Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology
See Also: Clinical Laboratory Pre-Health Guide
Clinical laboratory scientists/medical technologists develop data on the blood, tissues, and fluids in the human body by using precision instruments such as microscopes and automatic analyzers. They assume responsibility for, and are held accountable for, accurate results. They establish and monitor quality control programs and design or modify procedures as necessary. Tests and procedures are performed or supervised by clinical laboratory scientists in the clinical laboratory center in the major areas of hematology, bacteriology, serology, immunology, clinical chemistry, blood banking, urinalysis, mycology, and parasitology.
Students who successfully complete the program at UT Knoxville will receive a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in clinical laboratory science from the College of Arts and Sciences. The curriculum requires a minimum of 90 hours of credit—which include the Basic Skills and Distribution requirements of the college and the University General Education Requirement—prior to application for admission to a final year of study at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville (UTMCK).
The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), http://www.naacls.org, phone (773) 714-8880; fax (773) 714-8886. After you complete your course of study, UTMCK will award you a Certificate of Laboratory Training. You will then be eligible for examination by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists’ Board of Certification earn certification as a medical laboratory scientist. Keep in mind that admission to the clinical year is at the discretion of the admissions committee of the clinical laboratory science program at the UT Medical Center. Admission to and successful completion of the program does not ensure that you will be admitted to the clinical phase of the clinical laboratory science program.