
3. To provide a tour of the medical laboratory with opportunity to observe
the various discipline specific areas.
4. To allow the applicant to observe various tasks which would commonly
be performed by medical laboratory workers.
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5. To enable the applicant to meet with and discuss the role of the medical
laboratory assistant with various staff members.
6. Provide career potential and job descriptions for site.
Reviewing this glossary before and after your job shadowing will enhance
your experience.
Glossary of Basic Medical Laboratory Terms
Analyzer - instruments within the laboratory that separate substances (usually
constituents of blood) into their constituent parts and the determination of the nature,
properties, and composition of compounds.
Antibodies - a protein produced by a type of white blood cell (lymphocytes) in
response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigenic substances. An antibody is specific to
an antigen. Each class of antibody is named for its action.
Antigens - a substance, usually a protein, that causes the formation of an antibody
and reacts specifically with that antibody.
Assay - the analysis of the purity or effectiveness of drugs and other biologic
substances, including laboratory and clinical observations.
Bacteriology - the scientific study of bacteria.
Blood Bank - a unit responsible for collecting, processing and storing blood for
transfusion and other purposes. The blood bank is usually a subdivision of a
laboratory in a hospital and is often charged with the responsibility for serologic
testing
Blood Typing - identification of genetically determined antigens on the surface of the
red blood cell used to determine blood groups. Usually a blood bank procedure, blood
typing in the first step in testing blood to be used in transfusion and is followed by
cross-matching.
Bone Marrow Aspirate - the fluid portion of the marrow obtained with a syringe; a
suspension of blood, fat and particles of developing blood (hematopoietic) cells.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) - a body fluid, normally clear and colourless, that
circulates over the brain and around the spinal cord to protect them from sudden
changes in pressure and provide a site for metabolic exchange of nutrients and waste.
The laboratory analyzes the cells and chemical constituents of the CSF when it is
withdrawn from the body to help determine the cause of illness.
Clinical Laboratory - a laboratory in which tests directly related to the care of
patients are performed. Such laboratories use material obtained from patients for
testing, as compared with research laboratories, where animal and other sources of
test material are also used.
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Coagulation - the process of transforming a liquid into a solid. In the laboratory it
involves transforming the plasma in the blood into a solid. (blood clotting).
Cross matching of blood - A procedure used to determine compatibility of a donor’s
blood with that of a recipient after the specimens have been matched for major blood
type.
Culture - in the laboratory it is a test involving the cultivation of microorganisms or
cells in a special growth medium.
Differential (WBC) - an examination and enumeration of the distribution of
leukocytes in a stained blood smear. The different kinds of white cells are counted
and reported as percentages of the total examined.
Electrolytes - are elements that when dissolved in fluid dissociate into ions and are
able to conduct an electric current. Electrolytes differ in their concentrations in the
blood plasma, body and cell fluids and affect the movements of substances between
those compartments. Proper quantities of principle electrolytes and balance among
them are critical to normal metabolism and function. Some of the principle
electrolytes are; Sodium (Na +), Potassium (K +), Calcium (Ca ++), Magnesium (Mg ++),
Chloride (Cl -), Bicarbonate (HCO3 -).
Erythrocyte (Red blood cell) - the major cellular element of the blood. It is a
biconcave disc about 7 micrometers in diameter that contains hemoglobin confined
within a lipoid membrane. Their principle function is to transport oxygen. They
originate in the long bones of adults and are released into blood circulation once they
are mature.
Glucose - a simple sugar found in certain foods, especially fruits, and a major source
of energy occurring in human body fluids. Laboratory testing for blood levels of
glucose are an important diagnostic tool in diabetes and other disorders.
Immunoassay - The use of antibodies to measure hormones, proteins, and drugs.
Incubator - an apparatus used in the clinical laboratory to provide a controlled
environment, especially a particular temperature for the growth of microorganisms.
Other environmental components, such as darkness, light, oxygen, moisture, or
dryness, may also be provided.
Leukocytes - a white blood cell, one of the formed elements of the circulating blood
system. Five types of leukocytes have been classified. They are neutrophils,
basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and eosinophils.
Microtome - a device that cuts specimens of tissue prepared in paraffin blocks into
extremely thin slices for microscopic study by a surgical pathologist.
Occult Blood - blood that is not apparent grossly (visibly) and appears from a nonspecific
source, with obscure signs and symptoms,. It is usually detected using a
chemical test. Occult blood testing is often done on stool samples from patients
suspected of having GI lesions.
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Phlebotomy - the incision of a vein (usually using a needle) for the purpose of
collecting of blood.
Plasma - the watery straw-coloured, fluid portion of the blood in which the blood cells
are suspended. Plasma is made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, glucose, fates,
bilirubin and gases, and is essential for carrying the cellular elements of the blood
through the microcirculation. Plasma also transports nutrients to the tissues and
wastes away from them, and works to maintain acid-base balance of the body.
Platelets - the smallest cells in the blood and are essential for the coagulation of blood
and to maintain hemostasis.
Sample (patient) - Prepared from a patient specimen and used to obtain information
by means of a specific laboratory test.
Serum - the clear, thin, and sticky fluid portion of the blood that remains after
coagulation. Serum contains no blood cells, platelets or fibrinogen.
Specimen (patient) - A volume of whole blood (or other body fluid/product),
appropriately collected, transported, and processed to provide a sample for the
purpose of performing one or more laboratory tests.
Stain - a pigment, dye or substance used to impart color to microscopic objects or
tissues to facilitate their examination and identification.
Stat - abbreviation for the Latin work statim, “immediately”.
Urinalysis - a physical microscopic and chemical examination of urine.
Tissue Typing - a systemized series of tests to evaluate the intra-species compatibility
of tissues from a donor and a recipient before transplantation. Typing is accomplished
by identifying and comparing a large series of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in the
cells of the body.
Virology - the study of viruses and viral diseases.
24 hour urine - a collection of all the urine voided from a patient over a 24 hour
period.
24/7 shift work 365 - a laboratory that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365
days a year.
Bibliography
Andersen, Kenneth & Andersen, Lois & Glanze, Walter. 1994 Mosby Inc.,
Mosby’s Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary 4 th Edition.
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A Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) is trained in some of the
following medical laboratory departments (a brief description of
each department is included):
Clinical Chemistry
In this department the chemical constituents of the blood, urine and other
body fluids are analyzed. Determination of the levels of substance (e.g.
Cholesterol or glucose) is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of medical
conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Numerous other substances,
including drugs are tested in order to assist the physician in the diagnosis,
treatment and monitoring of many other clinical conditions. Analytical
techniques use specialized equipment, incorporating photometric,
electrochemical and other methods of measurement to detect, very accurately,
small quantities of the analyte.
Hematology
In this department the cellular components of blood and its clotting
mechanisms are analyzed. Through cell counts and microscopic examination
of red blood cells and white blood cells, the technologist assists in identifying
specific disease conditions such as anemia and leukemia. For patients who
have disorders that cause prolonged bleeding or cause the blood to clot too
quickly, coagulation studies assist the physician in prescribing the correct
therapy (e.g. Anticoagulants for heart attack or stroke victims).
Histotechnology
In this department, every tissue that is removed from the human body through
biopsy, surgery or autopsy is processed and analyzed. For some biopsies and
surgeries, the surgeon may need to know immediately if a lump or tumor is
malignant or benign. In most other cases, this tissue will be examined to
determine the cause of the disease or, for autopsies, the cause of death. The
MLA processes the tissues for microscopic examination by the pathologist.
Microbiology
In this department the types of microorganisms that are causing diseases or
infections in patients are identified. This is done using special culture
techniques, biochemical tests, and microscopic examination. The antibiotic(s)
that would be effective in treating the infection are also identified.
Specimen Management
In this sub-department the MLA, along with Medical Laboratory Technologists,
receive patient specimens from collection centres, log them into the laboratory
system to provide specimen tracking and prepare the samples for testing in the
various laboratory departments.
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Students should be comfortable with performing the following
mathematical functions.
Unit Conversion
1. Express 50ug/mL as mg/L.
Reagent Preparation
1. Determine how many grams of KCl must be weighed to prepare 500 mL
of a 2.5 molar KCl solution. (Molarity)
2. Determine how many grams of NaCl must be weighed to prepare 2 L of a
0.85% w/v NaCl solution (saline). (Percent Solutions)
3. Determine how many mL of a 50 mmol/L Glucose stock standard are
required to prepare 100 mL of a 5 mmol/L Glucose working standard.
(V1C1=V2C2)
Dilutions
1. Determine how many mL of diluent are required to make a 1 in 10
dilution of 2 mL of patient serum.
2. Determine the concentration of glucose in a patient’s sample (serum) that
was diluted 1 in 5 prior to testing.
Diluted glucose result = 3.5 mmol/L
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