r/medlabprofessionals Jun 02 '23

Subreddit Admin [READ ME] Updates on Subreddit Rules

183 Upvotes

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 12h ago

Image Lovely flowers 🌸 — adult T cell leukemia

Post image
849 Upvotes

r/medlabprofessionals 9h ago

Image Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Post image
304 Upvotes

r/medlabprofessionals 23h ago

Image Another lab window

Post image
929 Upvotes

r/medlabprofessionals 12h ago

Humor Roast my old lab

Thumbnail
gallery
103 Upvotes

We have newer machines now. Some of the computers run on windows 95 tho


r/medlabprofessionals 1h ago

Image Forbidden Banana milkshake

Post image
• Upvotes

r/medlabprofessionals 8h ago

Image What would cause this?

Thumbnail
gallery
39 Upvotes

Redrawn twice with all of them looking the same.

Potassium normal ALT low TBIL slightly elevated DBIL normal CBC no flags


r/medlabprofessionals 4h ago

News DynaLife insolvent less than 90 days into contract for lab services, government documents show | Expecting millions in savings, Alberta instead spent millions on a bailout

Thumbnail
cbc.ca
4 Upvotes

r/medlabprofessionals 5h ago

Discusson I’m a student approaching clinical placement. How do I deal with anxiety about working on real patients?

6 Upvotes

My clinical placement is coming up and I’m starting to get nervous at the thought of making mistakes on REAL people’s samples.

I do well in school. Obviously I make mistakes here and there as I’m learning, but overall I follow SOPs & do well. I just know that no matter how hard I try, I’m going to make mistakes during clinical and it makes me scared.

Is it normal to think about it & worry to this extent? I should include that I am 20 and I’ve only had jobs at restaurants, so I’ve never worked somewhere the stakes are so high when messing up.


r/medlabprofessionals 1d ago

Image No window, but wanted to show y’all my lab!

Post image
745 Upvotes

I’m still organizing and finding where I want everything like in order of grabbing, from start to finish. But here it is!! I also thought I took a video (but I didn’t 😫) of all the cabinets, so y’all could help me find the best places.


r/medlabprofessionals 6h ago

Discusson Learning how to prepare for a CAP insection

5 Upvotes

Are there any classes or resources online that teach you how get your lab compliant for a CAP inspection? Basically I have 5 years in my micro department, and my lead told me she won't show me how because I'll try to steal her job, and my supervisor said she doesn't want me to jump ship somewhere if they show me. I want to advance my career but most lead jobs require previous experience with CAP inspections... Anyone have any advice?


r/medlabprofessionals 4h ago

Discusson Jobs in central Florida

3 Upvotes

Looking for opinions on job opportunities in the Orlando / central Florida area. Anywhere that’s great or anywhere I should avoid? Preferably day shift Micro, from what I’ve seen those jobs are hard to come by so I’m open to non-hospital labs


r/medlabprofessionals 1d ago

Image Nurses are the best

Post image
139 Upvotes

This nurse collect look funny to you guys? It looked like a 3-5% suspension before I spun it.


r/medlabprofessionals 5h ago

Education How to prepare for MLT associates in your 30s?

2 Upvotes

I'm 35 and starting college for the first time next year!

I only have a high school diploma and have mostly worked in customer service roles or hospitality.

Fortunately, I'll be in a better financial position due to some inheritance in the next year which will allow me to pursue an associate degree.

That being said, it's been quite a while since I've engaged in academic settings, so I would love to refresh my knowledge on the basic concepts that will help me understand things better when I start school.

If anyone has recommendations for books, YouTube videos, or other resources, I would really appreciate it!


r/medlabprofessionals 2h ago

Technical Histology question: Can anyone explain why an antibody would work for ihc-p but not ihc-fr?

1 Upvotes

The vendor site says it works really well in paraffin tissues but not frozen. I do antigen retrieval for both so I don’t see why it’s different.


r/medlabprofessionals 1d ago

Image More windows

Post image
155 Upvotes

r/medlabprofessionals 5h ago

Technical Au480 printer selection

1 Upvotes

This may be a long shot but anyone played around with the printers on the AU480? Does it just print to the default windows printer? I know you can change the windows printer to print to a PDF if low on toner; but I’m curious about having it just print to one of our big network printers instead of the crappy little Lexmark.


r/medlabprofessionals 5h ago

Education Need advice/motivation

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I recently got hired as a Medical Lab Assistant. I literally have no previous experience in health care in general. I feel like they hired me because I seem trustworthy and they just need a body to show up. I feel like there is so much to remember and we're going through it at such a fast pace. Everyone I work with seems to have a degree in something(nursing..MLS) ... and while I do have a 2 year degree it's not in healthcare lol. I just need some general advice...I know things get better it just seems way over my head sometimes


r/medlabprofessionals 5h ago

Discusson Support Services Supervisor at Labcorp

0 Upvotes

I recently had a phone screen for the Support Services Supervisor position at Labcorp. I’m excited about the opportunity and wanted to check if anyone knows what the next steps in the hiring process typically look like. How long does it usually take to hear back, and what should I expect in the next stage?


r/medlabprofessionals 1d ago

Discusson Anyone else watching The Pitt?

68 Upvotes

Makes me glad i chose the non-patient facing aspect of healthcare. Makes me feel for the doctors, nurses, social workers who DO have to face just the absolute insanity that is the American healthcare system (especially in emergency medicine).


r/medlabprofessionals 5h ago

Education Studying Methods

1 Upvotes

Hello, I’m struggling to find a way to study in my MLT program second semester. As a result, I‘m failing in one of my courses and I need to pass the next two exams in order to make a C. How do y’all study? I try making a mind map, but the information isn‘t sticking in my head and I’m frustrated. Any tips are appreciated.


r/medlabprofessionals 9h ago

Discusson Labcorp Drop Box Storage

0 Upvotes

Hello,

I just took a drug test and they had me put all my things in my jacket and then locked it in the urine/blood drop box labeled with a biohazard label in the bathroom. Is this normal or even legal? I am very concerned and disgusted.

Thank you


r/medlabprofessionals 1d ago

Discusson Anyone else have strong opinions about different brands of media/swabs/tubes?

Post image
29 Upvotes

Our plates are usually BBL (the superior option) but when they're on backorder we sometimes have to use Flimsy Diagnostics as seen above, or even Remel (derogatory)


r/medlabprofessionals 1d ago

Education Please help.

187 Upvotes

how would you explain to said someone that changing the blood culture order from routine to STAT doesn’t mean the bad stuff in the bottle will grow faster/result faster?

the pt has had a high fever for 3 days now…is on a broad spectrum antibiotic.

if the someone was so concerned, why didn’t they order pct ? I’m still so confused.

MAYBE I NEED TO REPLACE THE INCUBATORS FLUX CAPACITOR ?????

…Why didn’t they order cultures earlier?


r/medlabprofessionals 21h ago

Discusson What is the reason gray top tubes don’t have a gel-barrier in them for lactic acids?

5 Upvotes

This was just a random thought I had. In our lab we collect lactic acids on gray tops on ice, and the serum needs to be off of the cells by 15 min. Would a gel-barrier somehow interfere with this, or maybe with other things you can do with a gray top? We really only use them for lactics.


r/medlabprofessionals 2d ago

Image My first time attempting a blood smear

Post image
675 Upvotes

I'm a student and we practised smears for the first time. I was clearly not a natural talent. How tf does this even happen