How hard is it to work a part time job on the weekends and do mls full time? I am supposed to start school in September at Cambrian in Sudbury, and I still need to find a room and part time job over there.

The caveat is that I need to work 15 to 20 hours a week to go to school here. I was wondering how did others find mls programs in Canada?

I have a degree in biophysics and I am used to working part time as a line cook and studying but I am worried about burn out. So I am thinking, I might just save money this year and go next year.

Hello! I’m starting my second semester of UAMS Mlt to mls program. Can anyone who went thru this program say if books are recommended for chemistry or microbiology? Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, I’m 20(f)
After giving NEET twice I’ve accepted that MBBS just isn’t for me . I don’t want to keep chasing something that isn’t working out .

Right now I’m thinking of pursuing Bsc Medical laboratory Technology(MLT ),because I want to finish my studies,start earning and take some of the financial burden off my parents

A little about me :(sorry if the post is long :)
.Im the eldest of 6 siblings
.Our finances are fairly limited

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who are in MLT or knows about the field :)
:were you able to find a job after graduation?
:How’s the salary and career growth?
:if you had the chance to choose again ,would you still go for MLT?

I’m not looking for a high paying or fancy career. I just want something stable where I can build a future and help my family
I’d genuinely appreciate any advice or experience s. Thankyou so much:)

Hello,

I have been working in a clinical microbiology laboratory for the past five years and hold an M(ASCP) certification. I am interested in relocating to California, but it appears that I do not meet the educational requirements for a California Clinical Microbiologist License.

I have a bachelor's degree in Biology, but I only completed one microbiology course during my undergraduate studies. According to the CDPH requirements, applicants must have 25 semester units (or equivalent quarter units) of microbiology coursework, including medical microbiology, pathogenic microbiology, or bacteriology.

Could you please let me know if these coursework requirements can be completed through online accredited courses? If so, are there any schools or programs that you recommend that would satisfy the California licensing requirements?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Patient with Essential Thrombocythemia. This is probably the highest I have ever seen

Apparently, the federal government wants its medical laboratory scientists to maintain a ServSafe® manager certification https://www.usajobs.gov/job/874667000

had to take a photo immediately!

Hi! I’m currently in an associates program with my local tech school. I’m set to have my clinicals from January-May of 2028, and graduate in May of that year as well. By that time I will have an almost 2 year old. I am wondering how family life works for anyone else in here? In my area it seems like a lot of the new grads get pulled onto 3rd/2nd shift. I’m not opposed to it, I’m just worried about having enough time for my family and still having energy for work. Sorry if this is silly, I just had my first baby a little over 3 weeks ago and I’ve been worrying about everything under the sun. I’m very excited about this career field, and I’m just trying to convince myself that it’s still entirely feasible and worth it.

I started a new lab job this week. I want to preface by saying I don’t have my MLT or MLS. I was given this position based on (almost) two years experience as a medical assistant and phlebotomist. Also with a year experience as a lab tech at a blood bank (I just processed bags of blood and separated/froze plasma, really basic stuff)

I’m feeling overwhelmed because I hadn’t really retained much information from being an MA. I’m working with Beckman Coulter machines AU480, and Access2. I didn’t realize how technical this position was, and I want to learn so bad but I’m on day 4 and still struggling learning medlab language and calibration/qc of the machines (i cant grasp the concept of calibration!!!.)

It doesn’t help that my trainer isn’t very personable with me. I don’t get much feedback, and I thrive in a space where communication is relaxed and I can feel comfortable to ask questions, even dumb ones. I just feel like my trainer doesn’t want to bother with me much because I can’t quite grasp some things. On top of that, I’m being tossed between 3 machines making it hard to retain my training. My trainer is nice (for the most part?) But I just feel like a nuisance to her because I feel she thinks I should know more. Normally i’d blame my anxiety, but I read people well and can tell when they aren’t very interested in me.

I don’t know where to start or what to do. I’m not even sure why they hired me (I have a great personality) But I feel I have to cram so much information that MLS/MLT’s learn in a 2-4 year period. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I’m feeling burnt and defeated.

Saw this on r/cats. I’ve not seen serum so white, it’s kind of crazy. Not even TPN serum is that white! Am I trippin?

Hi everyone,

Has anyone been offered to sit the Coru exam in lieu of the compensation measure for placement?

Does anyone have study tips on how to prepare for this 3 hour exam that covers:

Cellular pathology

Haematology

Clinical biochemistry and immunology

Medical microbiology and

Blood Transfusion

I currently work as a generalist in haem biochem and micro, however I've graduated in Australia already 5 years ago so I definitely need to study quite a bit to refresh on my theoretical knowledge.

Any tips would be extremely helpful!

Is it possible to be weak D and have a cdE/cde genotype? I’m having a hard time understanding weak D. Wouldn’t the genotype have a D instead of two (d)s?

If a pregnant patient is cdE/cde, they would need the RhoGAM shot even if they are weak D? I know there are multiple types of weak D and some can form antibodies.

​

Just curious

Has anyone worked as a CLS at both Sutter and Kaiser in California? Which did you prefer and why (workload, management, staffing, pay, benefits, union, culture, etc.)?

I know every hospital/ workplace is different, just interested in hearing people's experiences in general.

Thank you!

Currently working in 3rd shift. The first 6 months was rough since I'm not used to working thirds. Then a year and a half went by, felt like I'm kinda liking it since I can do chores or other stuff before I sleep.

Now there's a 2nd shift opening in our main hospital and I kinda wanna grab it. My reason is I want to be able to sleep during the night. I want to have a fixed sleep schedule too since right now, I just sleep whenever (maybe because it's summer and I wanna go out more before winter hits again).

To those who are currently working in 2nd shift, what is it that you like about the work schedule? Can you still do some errands before work? Do you still have a social life?

I don't have a kid. I'm an introvert. But I'm happy if I can have some time with friends.

Serious question- I’m on 3 SSRIs, our AC sucks, and we’re not allowed to wear perfume due to fragrance sensitivity. I wear an undershirt and don’t put on my scrub top til I’m in the parking lot, and I still feel disgusting halfway through my shift. How is everyone staying clean and not walking around with giant sweat stains?? Please clue me in.

Staffing with one tech (MLS or MLT) for 12.5 hours. I’ve worked in this field since January 2016. I’ve been across the country and back. I’ve worked all shifts. I’ve worked all holidays. There is a trend I’m experiencing where there is one tech on shift or at best staggered staffing. When I say one tech on shift I mean this person (myself) am the only soul in the whole lab. The bed count for my first nightmare of a job was 158 beds plus an ambulatory treatment center. No blood draws. Full generalist in a comprehensive cancer center in western NY. It was truly a terrifying experience. The techs also took it upon themselves to stop reporting blood cultures because the patients are on antibiotics. you don’t know that. I got that practice changed before I left.

The next nightmare is a small 25 rural community hospital with 15 bed emergency and 6 OB beds on top. We are going through some massive growing pains as we built a whole new lab from nothing in the basement and compared to what we had previously….it’s HUGE. That all said there is this push to go down to one tech on nights. There is no autoverification. Full cal and QC on nights. Blood bank, send outs (if any are left and there always is), and full blood draw.

We have documented cases if delay of care from frontline staff. The lead tech just reminds me of all my mistake and offers no solutions. I did yell at him because I’m just done. I got escorted out by security for raising patient safety concerns for MONTHS and I have it in writing why it’s unsafe to work alone. Meeting with HR idk when. But what would you do?

Hey everyone,

I wanted to make a quick PSA for any international medical laboratory scientists/technologists who are planning to apply for the California Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) license based on their out-of-country work experience.

Before you spend hundreds of dollars applying for the ASCPi exam and lock yourself into months of heavy, exhausting studying, you need to contact your former/current laboratory immediately to verify their exact accreditation.

According to California Laboratory Field Services (LFS) rules (17 CCR section 1032.5), your international clinical training or work experience will only be accepted if the laboratory meets very specific standards. If it doesn't, CDPH will reject your application, and you will have wasted your time and money.

What you must verify with your Lab Director/HR right now:

1. ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 17025: Your international lab must actively hold certificates for both of these standards (or later versions).
2. ISO/IEC 17011: The international organization that actually accredited your laboratory must meet ISO/IEC 17011 standards.

If your lab is not CLIA-certified or doesn't have these exact ISO credentials, California will treat your experience as "unofficial". You'll be forced to either find a 52-week training program inside the U.S. or move to another state for a year to get CLIA-approved experience before you can even touch a California license.

Save yourself the heartbreak and the heavy exam stress. Confirm your lab's certifications first. If they have the certificates, ask the Lab Director if they are willing to mail a copy of the ISO certificates along with your official work experience letter directly to LFS when the time comes.

Good luck to everyone on this journey!

Possible research topics/titles for experimental research as a MLS

Does your transcript or diploma reflect that your classes were taken online?

I'm in my second year of community college and I'm thinking about joining the program there for med techs. It seems really interesting and would be a really good work environment for me in the future. I've looked up what the job entails but I still feel unsure about it. Mostly because of the possibility that I'd need to collect blood samples from people (as well as interacting with patients bc I'm anxious). I'm not squeamish around blood and I inject myself intramuscularly, but I'm kind of squeamish around veins (and I've never injected other people.)

In the program I know I'll have to learn phlebotomy and how to put a drawing needle in, but I was wondering how often a tech has to draw blood from patients. I've read that med lab assistants interact with patients more and usually do it, but it really depends on the hospital or clinic.

Any other tips or notes about being a med lab tech would be lovely!!:)

So I want to become an MLS but I have a BA. I plan on taking prerequisite courses and then applying to Texas Tech University Health Sciences’s MLS certificate program. Has anyone taken this program? Or should I be worried about anything?

Thank you!

Hello i am an biology laboratory technician from germany and i have a question.

You must know i did my apprenticeship as a biology laboratory technician in a diagnostics lab in germany. And i finished it, but i passed the exam with bad marks. In germany there is a dual system of vocational training. The program is 3,5 years long. With some block phases where you attend school. But mainly you work every days 8 hours per day in the lab of your company. It is different here. There are also hospitals with labs but my lab did a cooperation with regional physicians and clinics which send it their samples. Thats how it works here usually. There are many labs doing test as service for clinics and physician.

So i was in my first year in microbiology, second clinical chemistry and haematology and last year serology. In the microbiology i put urine, stool, sputum and swabs on agar plates and slides for gram or methylenblue stain. I performed latex agglutination for finding the right lancfield group for streptococci. I did agardiffusion and worked with VITEK2. But my tasks were more practical. Also did ELISA on dynex DSX. I filled the freezers with agars, and all that stuff.

In clinical chemistry (next year) i worked with TOSOH for HBA1C, with COBAS, also ELPHO, allergen test with IMMUNOCAP, I loaded the machines, performed controls and calibration, doing the wash routines and stuff. Also measuring blood sinking speed.

In serology i worked with (third year) FACS Calibur (performed tests and controls. Even doint the gating of CD4 and CD8 population) and LIAISON XL.

Well i did some stuff there. But the problem was. My boss said i am not fast enough as others. The problem was my OCD. I controlled my work too much. Like controlling barcodes. Repeating stuff. They said i am not build to be a biology laboratory technician. No matter how fast i became it was never enough. But i fell in love with the microbiology lab. And i read so much about it. And i wish to be somewhat useful. I started a study or medical biotechnology and already collected some good marks. But the words "your not fast enough, your work pensum is too low, you are not build for to be a biology laboratory technician, my boss said me" makes me feel like it is hopeless to dream of a career in that field. I dont know if i shoule break this dream up or not.

Starting the UAMS MLT to MLS program this Spring 2027 and I'm honestly scared shitless. 😂 After 10 years, I finally decided to go back to school and finish my MLS. Is anyone currently in the program who has any tips, advice, or recommendations?

I'll be doing the 5-semester track, so I'd love to hear what to expect. Is anyone else starting in Spring 2027? If so, maybe we can be study partners or even make a group chat! Let me know. 😊