The Medical Laboratory Assistant certificate program prepares students to function as a medical laboratory assistant (MLA) within a clinical laboratory setting. In some settings, a MLA may hold titles such as phlebotomist, clinical laboratory assistant, or specimen accessioner/processor. These entry-level positions include employment in medical centers/hospitals, outpatient laboratories, research facilities, and doctor offices.

Students are trained in all aspects of the clinical laboratory including the skill of phlebotomy, waived testing, specimen processing, data entry, laboratory safety, result retrieval, quality control, laboratory information systems, basic microbiology, and transfusion support services.

This program also provides opportunities for graduates to career ladder into Mercer County Community College’s Medical Laboratory Technology Associate degree program and/or later pursue a medical laboratory scientist degree program at a four-year institution.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

• Apply governmental standards and compliance within the laboratory setting;
• Demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors along with interpersonal skills when communicating with patients and members of the healthcare team in the workplace;
• Perform phlebotomy and display safety practices for infection control according to industry standards;
• Implement quality assurance and quality control principles to specimen transport, specimen processing, and laboratory testing;
• Prepare reagents, standards, quality control material and human blood / body fluid specimens for analysis according to industry standards;
• Perform specimen testing using proper procedures, equipment, and techniques;
• Apply relevant methodologies and techniques including problem solving and troubleshooting for specimen processing and testing;
• Use a computer to enter and record data into a laboratory information system (LIS).

Graduates are eligible to apply for a national certification exam for Phlebotomist / Medical Laboratory Assistant.

SEE ALSO:
Medical Laboratory Technology degree program