Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) in the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine include two baccalaureate and one master of science degree programs. The Mission of the Programs in Medical Laboratory Science is to

• Attract, educate, and foster enthusiastic students of high integrity desiring associate, baccalaureate, and graduate level Medical Laboratory Science degrees
• Create a learning atmosphere that promotes and respects individual inquiry and academic excellence
• Provide academic and professional laboratory experiences enabling program graduates to function proficiently in diverse professional settings
• Promote faculty professional growth through research and other scholarly activities
• Develop medical laboratory sciences educational awareness within academic communities

Program Goals

A. Support the goals and philosophy of the University of Utah.

1. Assist the student in his/her plans to meet the academic requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah .
2. Maintain appropriate and adequate academic standards consistent with the University standards.
3. Provide the student with opportunities to accept his/her role as a professional, relate to those outside the medical community, grow personally and adapt to change.

B. Meet the student's requirement for education in the profession of Medical Laboratory Science.

1. Provide the student with the cognitive and psychomotor competencies to meet the entry requirements for the profession of medical laboratory science.
2. Provide the student with an environment in which he/she may develop those "affective" requirements of the professional medical laboratory scientist.
3. Assist the student in developing skills and attitudes for continuing education.

C. Provide opportunity for the student to become aware of the medical team and its responsibility for delivery of quality health care.

1. Provide the student with opportunities to grow professionally in developing ethical and moral attitudes toward the duties and responsibilities to the patient consistent with a member of the health care team.
2. Encourage interaction with persons from other medical disciplines in cooperative efforts in areas of education and development of the team concept.

Career Entry Competencies for Medical Laboratory Science Graduates

After successful completion of the University of Utah Medical Laboratory Science Program , graduates will be able to:

A. Collect and prepare human samples for analysis. Store or transport samples for analysis using appropriate preservation methods.

B. Follow prescribed procedures, and with adequate orientation, perform routine testing in chemistry, microbiology, immunology, immunohematology, hematology and molecular diagnostics.

C. Operate and calibrate clinical laboratory instruments or equipment after proper orientation.

D. Recognize and correct basic instrument malfunctions. Refer serious instrument problems to a senior laboratorian or a supervisor when necessary.

E. Prepare reagents or media from a prescribed procedure, including calculating necessary computations, using an analytical balance, and adjusting the pH if necessary.

F. Evaluate media, reagents and standards according to established criteria.

G. Conduct established quality control procedures on analytical tests, equipment, reagents, media, and products; evaluate results of quality control and implement corrective action when indicated.

H. Establish basic quality control procedures, confidence limits and normal ranges for new procedures or methods.

I. Perform comparison studies on new or existing procedures, and report results according to conventional scientific formats.

J. Assess the reliability of laboratory results through correlation of data with common physiological conditions.

K. In prescribed instances indicate the need for additional laboratory tests for definitive diagnostic information.

L. Provide clinical orientation and supervision for students and new or less skilled laboratory personnel. Lecture or provide class demonstrations.

M. Practice established safety measures.

N. Inform superiors of activities including unusual patient data or results.

O. Recognize and act on the need for continuing education to maintain and grow in professional competencies.

P. Present effective in-service continuing education sessions when asked.

Q. Apply managerial/supervisory skills for completion of projects as assigned.

Essential Requirements for the MLS Profession

The following requirements for the MLS Program at the University of Utah parallel the essential functions, or task based criteria that employers define and expect of laboratorians when they are hired.

Essential Requirements of Observation.

The MLS student must be able to:

1. Observe laboratory demonstrations in which biologicals (i.e., body fluids, culture materials, tissue sections, and cellular specimens) are tested for their biochemical, hematological, immunological, microbiological, and histochemical components.

2. Characterize the color, odor, clarity, and viscosity of biologicals , reagents, or chemical reaction products.

3. Operate a clinical grade binocular microscope to discriminate among fine structural and color (hue, shading, and intensity) differences of microscopic specimens.

4. Read and comprehend text, numbers, and graphs displayed in print and on a video monitor.

Essential Requirements of Movement .

The MLS student must be able to:

5. Move freely and safely about a laboratory.

6. Reach laboratory benchtops and shelves, patients lying in hospital beds or patients seated in specimen collection furniture.

7. Travel to numerous clinical laboratory sites for practical experience.

8. Perform moderately taxing continuous physical work, often requiring prolonged sitting, over several hours.

9. Maneuver phlebotomy and culture acquisition equipment to safely collect valid laboratory specimens from patients.

10. Control laboratory equipment (e.g. pipettes, inoculating loops, test tubes) and adjust instruments to perform laboratory procedures.

11. Use a computer keyboard to operate laboratory instruments and to calculate, record, evaluate, and transmit laboratory information.

Essential Requirements of Communication.

The MLS student must be able to:

12. Read and comprehend technical and professional materials (i.e., textbooks, magazine and journal articles, handbooks, and instruction manuals).

13. Follow verbal and written instructions in order to correctly and independently perform laboratory test procedures.

14. Clearly instruct patients prior to specimen collection.

15. Effectively, confidentially, and sensitively converse with patients regarding laboratory tests.

16. Communicate with faculty members, fellow students, staff, and other health care professionals verbally and in a recorded format (writing, typing, graphics, or telecommunication).

17. Independently prepare papers, and laboratory reports, and take paper, computer, and laboratory practical examinations.

Essential Requirements of Intellect.

The MLS student must:

18. Possess these intellectual skills: comprehension, measurement, mathematical calculation, reasoning, integration, analysis, comparison, self‑expression, and critical thinking.

19. Be able to exercise sufficient judgment to recognize and correct performance deviations.

Essential Requirements of Behavior.

The MLS student must:

20. Be able to manage the use of time and be able to systematize actions in order to complete professional and technical tasks within realistic constraints.

21. Possess the emotional health necessary to effectively employ intellect and exercise appropriate judgment.

22. Be able to provide professional and technical services while experiencing the stresses of task-related uncertainty (e.g. ambiguous test ordering, ambivalent test interpretation), emergent demands (e.g. "stat" test orders), and a distracting environment (e.g. high noise levels, crowding, complex visual stimuli).

23. Be flexible and creative and adapt to professional and technical change.

24. Recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment, and situations and proceed safely in order to minimize risk of injury to patients, self, and nearby individuals.

25. Adapt to working with unpleasant biologicals .

26. Support and promote the activities of fellow students and other health care professionals.

27. Be honest, compassionate, ethical, and responsible. The student must be forthright about errors or uncertainty. The student must be able to critically evaluate her or his own performance, accept constructive criticism, and look for ways to improve (e.g. participate in enriched educational activities).

Satisfactory completion of the MLS Program and successful employment following graduation demands your ability to meet the above requirements. If you are uncertain as to your ability with any of these essential functions, please consult with the MLS Program Director.

Medical Technology

The bachelor of science program with medical technology emphasis is a "2+2" curriculum in which Pre-MLS students complete two years of prerequisite science and general education courses, followed by two years of professional courses at the University of Utah School of Medicine and clinical laboratory facilities in the community. For additional information contact J. Michele Stuart, Ph.D., Academic Advisor & Program Recruiter at (801) 585-5452 or by e-mail at michele.stuart@path.utah.edu.

The bachelor of science program with cytotechnology emphasis is a "3+1" model. Three years of prerequisite course work are followed by one year of professional courses. For additional information, contact Michael P. Berry, CT(ASCP), Program Director at (801) 583-2787, ext. 2327, or by e-mail at Berrymc@aruplab.com

The master of science program is primarily a research track that also emphasizes scientific data review and interpretation, communication, and technical writing skills. Students choose an area or specialization in a clinical or research laboratory to complete their research project and thesis. Contact JoAnn P. Fenn at (801) 581-3971 or by e-mail at JFenn@path.utah.edu