Medical Laboratory ScienceMedical Laboratory Science““Science with a purpose for Science with a purpose for

those who carethose who care””

NZIMLSNZIMLSPO Box 505PO Box 505

RangioraRangioraTel 03 313 4761Tel 03 313 4761

www.nzimls.org.nz www.nzimls.org.nz email: fran@nzimls.org.nzemail: fran@nzimls.org.nz

•Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) and Technicians (MLT’s) play an important, often unrecognised role, in disease diagnosis and the monitoring of treatment.

•Pathologists are doctors who have specialised in Clinical Pathology, Anatomical Pathology or Forensic Pathology.

•They are responsible for most laboratory testing performed on samples sent to the diagnostic laboratory by medical practitioners.

•Laboratory results produced by MLS’s and MLT’s are used by medical staff in the diagnosis of disorders in approx. 70% of all patient cases.

• Most are employed in Hospital or Community Pathology Laboratories, medical research and animal health laboratories.

What is Medical Laboratory Science What is Medical Laboratory Science

•The New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science (NZIMLS) is the professional organisation that represents those engaged in the profession and practice of Medical Laboratory Science in NZ.

•The NZIMLS

• Publishes Scientific Journal 3 x a year, runs scientific meetings and seminars.

•Has a national council, executive office & staff. Voice of the profession.

•has a Competency and Professional Development (CPD) programme

•Website www.nzimls.org.nz with employment opportunities, newsletter, etc

•Runs QMLT examinations, offers fellowship, moderates university programmes, special interest groups.

Professional bodies in Medical Laboratory Science?Professional bodies in Medical Laboratory Science?

The Medical Laboratory Science Board (MLSB) is the registration body for the profession

The functions of the Board are set out in section 118 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. The Board's main functions are:

•to prescribe the qualifications required for scopes of practice within the medical laboratory science profession and, for that purpose, to accredit and monitor educational institutions and degrees, courses of studies, or programmes •to authorise registrations under this Act, and to maintain registers•to review and promote the competence of health practitioners and issue practising certificates•to set standards of clinical competence, cultural competence and ethical conduct and to accredit and set programmes to ensure the ongoing competence of practitioners •to receive and act on information about the competence of practitioners•to promote education and training within the profession•to carry out other functions that are prescribed or conferred on it.

Website: www.mlsb.org.nz

Professional bodies in Medical Laboratory Science?Professional bodies in Medical Laboratory Science?

•There are two types of practitioner within a Medical Laboratory, a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). Total 2,729 2008/09

•Both are protected titles under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act and must be registered with the Medical Laboratory Science Board. Total 2729 APC’s sent 2008/09

• A MLS may practise independently and a MLT may practise under the direction of a MLS or under the direction of another registered health practitioner with an appropriate scope of practice, other than MLT.

•Both may supervise unregistered MLS or MLT trainees.

•Some in a Laboratory may not be working towards registration as a MLS or MLT, these are laboratory assistants.

Scope of Practice in Medical Laboratory Science?Scope of Practice in Medical Laboratory Science?

Training in Medical Laboratory Science?Training in Medical Laboratory Science?

Medical Laboratory Scientist• Must be registered to practice in New

Zealand as a MLS and must hold an annual or interim practising certificate issued by the Medical Laboratory Science Board.

• Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc) is the vocational training programme leading to registration of a MLS.

• Is a 4 year degree offered by AUT, Massey and Otago Universities.

• Post graduate qualifications such as diploma’s, Masters and Doctorates are available

• Similar overseas qualifications may not automatically gain NZ registration.

• Total 1449 MLS APC’s sent 2008/09

Training in Medical Laboratory Science?Training in Medical Laboratory Science?Medical Laboratory Technician• Must be registered to practice in New

Zealand as a MLT and must hold an annual or interim practising certificate issued by the Medical Laboratory Science Board.

• Majority of those registered in New Zealand as MLT’s have passed the 2 year vocational QMLT examinations set by the NZIMLS.

• Others may have completed a non-vocational science degree such as a BSc, B App Sc, B Biomed Sc or have overseas qualifications not suitable for registration as a MLS.

• Technicians holding a BSc, B App Sc or B Biomed Sc degrees may progress to gain registration as a MLS following additional university study and laboratory experience

• Total 1280 MLT APC’s sent 2008/09

Medical Laboratory Science Medical Laboratory Science –– Other factsOther facts

• Medical Laboratory Science includes

– Clinical Biochemistry, – Haematology, – Transfusion Science,– Histology, – Cytology, – Microbiology, – Cytogenetics, – Immunology, – Virology, – Molecular Pathology, – Mortuary,– Electron Microscopy, – Phlebotomy.

• Other areas of employment for MLT’s and MLS’s.

– Forensics: Forensic pathology technician, crime scene investigation

– Research: CRI’s or universities– Biotechnology: Pharmaceuticals, private

biotechnology companies, dairy, viticulture and agriculture laboratories

– Laboratory commerce: Sales and marketing for in-vitro diagnostic companies, IT companies, pharmaceutical companies

– Education: Primary, secondary and tertiary– Environmental: water and food testing– Diagnostic services: Veterinary diagnostic

Labs.

Medical Laboratory Science Medical Laboratory Science –– Other factsOther facts

• Medical Labosalaries

– Med Lab Tech’– RMLT just qualified $37,170– RMLT top of scale $46,558

– Med Lab Scientist– RMLS just qualified $43,312– RMLS 8 ye– RMLS Top of scale $82k

ratory Science

s trainee $30k

intern $41.2k

ars $55.7k

• Areas of employment for MLT’s and MLS’s with the Laboratory

– Lab Manager– Quality Manager– Operations Manager– Business / customer support– Finance – Technical Head (HOD)– Senior scientist– Section Leader– Scientific Technical specialist– IT Technical Specialist– Quality Technical Specialist

Medical Laboratory Science DisciplinesMedical Laboratory Science Disciplines

Clinical Biochemistry• Analysis of the chemical constituents of the

blood, urine, faeces and tissues.• Most of the laboratory

testing uses sophisticated instrumentation interfaced to a laboratory information system.

• Diseases such as diabetes, renal failure, heart attack, drug analysis and hepatitis are some of the conditions investigated by medical scientists.

Haematology• The study of the cells of the blood, the bone

marrow and the clotting proteins present in blood.

• Automated haematology instruments count the amount of Haemoglobin, the number of red cells (erythrocytes) , white cells (leucocytes) and platelets in a persons blood.

• Medical Scientists investigate the blood of patients for diseases such as anaemia, leukaemia, disorders of the haemoglobin molecule, cancer, bleeding and thrombosis.

Medical Laboratory Science Disciplines

Clinical Microbiology• The detection and culture of bacteria and fungi

that cause human disease.• Medical scientists provide information about the

susceptibility of these agents to antibiotics used during treatment of infections.

• Medical scientists use microscopy to examine samples for human parasites in a variety of clinical samples such as faeces and blood.

Clinical Immunology• The study of the immune system and associated

diseases often caused by bacteria and viruses.• Medical scientists study the body's response to

disease often through the measurement of antibody production.

• This approach allows the diagnosis of many diseases including HIV infection, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and a range of autoimmune diseases.

Medical Laboratory Science DisciplinesClinical Virology• The study of disease caused by viruses.• Medical scientists study the type of viruses

causing disease by growing the virus in cell lines or detecting virus DNA or RNA.

• This allows the diagnosis of viral diseases such as influenza, bird ‘flu, measles and chicken pox.

Mortuary and Forensic Science• The study of forensic technique,

management and hygiene within a mortuary.• The role of the scientist and technician in the

mortuary is to support the forensic pathologist with the autopsy, collect and label samples for further investigation, photography, x-ray, documentation of evidence and manage the mortuary

• This may include homicides, suspicious deaths, victim identification, infectious disease, mass disaster planning and participation, family / Whanau support, tissue collection and /or return and site visits .

Medical Laboratory Science Disciplines

Histopathology/Histology• Is the preparation, processing and staining of

tissues obtained during surgery, biopsy or necropsy.

• Medical scientists prepare sections of tissue that are further examined by pathologists in the investigation of tissue disease e.g. cancer.

Medical Cytology• Is the study of cell preparations collected from

the lungs, lymph nodes, genital tract etc. for the presence of cancer cells.

• Investigation of the 'Pap' smear for the detection of cervical cancer is an important role of the scientist.

Medical Laboratory Science Disciplines

Cytogenetics / Molecular Genetics• The study of the genetic basis of disease.• Medical scientists work with the DNA or with

chromosomes and provide information about congenital diseases such as Down's syndrome or the predisposition to breast cancer.

• They also provide important information about changes to the chromosomes in disease, such as leukaemia.

Transfusion Science• Is the science of blood and blood-product

transfusion.• Medical scientists prepare blood products from

donor blood that are used to treat bleeding, and to correct blood component deficiencies.

• Medical scientists screen donated blood for infectious agents and perform cross-matching to ensure safe blood transfusions and graft survival of tissue transplants.

Medical Laboratory Science DisciplinesPhlebotomy• Is the process of collecting a blood sample by

venipunture.• Phlebotomists are usually MLT’s working with patients

collecting blood samples by venipunture, but may do other procedures such as cannulation, micro-collection using capillary puncture, collecting urine samples for drugs of abuse testing using chain of custody protocols, allergy testing and other sample collection such as blood donor collection.

• They are an important part of the pre-analytical process, ensuring the correct sample is collected from a clearly identified patient and labelled correctly .

Specimen Services• Is the process of managing the sample when

reaching the laboratory .• MLT’s prepare many types of patient samples such

as blood, urine, swabs and stools for analysis. This may involve centrifugation and separation of serum and plasma, aliquoting of samples, measuring urine volume, documenting and registering samples in the computer system and checking for correct labelling.

• This is another important part of the pre-analytical process as incorrect documentation, separation or preparation will lead to the wrong sample being analysed.

Medical Laboratory Science DisciplinesQuality• Is the process of Total Quality Management.• Many MLS’s are involved in quality management as

all medical laboratories in NZ are accredited against the quality framework ISO 15189. This is a standard by which all procedures and processes within the laboratory are documented ensuring consistency and transparency, all based on best practice and ensuring all patient information following analysis is correct.

• Without standard processes and documentation, patient results could be compromised leading to incorrect diagnosis and treatment .

Information Technology Services• Is the process of managing the patient result

information electronically.• Data management in Laboratories has become a

key component of the post-analytical process. Many MLS’s are involved in the e-management of this information whereby results are transferred electronically from Lab computer systems to patient information systems in the ward and general practice.

• This is another important part of the post-analytical process to ensure the integrity of the results back to the doctor.

Medical Laboratory Science Medical Laboratory Science -- SummarySummary

• Is science with a purpose for those who care.

• Laboratory analysis a key component of patient management

• Large variety of science options within the profession

• Vocational and registerable qualification

• Protected by the HPCA Act as a Registered Healthcare Professional

• Internationally recognised qualification, transportable globally.

And a lot of fun!!!And a lot of fun!!!

For More InformationFor More Information

• www.nzimls.org.nz• www.aut.ac.nz• www.medlab-school.massey.ac.nz• www.otago.ac.nz• www.mlsb.org.nz• www.careers.govt.nz• www.labplus.co.nz