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Version:
NOC 2006 Version 1.0

3211 – Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants

Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, private clinics, research institutions and universities. Pathologists' assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens or perform autopsies under a pathologist's supervision. They are usually employed in hospitals. Medical laboratory technologists who are also supervisors are included in this unit group.

Profile

Index of titles Example job titles

  • Anatomical pathology technologist
  • Assistant, pathology
  • Autopsy technologist - medical laboratory
  • Biochemistry technologist - medical laboratory
  • Blood bank technologist
  • Charge technologist - autopsy services
  • Clinical immunology technologist
  • Clinical laboratory technologist
  • Combined laboratory and x-ray technologist
  • Cytogenetics technologist - medical laboratory
  • Cytology technologist
  • Cytotechnologist - medical laboratory
  • Electron microscopy technologist - medical laboratory
  • Hematology technologist - medical laboratory
  • Histology technologist
  • Histology technologist - medical laboratory
  • Histopathology technologist
  • Histotechnologist - medical laboratory
  • Immunohematology technologist
  • Immunohematology technologist - medical laboratory
  • Immunology technologist - medical laboratory
  • In-charge technologist - autopsy services
  • Medical laboratory supervisor
  • Medical laboratory technical supervisor
  • Medical laboratory technologist
  • Medical technologist
  • Medical technologist - medical laboratory
  • Medical technologists supervisor
  • Microbiology technologist - medical laboratory
  • Morgue attendant supervisor
  • Pathology assistant
  • Pathology technologists - assistant
  • Registered medical technologist
  • Registered technologist - medical
  • Serology technologist
  • Supervisor, medical laboratory
  • Technical assistant - pathology
  • Technical supervisor, medical laboratory
  • Technologist, anatomical pathology
  • Technologist, autopsy - medical laboratory
  • Technologist, clinical laboratory
  • Technologist, medical laboratory
  • Tissue technologist - medical laboratory
  • Clinical immunology technologist
  • Cytogenetics technologist - medical laboratory
  • Histology technologist
  • Immunohematology technologist
  • Medical laboratory supervisor
  • Medical laboratory technologist
  • Medical technologist - medical laboratory
  • Pathology assistant

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Medical laboratory technologists perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Conduct chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebro-spinal and other body fluids
    • Study blood cells and other tissues to determine their relation to various physiological and pathological conditions
    • Prepare tissue sections for microscopic examinations using techniques to demonstrate special cellular tissue elements or other characteristics
    • Establish procedures for the analysis of specimens and for medical laboratory experiments
    • Perform blood group, type and compatibility tests for transfusion purposes
    • May supervise and train other medical laboratory technical staff, students and helpers
    • May perform the duties of a pathologist's assistant in some hospitals.
  • Pathologists' assistants perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Prepare for autopsies by obtaining patients' medical records and arranging for radiographic examinations
    • Assist with or perform autopsies and surgical specimen examinations under pathologists' supervision
    • Dissect, examine, weigh and photograph organs and specimens, collect tissue specimens for chemical analysis and record findings
    • May prepare bodies for release to funeral homes following completion of autopsies
    • May train junior resident pathologists and train and supervise morgue attendants
    • May perform the duties of a medical laboratory technologist in some hospitals.

    Medical laboratory technologists may specialize in areas such as clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, histotechnology, immunohematology and cytotechnology.

Employment requirements

  • Medical laboratory technologists require a bachelor of science or medical laboratory science degree or A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology and A period of supervised practical training.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
  • Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is available for medical laboratory technologists and is usually required by employers.
  • Pathologists' assistants require a bachelor of science degree or Training and experience as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or medical laboratory technologist and Specialized on-the-job training.
  • Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science may be required for pathologists' assistants.

Additional information

    Exclusions

    Breakdown summary

    Broad occupational category
    3 – Health Occupations
    Skill level
    B – Occupations usually require college education or apprenticeship training.
    Major group
    32 – Technical and Skilled Occupations in Health
    Minor group
    321 – Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health)
    Version
    NOC 2006 Version 1.0