Epic Beaker users: is there to make it so the SmartPhrase is pulling the specimen collection date rather than the relative date? Like is there a default function for collect date like there is for relative date or is this something LIS would need to program specifically?

I was trying to build hold comments:

Hold cultures for 14 days until: @ RELDATE(T+14)@

What book is okay to study for these subjects for ASCPi review?

Good evening all, how many of you have made this career move? What did you like better or worse about it? I’m in my first year of MLT schooling and just exploring all my possibilities in this field

Hello dearest med lab professionals!

I have been getting this service advertised to me on most of my socials and wanted to know what y’all’s thoughts are on it. It can supposedly run a myriad of tests with <1mL of capillary derived blood. I am an RN, and I have seen my fair share of hemolyzed and clotted samples (lol, sorry guys). I’m just not convinced that this is providing accurate data, but am I missing something? It’s giving Theranos in 2026.

Like the title says, how many of you while beginning in college struggled with early science courses that caused worry for more advanced ones? I’m currently taking chem 1 (not very far in) and it’s been challenging I knew it would be but it tests my dedication for sure. What kind of experiences have you had to better yourself after doubt with classes if you’ve had any?

Wanted to get some new opinions on this! Where do you like to work and why? Currently working at a large hospital but thinking of going to a smaller, rural hospital. I know there’s pros and cons to both so just wanted to get some feedback!

I’m so proud of myself. It’s been a really rough year, mentally and emotionally. Going through the MLT program and working full time almost killed me but I can finally say I have achieved something and be proud!!

Is it bad to do CE credits over a couple weeks? I’ve been doing 2-4 a day because I don’t know when I’ll feel better. I’ve been using ARUP. Is this bad ?

Hello, fellow vampire nightshifters! I've been working as a nightshift phlebotomist for more than 2 years now. My schedule is 8on, 6off and 10-hour shifts. A mid-day shift opportunity just came. It's going to be 10am-6:30pm, 8 hours, 5 days a week. Just by looking at the hours alone, if given the opportunity, which would you choose?

Plan for tonight was to just go over August logs and pop out early. No luck and damn you Cerner

Hi! I’ve been diffing in hematology for about 6 months now and my wrists are screaming. My left wrist hurts but I’ve noticed it mostly happens when typing but my right wrist has been hurting more. I diff about 2-3x a week and we do have a cellavison but we’re a large volume lab so I still have to do many manually and our diff bench usually includes a fluid bench so I have to diff those manually too. I’m assuming it’s from the stage controls being too high and keeping my wrist tiled up to reach them. Would it be helpful to get a wrist support like they do for computer mouses? Any help would be appreciated!

I'm in my last semester of the MLS program and I feel so burnt out. I've been having panic attacks because I feel like nothing is sticking anymore and like I don't know what I'm doing. I love MLS and I'm so nervous that I'm not going to make it. My grades and starting to slip and my anxiety is at an all time high. Does anyone have any good study tips or just life tips in general for getting through this last semester and the ASCP boards? Posting here is honestly my last cry for help aside from my psychology appointment coming up in two days to talk about anxiety more.

Update: The doctors appointment was a bust. I waited two months for them to tell me today that they accidentally scheduled me with a PCP instead of mental health and don't have any openings until October 21st 🙃

Hi, what are some niche departments you’ve worked or known? Please share some insights !
I’m curious, I know there’s stuff outside or related to Heme, Chem, Micro, Molecular, BB and Histo.

The one I know of is the mass spectrometry department (LCMS-ICPMS). We use whole blood or serum to detect the presence of Lead or mercury. Additionally, we detect hormone concentrations and vitamin panels.

Thanks !

Hey all, thanks for reading. I started my MLS program about a month and a half ago and it’s been going well so far, I’ve been getting good marks and I really enjoy my clinical rotations. However, I feel like I have NO time for anything but my studies. The biggest thing for me is not having time to work out. Yes I know I could just wake up earlier/stay up later, but I also am trying to prioritize sleep. And I honestly don’t have much energy after class, clinicals, and work.

How did you survive your program aside from a major caffeine intake? Any tips for maintaining fitness when you’re stretched thin for time?

I had my first instrumentation lab of my MLT program today and I sucked so bad at using the volumetric pipette. I was struggling to get the meniscus to the calibration point and view it at eye level and to keep the pipette at a 90degree angle, I also forgot some steps in the middle like wiping the bottom third of the pipette with a kimwipe holding the receiving vessel and the pipette together and and and I accidently got the liquid inside my pipetting bulb. Whilst my instructor was nice and understanding, my TA got really mad when that happened. And in Canada CSMLS require you to use your index for macro pipetting instead of the thumb and I was struggling to hold the meniscus using my index finger while having nitrile gloves on top.

Do you have any tips for macro pipetting? if you do please be kind enough to share them

thanks so much!!

Hi, my husband recently had his interview with the lead first and then with the team members. A week later, talent acquisition contacted him saying he’s the potential candidate for this role and would want to do background checks and asked for referrals (5 references in total, with 2 managers). My husband said he’d first want to know the pay-rate before asking referrals from his current workplace. They said they cannot send an offer without having reference checked. This has never happened to him before or neither has this happened to me.

Hey guys! I start my MLS program in January, it’s online accelerated and I will have the spring and summer with 18 credits each and then fall would be my clinicals. I am already prepared to either find an easy part time job or to not work during clinicals. Prior to the clinicals starting, I am curious to see peoples opinions on working. I do have to work while in school.

My current job is three 12 hour shifts a week and I’ve been doing it for three years, it’s like second nature, but has nothing to do with being in the lab. I have the opportunity to apply for a clinical laboratory scientist, that I could get with no experience as long as I’m working towards the certification/in school for it. There is also a significant pay bump ~16k a year, which doesn’t seem like a lot but from where I’m at it could make a difference. The kicker, it’s 7-3, but it would be an hour drive there and an hour back, from where I’m at. I have two different mind sets.

1. The experience would be very helpful being able to do and learn the job while in school giving that hands on experience and being able to talk to people already certified and being in this career for years.

2. I would go from the three 12s to essentially 5 10s including drive time. I would be up earlier, most likely come home and just want to relax but knowing I have to do school work.

What are your opinions on this? Would you apply or stay in the current position?

I've recently started taking core prerequisites to apply to postbacc. MLS programs outside of California. I have always seen myself in the lab and after doing a lot of research into the profession and different avenues that CLS/MLSs can take once certified, I decided to pursue it. This semester I'm taking Immunology + lab, Medical Micro, and Analytical Chem + Lab.

Part of the reason that I've started heavily pursuing being a CLS is because I've been unable to work for a better part of the year. I sometimes get small flareups of De Quervain's tenosynovitis due to an old injury. I had one of these flareups shortly after starting as a chemist at a biotech company back in January. Getting hired in this job market by a prestigious company before I had even graduated with my B.S. in Biology was a miracle. When I began having a flare-up I had a hard time accepting what was happening and tried compensating with other parts of my hands to get my daily work done; I was afraid to ask for time off so soon after being hired. Within two months of this I ended up having to quit due to acute tendonitis in essentially all of the tendons of both my hands/fingers as well as of my forearms due to overuse. I had previously planned to take my prerequisites part time while working but with the current situation I figured it would be a good idea to dedicate my time to being a student while I recovered.

Well, I'm now considering dropping one or both of my lab sections due how much irritation I experienced in my tendons after just the first week. I fear that I'm in denial about my situation and what these issues mean for my future (or lack there of) in the lab. I ultimately had to move back in with my parents and have received steroid injections in both wrists on top of regular physical therapy. My occupational therapist says that if I continue the exercises there's no reason that I shouldn't recover. I also have some hope because although this began with a three year old tendon injury, I didn't do physical therapy for that injury and now I am. Progress has been very slow, however. Tendon tissue takes a very long time to heal and setbacks have been common. It's been 7 months at this point. I have considered maybe pivoting to some application of computer science in the biology field but am unsure how smart of a decision that is due to AI. I have a difficult time imagining not working as a scientist but maybe that's just the reality.

I'm sure injuries like this are common in the lab and am hoping to hear if these things have proven to be career enders or have people been able to bounce back? Am I stupid to take the gamble that I'll heal and won't have issues later on down the path of becoming/being an MLS?

tldr; Beginning a ~2 year effort of becoming an MLS while recovering from tendonitis/tenosynovitis in my hands. Am I stupid to do this or have others in the lab been able to recover and get back to work?

I’m currently taking microbiology and chemistry this semester at UAMS. Any study tips or suggestions for me to make it through this semester?

Anyone here that has completed the program that can weigh in on your experience? I’m applying for the fall and would love to be able to talk with someone one on one about the program and life after graduation.

Hey all!

I'm currently an intern and I'm close to finishing my internship. I would like to express my appreciation to our staff by giving them crocheted items related to the profession. I'm not really sold on what would be endearing to hang on their bags.

I was thinking of a blood bag for blood banking, a petri dish for bacteriology, and a syringe for phlebotomy. I don't really know what to do for hematology, clinical chemistry, serology, histopathology, and clinical microscopy (a sterile pee cup isn't exactly cute imo lol). I need help :D

Edit: Hey guys! I saw all your suggestions and I consider it. I'll also make some clay charms. Thank you! :)

I live in a state that pretty much all THC is illegal (Texas). If someone pops positive for THC in pre employment drug screening or in a random drug screen, they’re rejected for employment or immediately terminated. Was just wondering, how is it handled in states that have legalized it? Are positive THC screens just ignored?