Medical Laboratory Science

Description

Medical Laboratory Scientists play a vital role in the health care community. Medical Laboratory Scientists analyze human blood, tissues, and body fluids or supervise the performance of medical laboratory tests using a wide variety of instruments, microscopes, computers, chemicals, or other methods for clinical analysis. They perform laboratory tests necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Medical Laboratory Scientists work for hospital laboratories, private physicians, public health agencies, independent laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and industrial medical/research laboratories. Carolinas College of Health Sciences offers a hospital based Medical Laboratory Science program for applicants with a bachelor's degree preferably in a science. The MLS program is a full-time 12-month clinical education certificate program that enrolls a maximum of twelve students per year. The program consists of six courses containing didactic lectures and supervised education in the clinical laboratories of chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, immunology, microbiology, and the special studies of phlebotomy, professional development, education, research design, and management. The courses include didactic lectures, student laboratory training, and consecutive clinical experiences. Didactic lectures and student laboratory training take place at Carolinas College, with clinical experiences conducted in the laboratories of Carolinas Medical Center. Graduates of the program receive a certificate in Medical Laboratory Science and are qualified to take the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) examination from the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification and be certified as Medical Laboratory Scientists.