MLS ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist Questions Practice

Description

Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), also known as Medical Technologist (MT), is a healthcare professional who performs laboratory tests and analysis on bodily fluids, tissues, and other specimens. MLSs play a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease by analyzing laboratory results and communicating their findings to healthcare providers. MLSs typically work in hospital and clinical laboratory settings, including blood banks, microbiology labs, and clinical chemistry labs. They are responsible for operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, performing quality control procedures, and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of laboratory test results. They may also perform laboratory procedures, such as blood counts, urinalysis, and cultures, and use complex instrumentation, such as chromatography and microscopy, to analyze specimens. To become a Medical Laboratory Scientist, you typically need to earn a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science or a related field, complete a clinical training program, and pass a certification exam. In the United States, certification is offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification and other organizations. In Canada, certification is offered by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). The job outlook for MLSs is generally positive, with the BLS projecting employment of medical and clinical laboratory technologists to grow 11% from 2019 to 2029. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for medical and clinical laboratory technologists was $53,120 in May 2021.

Medical laboratory scientist (MLS) certification examination offered by the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) is composed of 100 examination questions given in a 2 hour 30 minute time frame. All examination questions are multiple-choice with one best answer. The MLS (ASCP) certification examination is administered using the format of computer adaptive testing (CAT).

The certification examination questions encompass different subtests within the area of Medical Laboratory Science: Blood Banking, Urinalysis and Other Body Fluids, Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Microbiology, and Laboratory Operations. Each of these subtests comprises a specific percentage of the overall 100-question certification examination.

A medical laboratory scientist (MLS), also known as a medical technologist or clinical laboratory scientist, works to analyze a variety of biological specimens. They are responsible for performing scientific testing on samples and reporting results to physicians.

Medical laboratory scientists perform complex tests on patient samples using sophisticated equipment like microscopes. The data they find plays an important role in identifying and treating cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other medical conditions. It is estimated 60 to 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission, and discharge are based on the results of the tests medical laboratory scientists perform.

Scope of practice

Medical laboratory scientists collaborate very closely with physicians and medical laboratory technicians in diagnosing and monitoring disease processes, as well as monitoring the effectiveness of therapy. Areas of medical laboratory training include microbiology, chemistry, hematology, immunology, transfusion medicine, toxicology, and molecular diagnostics.

Medical laboratory scientists have a wide variety of responsibilities and duties, including:

• Examining and analyzing blood, body fluids, tissues, and cells

• Relaying test results to physicians

• Utilizing microscopes, cell counters, and other high-precision lab equipment

• Cross matching blood for transfusion

• Monitoring patient outcomes

• Performing differential cell counts looking for abnormal cells to aid in the diagnosis of anemia and leukemia

• Establishing quality assurance programs to monitor and ensure the accuracy of test results

• Overseeing the work of a medical laboratory technician

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