MLS ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

We are glad that you are interested in the exciting and challenging profession of Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Diagnostics or in the biotechnology field. If you major in Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Diagnostics or Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology you will be choosing a healthcare profession where honesty and integrity are critical personal characteristics required both in your academic studies and in the practice of the profession.

To ensure that your decision to pursue a career in a laboratory is the correct one for you, we ask that you review the Essential Functions by which you will be assessed as a Medical Laboratory Science major. The Essential Functions are the non-academic requirements of the Program, and they comprise physical, emotional, and professional/intellectual demands required of a medical laboratory scientist.

The physical demands required of students include the ability to:

1. Perform manual laboratory procedures safely and with dexterity.
2. Operate state-of-the-art instruments and laboratory information systems, including proper use of computers and keyboards.
3. Read and employ information displayed on a computer monitor or in print, e.g., text, numbers, graphs, etc.
4. Use a binocular microscope and differentiate microscopic components for structural and color (shading/intensity) differences.
5. Describe the visual characteristics of bodily specimens and chemical and immunologic reactions, e.g., color, clarity, viscosity, agglutination, etc.
6. Perform delicate manipulations which require good eye-hand coordination, e.g., pipetting, use of inoculating loops, etc.
7. Utilize equipment for the safe collection of blood specimens from patients.
8. Participate in safe laboratory practices through one’s ability to move effectively in the work place, to access laboratory work areas, and to reach hospitalized patients and out-patients for the purpose of blood collection.

The emotional demands required of students include the ability to:

1. Perform laboratory procedures accurately and quickly even under stressful conditions.
2. Maintain composure and provide appropriate laboratory services under stressful situations, such as time constraints, emergencies, rudeness, etc.
3. Utilize independent judgment and act logically in the performance of one’s duties.
4. Organize and accept responsibility for one’s work, including acknowledgement of errors or uncertainty and acceptance of constructive criticism.

The professional/intellectual demands required of students include the ability to:

1. Communicate in a professional, positive, tactful manner with patients, physicians, nurses, other health care and non-health care employees, and fellow laboratory personnel.
2. Communicate, comprehend, and follow directions understandably in English as evidenced by verbal, written, and reading skills.
3. Communicate, through the use of assistive devices (e.g., hearing aids, phone receivers, etc.) if needed, so as to converse understandably in English.
4. Maintain patient confidentiality and exercise ethical judgment, integrity, honesty, dependability, and accountability in the performance of one’s laboratory responsibilities.
5. Perform laboratory tests carefully while maintaining efficiency and organization.
6. Demonstrate the intellectual skills required to comprehend scientific and medical information, to perform mathematical calculations, to analyze information, to evaluate information, and to use critical thinking skills to solve problems.
7. Maintain a well-groomed, neat, professional appearance.

After reviewing the Essential Functions, we hope that you have a clearer understanding of the Program’s professional expectations and of the competency that will be required of you. Throughout your professional studies, your ability to meet these standards will be evaluated and assessed.