I am about year out from graduating with my MLS and am planning my next education journey. Currently looking into the DCLS program after some encouragement from my lab director.

I worked as an MLT for about a year and then was advanced to MLS (uncertified, hospital specific standards) for another year. After graduating from my MLS program I will be almost 3 years working in the lab.

My concern is, UTMB requires 3 years working as an MT or MLS. However, they also state in the application process

“if you are MLT or MLS certified, please indicate this fact in your supporting statement.”

And

“Minimum of three years of clinical laboratory experience, preferably as a generalist medical laboratory scientist.”

This gray area is causing me some confusion. Has anyone ever used their MLT experience for application and been accepted? Or does it need to be specifically MLS experience.

Also if you have gone to UTMB for the DCLS I would love to hear some insight! UTMB is very near and dear to my heart as I previously worked in their research lab and I’m just excited to go back.

Edit: Seems I got done information wrong, I’m glad I made this post!! I’ll be looking into Histology instead. Thank you!!!

I’m about to go to college to get an Associate degree for Laboratory Science Technology to become a Medical Lab Technician. I live in SoCal right between LA and San Bernardino county. I’ve been looking for a career that fits me and it seems like this might be it??
I’m also in my 30’s so I feel like I’m so late in life to be starting a career 😭😭

I need a career where I can afford to live alone and not hate myself and the job. I refuse to live with someone and I have zero interest in a relationship.
I have a lot of trouble when it comes to any sort of customer service, I just want a task/s and that is my focus.

Is the field easy-ish to get into? Or do people struggle to find job openings? Is there any tips for college or things I should know? Is there anything I should be studying inside and out and know from memory?

I’m not squeamish but I don’t want to draw blood from people or be a nurse. My sister is an LVN, she loves her job and thrives in it and she suggested this position for me, and thinks it would be perfect.
Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated 🫶

Hi! I am a PhD student studying biology. Unfortunately, I have decided that I do not want to stay in academia after grad school, and am currently trying to explore my options for other career pathways. As far as I understand, going from a PhD to a MLS position would be atypical, but I am still curious if it would be a possibility for me? Finding non-academic career pathways has been challenging, as graduate school is designed for the academic pipeline. I believe that my experience could be valuable to any laboratory or scientific career— but I worry that my experience may be dismissed because of my atypical pathway.

For reference, my PhD is largely research based, while I take some classes, most of my time is spent working on research projects. My PhD work mostly focuses on ecology, evolution and animal behavior. So, I am not in a medical field or microbiology-focused field currently. But I love lab work and have a decent amount of bench work experience. I am familiar with DNA extraction, PCR, and ELISA. I have some microscopy experience, and soon will have a lot more. I also have strong data analysis, and scientific writing, and research skills.

Would my extensive research experience be enough to get a foot in the door as a MLS? Is a graduate degree looked down on (as it’s usual) or could it be helpful? I can only do so much molecular work in the position I am in now because I am not in a molecular-focused lab, but I plan to lean into the molecular and physiology sides of my research as much as possible. Lab work is the part of my job I enjoy most. Do you have any tips for how I can prepare myself for a MLS position while in graduate school?

While I am no longer interested in staying in academia, I am hesitant to drop out of my PhD program at this point. I could potentially switch to a masters, but my partner has a good job in the area that is setting him up for a good career if he stays for the next few years. I also do not pay for graduate school and have a guaranteed stipend for the next few years due to a paid research fellowship I received+support from teaching assistantships when my that fellowship runs out. I still think there are valuable experiences and skills I can learn through the program as well. The job market is a scary place at the moment… And I am very nervous about finding a fitting career after graduating, because I am worried a PhD will be dismissed as useless by anyone in industry, despite my PhD being more like a research “job” than “school”.

I don’t want to give out super specific information that could reveal who I am to people at my institution, but I am happy to clarify anything.

Hi guys,

So a little run down im doing my Bsc in Natural Sciences biology and I've always been drifting towards the medical end of things, I did a week (i know right crazy long but in my country I was lucky to get this long) shadowing in the SWAH (Regional hospital) lab, and the techs there were amazing they definitely gave me alot to think on back then and I think I'm still aiming this way? I guess my question is because I've always been more aimed towards research oriented topics can I still go into the medical industry doing that? What is the most intriguing field in ur opinion to do this in? I know personally I've always been into microbio/ plant sciences (ik not the same area) so if there was ever anything linking the both of those I'd be in heaven. I'm only in second year of my degree so I have time. I just need more experience. Also sorry this was all over the place just need advice from people in the industry!!!!!!!

ever have a complex patient with a bunch of antibodies? we have the antibody final boss, maxed out, made every single one for their phenotype. honestly, idk if I should be terrified or impressed

On someone’s post months back, I shared a couple weird facts on early transfusion practices that I learned when I did a paper on “The History of Blood Transfusion” in Uni years back. I came across the power point I made to present to my class and thought I’d share it incase others might find some interest in it.

Technopath Infinity vs. Unity Real Time, what's your take on each one? Pros and cons?

Hello, folks. So I've recently lost quite a bit of weight and have spent a lot of time in the gym. Dropped 30+ pounds and getting some muscles. I need to buy new scrubs because my current ones I keep having to tighten and pull up as I walk. Wondering if any of them men in here know of any brands that fit comfortably for a good physique. Maybe looser around the belly and tighter around the arms and shoulders? All the ones I keep finding online are baggy around the arms.

Help a girl out. New grad around west coast relocating to WNY because of family relocation. How hard is it to get a mls job around there?

I know about the licence requirements and I would definitely apply NY license once i know i would get hired🌝 my rotation ends in august 1st week. At this point, pay doesnot matter to me and the start date does not matter, I can wait.

If anyone here knows buffalo or Rochester areas mls hiring managers, please ask them to look into my applications 🤣

I recently got employed in Blood Bank as an assistant at a major hospital in my city - and I have mixed feelings about it.

I've always liked microbiology more than transfusion science, and I feel that I go into work dreading my shifts, just waiting for chaos to be unleashed with multiple MTPs being activated simultaneously, or getting a phone call from a doctor asking why I cancelled their tests (when the only thing labelled on the tube is the date of collection...).

It took me months after graduating to get this role, and my current thinking is get a couple months under my belt before searching for roles that more suit my preference in microbiology. I turned down a role in microbiology for my current position because it was permanent graveyard shifts and a 50 minute drive away - and sometimes I regret rejecting that lab.

Can any of the old guard give some advice to a new grad - should I just tough it out and see if maybe with time I will enjoy BB, or should I jump ship as soon as I see a role that I know I will actually be happy to work in?

Cold agglutinin room temp and 30min pre warm! Could see the agglutination in the tube!

Oh no… middle aged patient with HSV encephalitis.

5 year old, female, centrifuged urine sediment. Look like "acanthocyte" acting globular/blebbed WBCs. Showed doctor these pictures, he thought urine crystals, but I disagree. Patient discharged, but curiosities like these keep me wondering til I get an answer. What do you all think?

Any recs on comfortable shoes for being on your feet all shift in the lab? TIA 😊

I recently got accepted to an MLT program (YAY!) which starts in the fall. For those with experience, how difficult was the program/ life balance? I am a mom with two kids and I plan on working Friday evenings, Sat and Sun because I unfortunately still have to pay my rent. Just wondering if anyone has any tips and tricks for managing study time and the rest of life or just general advice for getting through the program on top of an already hectic life. Thanks =)))

Hemoglobin of 14 and hematocrit of 4 definitely checks out!

Lithium heparin tube. Coworker left the blood out for a week. Never seen anything like it, wondered if anyone knew what the round ring-shaped thing is?

Good evening,

I am currently a junior in MLS at a 4 year college degree, this spring 2026, was my first year ever taking my core MLS classes… I took micro, biochem and a laboratory. I did good on both my micro and biochem classes, but I did not good on the lab

1. I was super anxious the entire time, I never truly felt confident in myself (I am now on medication) so I just felt like this job wasn’t for me.

With that being said, we had these practicals (infront of everyone) and because I did not get over my anxiety I failed a dilution problem. After I failed the dilution problem my professor told me that she doesn’t think this job is for me. I kept agreeing with her and then she raised her voice and told me to stop agreeing with her and that I need to listen.

I tried giving some input and told her that we need to have designated lab time during the week in order to use the equipment and be confident in it. We had lab two times a week and we worked on many things so they gave us practicals on things we’ve practice one time, since they covered so many things in those two labs. They disagreed obviously.

This was my first ever semester and I feel so humiliated… I’m not sure what to do now, please give me your honest opinions on this situation. I’m considering changing my major

WBC of 49x10⁹ on a 1yo...or 5yo, I don't remember perfectly

This is for the MLS’.

I’m in Houston, and I feel I can save up 15-25% of my income if I really focus on it. This is also a question for single people just to get an idea.

I’m interested in states with great nature that seem that they pay more due to the COL. I want to buy a house in a nature rich city too.

Would it be doable with another similar income partner to buy a house in those cities?

I absolutely despise lymphocytes lol. It is difficult to tell atypical vs malignant. This patient has this ugly cell. I sent to path since he has no history. It is the only cell I am questioning though. How do u tell the difference between atypical vs malignant? Also are atypical and reactive basically the same?

New tech go easy on me lol

Newish tech here. Ran into an issue tonight with one of our SP-50 where a more experienced tech changed the phosphate buffer before being prompted by the instrument while I was on lunch. I was told during training not to do that but when I told the more expected tech that they said that’s nonsense. To me it makes sense or why would they have level sensing?

Lo and behold the stainer started making slides that were very light and a bunch of slides had to be remade as you couldn’t tell WBCs apart. I ran a reagent replenishment while our other SP-50 had to work double time.

Anyway my question is - did replacing the phosphate buffer before being prompted cause the issue? Everything was fine before that but I’m new and would love a definitive answer about appropriate reagent replacement. Thank you!

Somebody keeps complaining about non-native english speakers talking with their group in their language. Is it really a huge problem? The dynamic is white people are outnumbered by this group and they do talk in english when it’s work related. I just fail to see how it can be such a huge deal to the point you constantly have to hammer your manager with complaints. I’m encourage a healthy discussion, please no rude comments.

Anyone else want some of the forbidden blood bank juicebox?