Test Technologist Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Do I have to go to school to become a certified surgical technologist, or can I just test?

Answer: Yes, you have to go to school. Look into various local junior colleges - many junior colleges offer this program. It's not too expensive, either.

Question: medical radiologic technologist certification practice test?

Answer: What is your question?

Question: Please help! I have a question regarding someone that is a medical technologist testing positive for drugs not Testing positive for drugs not perscribed to her. She was sent to the emergency room at the hospital where she works as a medical technologist because staff(one or more?) thought her behavior was impaired or unusual. When she submitted her blood and urine the alcohol came back negative but she tested positive for benzodiazapines, which she is perscribed(Dalmane). They also sent her blood/urine out for GSMC testing and she is aware of several other drugs that will probably/most likely be present in her system( Xanax(non-perscribed), Vicodin(non-perscribed), more Effexor than perscribed, Welbutrin(non-perscribed), Seroquel(non-perscribed), Remeron(non-perscribed). She has no street drugs in her system. Employee Health is awaiting the results of the GSMC sendout from Mayo Clinic and will find these other drugs to have been in her system at the time. What is the protocol for employers at this point? Will she be sent to rehab? Put on probation, fired? And if she is fired will this info be will information regarding her medical/drug records be available for future employers or will the information be unavailable due to a violation of law/ privacy? We live in the state of Michigan if that helps as far as laws and employment are concerned.

Answer: Unles the company says she must prove those legal drugs were prescribed I wouldn't worry. If she does have to prove they were prescribed she should hire a lawyer and sue their ass for being fascists!

Question: How is it like to be a medical technologist? I mean do you have to stand all day like in some food microbiology testing labs? Any boxes lifting? Do you need to go into any walk-in freezer or smelly 35C incubator? What's the best part and the worst part of this occupation?

Answer: There are many pros to a career in medical technology. For one, it is rewarding to know you are positively impacting patient care, but without having to "get your hands dirty." Also, the stress levels are usually considered to be in the low to moderate range (depending on the department). Employment is available in a wide range of settings from large hospital laboratories, small stat or doctor's office labs, to reference and specialized labs, and some military, research and government settings. Also, you can specialize in a single area or department or float between multiple areas if you like a little of everything. The perceived low salary and lack of recognition and respect from other health care professionals are aspects most MTs would place in the con category. The average salary for medical technologists in the US is between 40 and 55K annually. But, these things are starting to change due mostly to the growing shortage. The average MT/CLS is 50 years old and approaching retirement. So, employers are responding by offering better compensation packages in an effort to attract MTs who have since moved onto more lucrative fields. Also, the two major certifying bodies (ASCP and NCA) have agreed to merge into a single agency. This should bring more recognition and respect to the field and help to clear up confusion regarding the titles (medical technologist vs. clinical laboratory scientist). Most MTs don't have to stand all day. Typically, a variety of sitting, standing and walking is involved, and some lifting (not heavy). Most micro labs won't have a walk-in freezer or walk-in incubator unless they are fairly large (maybe a walk-in fridge). MTs who work in microbiology do have to deal with an overall slight bacterial odor that most micro labs have. It shouldn't be overpowering or revolting but something you can get used to if you have a passion for microbiology.

Question: What is a good website to go to find out the average pay of your job? I would like to know how much (average) that I will make once I pass my medical technologist test and become a flow cytometrist. Anyone know of any good website?

Answer: http://www.salary.com/home/layoutscripts/homl_default.asp http://jobstar.org/tools/salary/index.php http://www.acinet.org/ http://www.salarysource.com/ http://www.vault.com/salaries.jsp http://www.wageweb.com/ http://www.parade.com/money/what-people-earn/index.jsp http://www.payscale.com/ http://www.bls.gov/home.htm

Question: What is it like to be a clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist? I'm currently working on my B.S. in clinical laboratory science. I like to work in a lab and run tests and dislike working with the general public. Should I change my major to something else? How is the pay? the hours?

Answer: It sounds like you're on the right career path for your personality. Most MT's are very intelligent, detailed-oriented people who prefer to not spend most of their time working with the public. That doesn't mean you're antisocial; you just prefer to focus on other things. The pay is decent and has improved a lot over the past few years. It's probably comparable to that of an RN. The good news is that there is quite a shortage of MT's because so many of the programs have shut down. Therefore, most of the bench jobs are being filled by MLT's. That means that many of the more interesting and higher paying jobs are opening up to MT's. With your degree you can do an amazing variety of jobs. After a few years of experience in a hospital setting you could qualify to be a sales or technical representative, a laboratory consultant for a POL, a section supervisor, a department manager, a senior manager in a hospital (CEO, COO), a technical writer, an educator in an MLT or MT program, etc. Your MT educational background would be a very strong one if you wanted to go to medical school later on. You could even qualify for a direct commission in the military as a laboratory officer (I did it). I personally think that laboratory science is one of the most interesting jobs a person can have. It's never boring, especially if you are a person who enjoys reading and researching problems. Every day you will encounter "puzzles" and your job is to solve them! That requires a lot of high level thinking. I have occasionally run into people who have worked in the field and say disparaging things, but I've also noted that these people are usually minimally trained for the work and have no interest in learning more about what they do - they have a "button-pusher" mentality. I've learned that you get out of a job as much as you are willing to invest in it and it's important to become a student of your profession. Remember, it is a professional level job. You're a technologist, not a technician and you would be expected to know the "why" behind what you do, not just the "how". You would be expected to provide technical supervision for the MLT's and phlebotomists. You could end up working all shifts and hours, but as you advance in your career, you'll probably have better work hours. I've been lucky and have always worked day shift. Most of my career has been spent in management, so I worked M-F most of the time.

Question: Medical technologist qualifications in New York? I have a B.S. in Chemistry and have worked two years in an environmental testing lab. I was thinking about the medical technologist position. The website that details the requirements is pretty broad in explaining exactly what a person needs after receiving a degree other than medical technology, Any medical technologists out there who can fill me in?

Answer: To be a fully licensed & certified med tech you need to complete the 1 year med tech program (its after a bachelors). The test is through the ASCP. This allows you to work in all aspects of the lab, crime labs, specialty labs, reference labs, blood banks etc. There are limited certifications, such as just in chemistry, where you could not work through out the lab. Check with the ASCP about the SC. I can't recall if you still need the MT or not, sorry. States issue MT's licenses--my state web site lists the requirements pretty easily--try looking at your state's.

Question: Can you help me find a Medical Technologist? The Laboratory's location is in Las Pinas. A drug testing lab actually. Owned by a friend. Her Med. Tech is leaving for Kuwait. If you know somebody please leave me a message. Thanks! LOL :)) Why not? But seriously, I am looking. You know someone?

Answer: Try www.pamet.org

Question: Besides Microscopes, what are some common instruments that Medical Technologists use to do blood & fluid test?

Answer: Microscopes aren't actually used for that many things- mostly just manual differentials, microscopic urine analysis, and gram stains. Most laboratories at a minimum will have a Chemistry analyzer and something to run Complete Blood Counts. A lot of the common chemistry tests use a spectrophotometer. Most CBC analyzers use the Coulter method of separating particles. A very common laboratory instrument is a centrifuge. The centrifuge is used to separate the blood for serum testing in Chemistry and plasma testing for Coagulation. Most labs will probably have an analyzer for Coagulation testing for theraputic ranges of Coumadin and Heparin. That is a very broad overview. You can email me if you have something more specific you were getting at. Labs are complicated and involve a lot of different instruments.

Question: Reasons for a FALSE negative pregnancy test done with latex method on morning urine? I am a medical lab. Technologist & I like to have reasonable answers to my patients.I think every individual has her own physiology & hormone rise.what about drugs? emotional consideration?and what else? please let me know. Best regards. TH

Answer: Test was taken too early to detect hcg, hcg level were too low to be detected at the time the test was taken. Thats pretty reasonable and logical. I dont know that there are any drugs that can affect levels of hcg while pregnant, nor someones emotional state.

Question: X-ray Technologist license needed in GA or TN? I am a licensed ARRT Radiologic Technologist here in Florida. I am required to be state licensed in addition to my national certification. Does Georgia or Tennessee require state licensure? Is there a test involved or is it just paying the state the annual fee? Thanks, Rick

Answer: Try this link: https://www.asrt.org/content/GovernmentRelations/LegislativeGuidebook/IndividualStateLicensureInfo.aspx It looks like TN requires taking a state licensing examination. If you have trouble decyphering the state's requirements, there are contact numbers listed under each state. You should be able to call them for information.

Question: Have any of you recently taken the ARRT registry for Radiologic Technologists in the state of Arkansas? My boyfriend is getting ready to take his ARRT test to become certified as a Radiologic Technologist... Have any of you recently taken the test? If so, was it as hard as the mock tests you had to take in school?

Answer: If was about the same

Question: looking for the name or place in redding calif to take a phlebotomy test its a testing center? testing center in redding calif ..people in tech fields go there as well as nurses or phlebotomist ,technologist I know its in Redding California just cant remember the name of the place

Answer: What you're looking for is the NCS Pearson Testing Center. It's address is: 2190 Larkspur Lane Suite 400 Redding, California 96002 ...and they can be reached by phone at 530-222-2941. Hope that helps! (Good luck!)

Question: Medical Technologist with a specialty in hematology?? Hello, I am looking for anybody who has recevied a specialtiy in hematology from ascp. I need to know if there are any practice tests just for this certification.

Answer: Yeah ,I heard there are some on the web.

Question: Websites or resources to prepare for NCA or ASCP certification? It's the certification for clinical laboratory scientists, or medical technologists. Is there information on study tests or ways to prepare for the test?

Answer: I'm also getting ready for the Registry exam. ASCP has practice Exams on their website. You can access them for 90 days for $35 I think. Haven't heard how good they are though. Also, my professor told me about an awesome review book (her words) that was written in 1997 but still supposed to be the best called "A Concise Review of CLS" by Hubbard. Says it's hard to get a hold of though. ISBN: 068304219X I bought a couple of review books not long ago, but nothing to brag about. Hope that helps!

Question: Can the doctors tell if I have ever been pregnant? I had to have an ultrasound today for irregular, heavy bleeding. The technologist asked if I have ever been pregnant. I said no, not to my knowledge. However, I know that sometimes a woman has what seems like a normal period, but can actually be a miscarriage. I am 36 and my husband and I are thinking about having kids. I am a little worried about infertility. Or even the possibility that the pregnancy's won't take. If there is a test that can show if a woman has ever been pregnant, please let me know! Thanks!

Answer: Depending on how long you have been bleeding and/or you think you were pregnant, they can test your HCG level using a blood test. They can also test for other hormones. But you have to do these tests within days of the suspected pregnancy as your body will flush out the hormones.