Medical Laboratory Science
What is a Medical Laboratory Scientist?
Medical laboratory scientists (MLS) are healthcare investigators, who use laboratory
analyses to assist healthcare providers in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of diseases and disorders. MLS professionals use biomedical instruments, information
technology and manual techniques to perform tests on body fluid and blood samples.
Laboratory testing disciplines include clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology,
immunohematology, microbiology and molecular biology. Medical laboratory professionals
generate accurate lab results that aid in detecting cancer, diabetes, infections and
toxins.
This program is accredited by:
NAACLS
5600 N. River Rd, Suite 720
Rosemont IL 60018-5119
phone: 773.714.8880; fax: 773.714.8886
[email protected]
Medical Laboratory Science students will learn:
- Clinical Bacteriology: The identification of pathogenic microorganisms and susceptibility
to antimicrobial agents.
- Clinical Chemistry: The analysis of body fluids for chemical analytes such as glucose
and cholesterol.
- Clinical Hematology: The study of blood cells including abnormalities, with emphasis
on procedures of laboratory examination.
- Clinical Immunohematology: The theory and techniques of donor selection, processing
blood for transfusion and resolving incompatibilities due to unexpected antibodies.
- Principals of Clinical Administration and Education: Introduction of basic principles
of laboratory administration and education.
This program has three semesters of clinical practicum for a total of 46 semester
hours. The clinical practicum is comprised of two semesters on campus (Practicum Phase
I) and twenty weeks at an approved clinical affiliate site (Practicum Phase II).
- Practicum Phase I on campus includes learning didactic theory and developing through
hands-on experiences basic laboratory skills.
- Practicum Phase II at a clinical affiliate site provides students with opportunities
to apply didactic theory and to use practical laboratory techniques in the daily testing,
interpreting and reporting of patient specimen results under the supervision of clinical
laboratory experts.
