Medical Laboratory Specialist (91K)
- Enlisted
- Active Duty
- Army Reserve
Without medical laboratories, the clinical tests required to detect and identify patient diseases couldn’t be performed. Without medical laboratory technicians, there wouldn’t be anyone to perform them. As integral members of the medical laboratory technician team, Medical Laboratory Specialists conduct tests on the tissue, blood and body fluids of patients.
Some of your duties as a Medical Laboratory Specialist may include:
- Performing clinical laboratory and blood-banking procedures.
- Using lab equipment to analyze specimens of tissue, blood and body fluids
- Performing elementary clinical laboratory and blood-banking procedures.
- Using lab equipment to analyze specimens of tissue, blood and body fluids
- Examining blood and bone marrow under microscopes
- Testing specimens for bacteria or viruses
- Drawing blood from patients
- Assisting in the collection of specimens at autopsies (medical examinations of the dead)
- Recording and filing results of laboratory tests
Training:
Job training for a Medical Laboratory Specialist consists of nine weeks of Basic Training, where you’ll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 52 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in testing specimens. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you learn are:
- Medical laboratory procedures
- Study of human parasites and diseases
- Laboratory administration and record keeping
Helpful Skills:
Helpful attributes include:
- An interest in biology, chemistry and algebra
- An interest in scientific and technical work
- An ability to follow detailed procedures precisely
Advanced Responsibilities:
Advanced level Medical Laboratory Specialists supervise and train other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Medical Laboratory Specialist, you may be involved in Performing elementary blood banking and clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, immunohematology, biochemistry, serology, bacteriology, parasitology and urinalysis.
