Medical laboratory technician - Career description, activities, functions and salary

How much does an Medical laboratory technician earn

A Medical laboratory technician earns between $1.204 and $3.858 per month, with an average monthly salary of $1.832 and a median salary of $1.582 according to an Averwage.com salary survey along with to data of professionals hired and fired by companies in the labor market.

Our research is based on the salaries of 21.614 professionals hired and dismissed by the period from 06/2021 to 05/2022 (last year).

Professional job categories

• Middle level technicians
• • middle-level technicians in the biological, biochemical, health sciences
• • • technicians in operation of diagnostic equipment and instruments
• • • • health lab and blood bank technicians

Related Positions:

Main workplaces

Health lab and blood bank technicians they work in clinical laboratories, hospitals, blood banks and public health services. They are salaried employees, with a formal contract, who work in closed environments, and some, on a rotating shift basis. As a rule, they work individually under the supervision of higher-level professionals, such as biochemists, biomedical doctors, doctors, etc. In some of the activities carried out, they are exposed to toxic material, radiation and biological risk.

What does it take to work in the field of Health lab and blood bank technicians

For the exercise of the occupations of this occupational family, a professional technical course is required offered by professional training institutions and technical schools. The full performance of the activities requires experience of less than one year.

Functions and activities of Medical laboratory technician

Health lab and blood bank technicians must:

Activities

identify the biological material of the patient/donor;
search for biochemical or genetic or hormonal or cytological material from the sample;
check exam order;
supervise the activities of auxiliary staff;
train auxiliary staff;
subject samples to heat sources;
package sample for transport;
program equipment;
perform immunohematological tests;
participate in the development and implementation of new exam techniques;
identify microorganisms;
process blood components;
compare the test result with the patient's clinical data;
dialogue with the donor;
analyze exam results;
demonstrate fine motor skills;
amplify nucleic acid;
distribute material to each sector;
demonstrate logical reasoning ability;
administer glucose solution to the patient;
demonstrate visual acuity;
care for patient/donor;
submit periodic health examinations;
perform internal quality control;
spin samples;
compare results with normality parameters;
wash blood bag;
introduce samples into the equipment;
dose volumetry of reagents and solutions for exams;
irradiate blood components;
isolate microorganisms;
prepare solutions and reagents;
perform donor pre-screening;
dilute biological material;
work as a team;
inactivate biological material;
demonstrate ability to concentrate;
package material for disposal;
sample pipette;
forward exams to the person in charge;
control stock, validity and batch of inputs;
perform asepsis in the collection region;
applying complementary biosafety standards;
confront biological material with the order;
separate biological materials from the sample;
puncture veins;
perform macroscopic analysis;
reject non-compliant biological material;
apply complementary biosafety standards;
check the conditions of the biological material;
sieve biological material;
serve patient/donor;
stain slides;
prepare patient/donor for collection or donation;
disinfect instruments and equipment;
discard chemical and biological waste;
select sample preparation technique;
control equipment temperature;
store biological material;
manage time;
request new collection;
record the collection action;
clean equipment and bench;
perform blood transfusion;
ask for guidance from the technical manager, when necessary;
check patient/donor preparation;
place preservatives in samples;
quantify microorganisms or antibodies or substances through dosages;
advise patient/donor on material collection procedures;
supervise auxiliary staff activities;
test antimicrobial sensitivity;
transcribe observed results;
write down the medication the patient/donor is taking;
aliquot samples and/or blood bags;
use personal protective equipment (ppe) and collective (epc);
request authorization from the technical manager, when necessary;
provide container to patient;
compare the exam result with previous results;
wash red blood cells;
prepare glucose (dextrose) solution;
demonstrate olfactory ability;
take vaccinations;
filter blood bag;
submit periodic health checks;
sequence samples;
demonstrate ability to discriminate colors;
perform microscopic analysis;
scrape mucous membranes, nails and skin;
observe patient/donor reaction;
demonstrate ability to maintain confidentiality;
request preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment;
make slides (smear);
check equipment operation and suitability;
perform pre-transfusion tests;
provide statistical data;
sterilize instruments;
demonstrate commitment;
homogenize samples;
adjust equipment;
track neoplastic cells;
record exam procedures;
monitor internal quality of cytological smear;
deproteinize samples;

Sectors that hire Medical laboratory technician the most in the job market

• clinical laboratories
• hospital care activities
• service activities in emergency room and hospital units for emergency care
• pathological and cytological anatomy laboratories
• temporary labor lease
• complementary diagnostic and therapeutic services activities
• hemotherapy services
• outpatient medical activity with resources for performing complementary exams
• health management support activities
• outpatient medical activity restricted to consultations