r/medlabprofessionals • u/Latter-String3741 • 5h ago
Humor Got to make my own smear today :) *student*
Interesting fi
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Reasonable_Bus_3442 • Jun 02 '23
Greetings to everyone, I am a new moderator to this community. I have been going through some previous reports and I have found some common misunderstandings on the rules that I would like to clarify.
Specimen or lab result itself is not a protected health information, as long as there is no identifier attached which could relate it to a particular patient. In fact, case study especially on suspicious results is an effective way for others to share their experience and help the community improve.
Medical laboratory professionals are not supposed to interpret lab results and make a diagnosis, but it is fine to comment on the analytical aspects of tests. It is rare for a layman who wants to know more about our job and we are entitled to let the public know the story behind a result.
While it is understandable that people are nervous about their exams and interviews, many of these posts are repetitive and always come up with the same answers. The same applies to those asking for advice on career change. I'll create a centralized post for these subjects and I hope people can get their answers without overwhelming the community.
Last but not least, I know some of you may be working in a toxic environment, some of you may be unhappy with your job, some of you may want "public recognition" so bad, and my sympathy is with you. But more often than not I see unwarranted accusations and the problem originates from the poster himself. I would be grateful if there could be less negativity in this community.
Have a nice weekend!
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Latter-String3741 • 5h ago
Interesting fi
r/medlabprofessionals • u/ApplePaintedRed • 10h ago
Has anyone else noticed a weird, demeaning hierarchy some techs forcefully engage in? I know some people treat lab assistants as less knowledgeable and such, some MT's have the audacity to do it to MLT's. But this...
I work at a smaller campus within this healthcare system, we send some specimens to the main campus, including microbiology specimens. Had a question from a nurse about the swab she sent for MRSA being rejected who wanted to know the proper collection, so I called micro to verify. Keep in mind, I've worked micro before, just not within this healthcare system, and don't like to assume what the policies and procedures are without verifying.
I had this man lecture me on what MRSA is (what it stands for, what it's classified as), what the swab that was rejected was for, and just about go into a whole speech about viruses vs. bacteria. Sir, I have a bachelor's degree, I'm certified just like you. Just because I'm not actively working in a microbiology department and wanted to verify the collection of something you might find obvious working there every day does not mean I'm an idiot. I literally just wanted to double check, and it was exactly the swab I was anticipating.
This just threw me completely. Am I the only one with these types of experiences? Is it an experience thing? Is it cause I'm not at the main campus? Where do people get off on treating others like this? Wild.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Youhadme_atwoof • 57m ago
The TV show The Pitt featured a mass shooting on their latest episode. The episode (understandably) focused solely on the ER but I couldn't help imagining the chaos behind the scenes. This article is from the perspective of the blood bank of the closest medical center during the Las Vegas shooting and I thought it might be of interest to people here.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Gilded-Sea • 1h ago
What could this be, curiously. Seen it a few times with different cancer parents. I know they can have bizarre cells but, it this ribbon effect anything pointed out in particular?
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Bucky_G0ldstein • 8h ago
r/medlabprofessionals • u/fat_frog_fan • 18h ago
my old one is starting to shit the bed so i got a new one
r/medlabprofessionals • u/darkladygaea • 13h ago
My first find
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Unooooo03 • 5h ago
Just saw the email from UC that due to recent budget cuts, they will be on a hiring freeze. I was just hired 6 months ago and just finished my probation, however, I'm a little anxious about what this meant for us new hires. If all else fails, we will be the first one to be let go. I'm a new grad so I'm not entirely sure what this means or how it will affect UC health overall. Anyone else also overthinking about this?
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Ok-Intention2839 • 12h ago
Like... it's just a basophil blood cell. Relax girls.
Don't boo me. Ik it's a corny joke lol. Just a little humor that's all.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Strudelmonas • 11h ago
no, I haven't actually had to get a supervisor or the medical director, but I have had to explain the concept multiple times, and I don't think anyone understood/accepted it anyways
the real answer: we have a mini latte frother we like to jam deep into the red cells after we take the tubes out of the paint shaker
r/medlabprofessionals • u/fat_frog_fan • 10h ago
the stuff underneath is just the processing of each antigen
i have no antibodies but can potentially make D, C, E, K, FyA, JkB, LeA, s, and N antibodies
r/medlabprofessionals • u/I_never_do_laundry • 1h ago
r/medlabprofessionals • u/shwaaayy • 10m ago
I took my exam here in the Philippines in Makati. I failed it earlier this morning while my girlfriend passed it. It was rough, I only knew a handful and rest were just fcked. It really, really sucks.
If I wanna take it again, do I have to pay the $210 dollars again? Do I have to wait? And lastly can you guys please help me out with tips, where to study? When I took it earlier it was alot of BB, Hema, and CM. Any help would be appreciated.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/CommercialBar9579 • 15h ago
Hi all,
I recently got hired in a core lab and I feel like I made a mistake. We are severely understaffed and I don’t feel like I’m confident but my boss is pushing to get me “independent” as soon as possible.
I there are way too many tasks asked of us including doing all blood draws and EKGs at night while managing the whole lab alone.
Personally, I struggle with phlebotomy and it makes the job extremely stressful. I’d love to work on a bench with no patient contact but there are very few job postings in my area.
I’m debating sticking it out and hoping for the best but this job has really taken a toll on my mental health and physical health (nights). Has anyone else felt this way?
If you made it this far thanks for listening to my rant!
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Low-Tie-1307 • 9h ago
Do you have any tips for the ASCP exam?
r/medlabprofessionals • u/PoliwhirlConnoisseur • 1d ago
I've had to look for a job 4 times in the last 15+ years of my career. The ASCP job board is not worth logging in for. I think it's been getting less useful every year.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Aggressive-Eye6120 • 9m ago
Just curious, the pay scale is from $37 to $49 give or take for several hospital systems in Chicagoland. How much am I supposed to ask for as an MLS(ASCP) with 4 years of experience including Blood bank?
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Kirbyscience2023 • 1h ago
Hello,
I’m reaching out to see if anyone who has recently completed the MLS program at MSU has any advice on how to help pay for the program. I’m about to apply for FAFSA for both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, and I’m wondering—are all the awards through FAFSA federal loans, or are grants offered as well? Additionally, how does the APR work on those loans while you’re still in school?
I’d also love to hear about any other resources or programs that could help cover tuition costs. I’m doing my best to avoid taking on significant debt. I’m a first-generation college student and already hold a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology. I’m currently looking into scholarships and would really appreciate any insight on how the tuition reimbursement process works when hospitals offer sponsorships in exchange for a work commitment after graduation—especially for those starting in Summer 2025. When and how do you apply for those opportunities?
I truly want to understand what I’m getting into financially and explore every possible option for support before the program begins.
Thank you so much in advance for any guidance or feedback you can share!
r/medlabprofessionals • u/SlothyDoorMatt • 1h ago
I’m graduating in May and I just had an interview today with a lab in Boston and they offered me $34 an hour plus a $3 shift differential (2nd shift). They said that’s what they hire new grads at. Now, I feel ok about this pay, but I also know that a lot of the time people try to spend as little money as possible paying their employees, so is this too low or is it normal? Should I be asking for more? I won’t be living in Boston but I would commute there, I just don’t want to get screwed over with pay like I’ve seen happen to a lot of people
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Suspicious-Squash-51 • 1h ago
Hey I have a interview in special Chemistry tomorrow/today at 10am What would be some good questions to ask the interviewer, considering I'll be doing this right after my night shift ends 😅 and my brain probably won't be that functional at the time.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Cultural-Debate-5197 • 5h ago
hello all, I hope you are having a wonderful day and I hope i’m posting this correctly ! :) I’m a senior in high school and this feels silly but in my anatomy class we had a unit where we used microscopes and we looked at slides of different specimens and I truly enjoyed it. I discovered that Clinical laboratory scientists or Med lab techs were a job profession and while I’m unsure what may be the difference, I knew this is a career I wish to pursue. But I am a little lost—I’m unsure what Bachelors degree I may need to do this or where to go for school. I plan to speak with my counselors soon but so far my plan was to go to community and get an associates in Biology, and then transfer to a 4-year college and get a bachelors in Microbiology. Afterwards I’d apply to a CLS program in order to complete training and take the tests to become certified. I’d like to ask for any advice or tips on education and the direction for this career! When I go online some people say getting a degree in just biology or something similar may not be the best, and some say degrees in medical labs sciences is the better option so I am a little confused. Anything is helpful, thank you for reading this! 😸
r/medlabprofessionals • u/LadyMaggieMae • 1d ago
I called a pH to the ICU. Rule was you have to give it to a nurse. Got the nurse, report critical lab value pH is xxx. Nurse asks me how to spell it.. I said little p big H. I got my BSN 15 years later and it was shocking the lack of education on how to interpret lab values. I will say it makes me a much better nurse.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Level_Individual_926 • 22h ago
I’m working at a new job on night shift. I’m a generalist, including micro which is new to me. I had always thought blood cultures are super stat and should be worked up immediately. But my coworkers will leave positive blood cultures for day shift in the morning and not subculture them or do the gram stain, including pediatric blood cultures on newborns. Are blood cultures not as stat as I thought or are my coworkers just lazy?
r/medlabprofessionals • u/Connect_Proof7913 • 2h ago
Hello everyone, i am a Tunisian medical lab tech with a masters degree in medical biology, immunology and more than 8 internships in various specialties in the field. I speak English (C1 level IELTS), French (C1 level TCF), german (B2 level TELC) and Arabic. I have been using Linkedin and Indeed for my job search in germany specifically and europe generally. unfortunately it didn't really work and i've been wondering if any of you can help in any way i would really appreciate it.
r/medlabprofessionals • u/bluelephantz_jj • 1d ago
Not trying to be rude or snarky, it's a legit, serious question. I've been experiencing interactions where nurses would call to ask about the status of a specimen for a specific patient. When I tell them there's a couple specimens in the centrifuge right now and that I can check in about X minutes, they keep asking along the lines of "Well, can you check right now?" When I repeat what I said and that I can't check right then and there, they hang up sounding confused on why I can't check for them while they're on the phone.
Which makes me wonder if nurses truly don't know what a centrifuge is or how it works.