RK/SLSMLS

Medical Laboratory Science Medical Laboratory Science ProfessionProfession

A Perfect Blend of A Perfect Blend of

Science, Medicine and Science, Medicine and

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Ravi KumudeshBsc(Mgt)/Dip(MLT)/PG.Dip(Ex.Mgt)

RK/SLSMLS

Career consideration Career consideration in Sri Lankain Sri Lanka

Who Are They ?Medical Laboratory Professionals

Medical Laboratory Professionals Medical Laboratory Professionals analyze blood, body fluids, tissues and analyze blood, body fluids, tissues and cells to determine the presence or cells to determine the presence or absence of diseaseabsence of disease

They are highly skilled in They are highly skilled in the use of the latest in the use of the latest in biomedical techniques and biomedical techniques and instrumentation instrumentation

RK/SLSMLS

Important Work!Important Work! Medical Laboratory Professionals Medical Laboratory Professionals

are vital members of the health care are vital members of the health care teamteam

Up to 70% of physician decisions Up to 70% of physician decisions regarding patient diagnosis and regarding patient diagnosis and therapy are based on lab test therapy are based on lab test resultsresults

Modern medicine could Modern medicine could not function not function

without without clinical clinical laboratory laboratory professionalsprofessionals

RK/SLSMLS

Job Ratings !Job Ratings ! Medical Laboratory Scientists and Medical Laboratory Scientists and

Medical Laboratory Technologists 16 Medical Laboratory Technologists 16 and 18 in a list of 250 jobs according to and 18 in a list of 250 jobs according to Jobs Related AlmanacJobs Related Almanac

They also ranked 3They also ranked 3rdrd and 4 and 4thth in the in the healthcare and medicine healthcare and medicine occupational category based on occupational category based on factors such as salary, stress levels, factors such as salary, stress levels, work environment, outlook, security work environment, outlook, security and physical demandsand physical demands..

RK/SLSMLS

Where do you meetWhere do you meetMedical Laboratory Professionals ?Medical Laboratory Professionals ?

Although most Medical Laboratory Although most Medical Laboratory Professionals work in:Professionals work in:Hospital clinical labsHospital clinical labsPhysician’s CentersPhysician’s CentersCommercial or reference labsCommercial or reference labsPublic Health labsPublic Health labs

There are many other exciting There are many other exciting working places for Medical working places for Medical Laboratory Professionals, but still Laboratory Professionals, but still not in Sri Lankanot in Sri LankaRK/SLSMLS

Places we should Reach…Places we should Reach…

Pharmaceutical and Chemical IndustriesPharmaceutical and Chemical Industries Biotechnology CompaniesBiotechnology Companies Forensic and Law Enforcement LaboratoriesForensic and Law Enforcement Laboratories Veterinary ClinicsVeterinary Clinics

Research and Teaching InstitutionsResearch and Teaching InstitutionsTransplant and Blood Donor CentersTransplant and Blood Donor CentersFertility ClinicsFertility ClinicsCosmetic and Food IndustryCosmetic and Food Industry

RK/SLSMLS

A Degree in a A Degree in a Medical Laboratory Science Medical Laboratory Science is an also Excellent Starting Point for is an also Excellent Starting Point for Career Advancement in:Career Advancement in:

MedicineMedicine

DentistryDentistry

Public HealthPublic Health

Biomedical TechnologyBiomedical Technology

Health Care Health Care Management and Management and AdministrationAdministrationRK/SLSMLS

And more….And more….Medical InformaticsMedical Informatics

Basic Science and Cancer Research Basic Science and Cancer Research

Sales, Marketing, Product DevelopmentSales, Marketing, Product Development

Law and Public AdvocacyLaw and Public Advocacy

EducationEducation

Many othersMany othersRK/SLSMLS

The Clinical Lab is a The Clinical Lab is a Biomedical EnvironmentBiomedical Environment

RK/SLSMLS

Requires excellent Requires excellent technical skills as technical skills as well as problem well as problem solving, data solving, data analysis, computer analysis, computer skills, and skills, and good good oral and oral and written written communicationcommunication

Medical Laboratory Technologists Analyze body fluids for many Analyze body fluids for many

diverse proteins, sugars, diverse proteins, sugars, enzymes, lipids, hormones and enzymes, lipids, hormones and drugs drugs

Provide information Provide information to physicians to to physicians to

help help diagnose:diagnose:• Cancer Cancer

• Diabetes and kidney diseaseDiabetes and kidney disease

• Drug overdosesDrug overdoses

• And many other conditions And many other conditions RK/SLSMLS

Medical Laboratory Technologists

RK/SLSMLS

Detect and identify Detect and identify disease-causing disease-causing bacteria and parasitesbacteria and parasites

Determine the Determine the best antibiotics to best antibiotics to use for bacterial use for bacterial infectionsinfections

Medical Laboratory Technologists

RK/SLSMLS

Examine and count Examine and count blood cells to detect blood cells to detect abnormalities found in abnormalities found in anemia's, leukemia's anemia's, leukemia's and infections so and infections so appropriate appropriate therapy can be therapy can be startedstarted

Medical Laboratory Technologists

RK/SLSMLS

Analyze blood Analyze blood to find causes to find causes for abnormal for abnormal bleeding or bleeding or clottingclotting

Test plasma to monitor Test plasma to monitor therapy with anticoagulant therapy with anticoagulant drugsdrugs

Medical Laboratory Technologists

RK/SLSMLS

Use techniques to Use techniques to detect antibodies to detect antibodies to Strep Infections, Strep Infections, Lyme Disease, Lyme Disease, Infectious Mono, and Infectious Mono, and many other diseasesmany other diseases

Prepare red blood Prepare red blood cells, platelets, cells, platelets, plasma for safe plasma for safe transfusiontransfusion

Medical Laboratory Scientists ?

RK/SLSMLS

Perform testing on DNA, Perform testing on DNA, RNA or chromosomes to RNA or chromosomes to help identify genetic help identify genetic causes of disease or to causes of disease or to identify pathogens and identify pathogens and their drug resistance their drug resistance mutationsmutations

Medical Laboratory Scientists ?

RK/SLSMLS

Examine cell samples on Examine cell samples on slides to determine the slides to determine the presence of cancerous or presence of cancerous or benign diseasesbenign diseases

Analyze microscopic Analyze microscopic cellular changes that can cellular changes that can directly affect a patient’s directly affect a patient’s course of treatment course of treatment

Assist in early detection of Assist in early detection of cancercancer

Medical Laboratory Scientists ?

RK/SLSMLS

Examine cells from all Examine cells from all body sources taken by body sources taken by swab or fine needle swab or fine needle biopsybiopsy

A Pap Smear is a A Pap Smear is a commonly performed testcommonly performed test

Medical Laboratory Scientists ?

RK/SLSMLS

Section, stain and Section, stain and analyze tissues from analyze tissues from surgery for examination surgery for examination by a Pathologistby a Pathologist

Allow Allow pathologists to pathologists to determine if determine if disease disease is is present in that present in that tissuetissue

RK/SLSMLS

Collect blood specimens Collect blood specimens from patientsfrom patients

Are careful and accurate Are careful and accurate in processing samples in processing samples

Are excellent Are excellent communicators communicators with patientswith patients

Medical Laboratory Scientists ?

At Masters, Doctoral and MD LevelAt Masters, Doctoral and MD Level• Pathologists (MD)Pathologists (MD)• Administrative DirectorsAdministrative Directors• ManagersManagers• Technical SupervisorsTechnical Supervisors• Laboratory Information SpecialistsLaboratory Information Specialists• Quality Assurance CoordinatorsQuality Assurance Coordinators• Point of Care Testing CoordinatorsPoint of Care Testing Coordinators• Marketing and Outreach CoordinatorsMarketing and Outreach Coordinators• And more…And more…

RK/SLSMLS

Graduated MLT

Medical Laboratory Professionals.. Enjoy the challenge of science theory, lab Enjoy the challenge of science theory, lab

discovery, technology and medicinediscovery, technology and medicine

Have a high level of responsibility and commitment Have a high level of responsibility and commitment to help othersto help others

Have the capacity for calm and reasoned judgmentHave the capacity for calm and reasoned judgment

Are organized, efficient and are good problem Are organized, efficient and are good problem solvers, communicators and team playerssolvers, communicators and team players

Have high standards and demand Have high standards and demand quality performance and accuracyquality performance and accuracy

RK/SLSMLS

For Medical Lab Professionals, For Medical Lab Professionals, Safety Always Comes First !Safety Always Comes First !

Protective clothing: gloves, lab coats, Protective clothing: gloves, lab coats, gogglesgoggles

Safety needles, sharps containersSafety needles, sharps containers

Biological and chemical safety Biological and chemical safety hoodshoods

Automatic loading instrumentsAutomatic loading instruments

RK/SLSMLS

Labor StatisticsLabor Statistics

• 12,200 new laboratorians needed in 12,200 new laboratorians needed in hospitals per yearhospitals per year

• Only 4000 graduates from educational Only 4000 graduates from educational programs per yearprograms per year

• Projected need of 8,200 new laboratorians Projected need of 8,200 new laboratorians per year!per year!

RK/SLSMLS

This is how in America.?

But in Sri Lanka…?

Doctors Against ! Health Ministry slept ! Higher Education Banded ! Clinical Training Prohibited !

RK/SLSMLS

I don’t Know why ? එහෙ�ම හෙ�න්හෙන්

ඇයි ???

Thank You !

RK/SLSMLS