68K Medical Laboratory Specialist

OVERIVEW
The Medical Laboratory Specialist conducts tests on the tissue, blood and body fluids of patients.

JOB DUTIES

• Perform elementary blood banking and clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, serology, bacteriology, parasitology and urinalysis
• Collect blood specimens by venipuncture and capillary puncture
• Pack, unpack, inspect, store and distribute blood and blood products
• Assemble, disassemble and maintain laboratory equipment

TRAINING
Job training for a Medical Laboratory Specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training and 52 weeks and two days of Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, TX, including practice-testing specimens.

Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• Medical laboratory procedures
• Study of human parasites and diseases
• Laboratory administration and record-keeping

HELPFUL SKILLS

• Interest in biology, chemistry and algebra
• Ability to follow detailed procedures precisely

REQUIRED ASVAB SCORE(S)
Skilled Technical (ST): 106

Learn more about the ASVAB. 

FUTURE CIVILIAN CAREERS
The skills you learn will help prepare you for a career with privately owned laboratories, hospitals, clinics or research institutions.

The certifications available to you after continued study and experience are medical laboratory technician, cytotechnologist and clinical laboratory technician. Specific educational criteria must be met before you can qualify for certification.