The Medical Laboratory Technician program prepares men and women to work under the supervision of the medical laboratory scientist, pathologist, or other qualified physician in a medical laboratory. A technician performs tests that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Specific tasks which the Medical Laboratory Technician might perform include collection of blood and other specimens, preparation and examination of stained slides of blood cells or bacteria, microscopic examination of urine, blood, and other body fluids, grouping and typing of blood, and the analysis of body fluids for chemical components.
The first two semesters of the program may be taken at NIACC and the completion of the program is taken at Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa. The final semesters of the program are provided in the clinical setting, which may occur in a location of the student’s choice. This placement, however, is dependent on a space available basis in the agency of choice.