r/medlabprofessionals

I been working as a MLT for a year now. I been going back and fourth with deciding if this is something I want to do for the rest of my rest. After working for a year I come to the conclusion that I don't want to do this forever. I can see myself doing this prn or part time but not full time. Im not sure what career to pivot to. I know alot people who left the lab to do nursing, IT, field service and I dont want to do that. IT does not interest me, definitely not trying do nursing. I used to be a medical assistant and enjoyed that more than I do as a MLT. I honestly went into this career because I wanted to step away from patient facing roles and work more solo. Reason why I left medical assistant is because of the pay and grew tired of working with Dr's and I realized I hate being told what to do. Anyways, looking into careers that are either on the administrative side or out of Healthcare altogether. Not sure what I want to do, I just know I need out of the lab. ​

Background : 59 yr old female with 30+ year history of RA, Felty's syndrome and platelet clumping (EDTA reaction).

I have clumped so aggressively that, for a period around 20-25 years ago when I had monthly draws due to methotrexate prescription, I was drawn sitting next to the centrifuge in the lab annex of the clinic to make sure the sample was readable.

Subsequent to that, I now get occasional draws 4-6 times a year. I have made a practice of letting the phlebotomist know that I clump and they need to draw a citrate (blue top) tube. Occasionally they would ignore the request and I would get the call that the platelet count clumped and needed to be redrawn. To avoid extra pokes (and because I am not an easy draw : rolling/ducking veins, butterfly needles needed, even ultra sound to set an IV for a procedure a few years ago), I tried to self advocate and insist on the blue top draw.

Around 3 years ago I started to get not just push back but utter refusal by the tech to draw the tube if it was not on the orders (and it NEVER was). My doctors couldn't find a code to even order it. Once incidence involved a call from a new doctor receiving the CBC results to tell me that my platelet count was dangerously low and I should go to the ER for a transfusion. After several hours there and 2 more draws by the ER staff (the second one with citrate tube) I was sent home with my perfectly normal range platelet count.

I have tried Quest and LabCorp.. neither will draw a blue top tube on request if it's not indicated on the orders nor do the phlebotomists seem to have any awareness of a specific protocol for EDTA clumping. The most recent visit(today) at LabCorp involved my PCP's nurse walking over with the order while I waited at the lab (they are in the same business complex) but there wasn't a code to order it and neither the lab nor the doctor can find one so the lab will not draw the test. I declined to get drawn if they couldn't run all the tests and the nurse went back to her office to see what she could find out.

She called me about 30 minutes later and they have found the test but are not allowed to order it. It seems it can only be ordered by certain entities for studies or special permissions with the lab. So basically my PCP can't order a test for me to be performed to get accurate results for BASIC bloodwork.

We are going to try another lab in the area that doesn't seem to restrict access to ordering a blue top citrate tube, so hopefully we have found a solution.

My reason for posting this is to find out if anyone in the profession has any insight on why this is happening, was there some post-covid shift in lab protocols (timing wise that's the only possible correlation I can find) and whether there is a procedure we should be following to get the care I need.

For those of us that have been in the field (MLS, MLT, and Assistants), how has your workplace handled receiving sample bags that either

1. Have more than one patient in them, but only one requisition

or

2. Receiving a bag that has a requisition for a completely different patient, but the samples provided are for someone else?

I know that these kind of mix ups happen, but at least for the lab assistants at my lab, its been happening more frequently...so much so to the point that the owner has started a log of mixed samples and wants them to report the clinic that is doing it. I know that lab assistants should be catching these mistakes when they're labeling, but one time it slipped under the radar for one assistant (he came into work dead tired because he already worked a 14 hour shift and was back to work 9 hours later) and he was reprimanded for it because his entire job is making sure labeling is appropriate. They didnt grill him or anything and he was there for 7 years, so thats why maybe they took leniency on him compared to the newer assistants. Its kind of annoying having to amend reports because the doctors, nurses, or clinics were inept enough to mix up samples they were sending to us. Its even funnier when they call demanding to know why it was rejected just for CSRs to say "you messed up the samples..." and then they're quick to blame the lab

...They'll probably tell the patient that the lab messed up anyway absolving themselves from responsibility

Hi everyone,

I’ve been considering going back to school for MLT in BC and would really appreciate honest insight from current MLTs in BC or Canada before I fully commit to the program.

I’m leaving my current healthcare job and trying to figure out if this is the right long term fit for me. I’m excited about healthcare and science but also nervous about investing years into school, loans and a career change in my late 20s/entering my 30s.

For those currently working as an MLT:

- Do you genuinely like your job? Why or why not?

- How is the pay, benefits, and maternity leave?

- I know nights are pretty inevitable at first but realistically, how long did it take before you could move into mostly days/evenings?

- Would you say the work-life balance is good?

- If you deal with general anxiety, do you find the job manageable or very stressful?

- Are you allowed to wear your own scrubs? Any restrictions?

- Anything you wish you knew before becoming an MLT?

I’d especially love insight from people working in BC but I’d appreciate hearing from anyone in Canada.

Thank you so much :)

So my wife recently got told their EMS company wants to start giving out blood products, Looking over the procedures it says if they suspect a transfusion reaction give the product to the receiving facility. This seems like it can cause problems with one no initial sample and accepting a unit that wasn't administered by the lab. Have any of you guys had this happen or currently deal with it? Thank you

Helloooo I don’t think this post breaks the rules but I’m sorry if it does.

Anyways I’m a phleb and usually buy my scrubs from the scrub truck(idk how common that is elsewhere) and I love them but they are sooo expensive. I also really don’t like Walmart scrubs. Basically just asking where everyone buys their scrubs?
Also I’m in a rural area so Walmart is my only other in person option without driving over an hour and gas is pricy.

Hi! I just finished submitting my final transcript from the current spring semester and was wondering if anyone could tell me how the program is? And if I have a good chance of getting in? ):
I have a 3.8 GPA and a 3.7 science GPA 🥲 and I’ve heard it’s competitive so I’m scared I won’t even get a chance.
• I’m also trying to figure out why the classes are formatted the way they are(?) it makes me confused because I’m gonna have to explain that to my supervisor IF I get in. And if it’s really intense, I might have to stop working…. Or find another campus job..

Any help would be great thanks!!! 😊

Watched the nurse draw it. Knew something looked off – the flow was slower than usual and I could see a little redness creeping in. But she's been doing this for years and I've been doing this for months, so I kept my mouth shut and sent it anyway. Lab rejected it within an hour.

Spent the rest of my shift overthinking every single tube I sent down. Second guessing whether that bruise was my fault. Wondering if the lab people have a nickname for me yet. Anyway, I learned my lesson. I'll speak up next time even if it's awkward. For the lab folks here, what's something you see new people do that tells you "they don't know what they don't know yet"?

Please help.. I need to validate a manual dilution for an alinity analyte.

The current linearity goes up to 10.. we need our reference range to go up to 20. According to manufacturer we can do a dilution, but how do I validate it?? We are thinking spiking samples.

I’m just confused why we have to validate a manual dilution when the AMR itself isn’t changing and already validated

hi!

Sorry if this isn’t allowed here. I’m 4 years post undergrad and am looking to do a career change. I have a Bachelors in marketing, so I have relatively no transferable credits / knowledge. There are more masters programs near me than anything and they don’t require a STEM degree.

Would it make more sense to take the required courses for admission to grad school, or just start from scratch with a BS in bio? I can see the appeal of a BS as it would probably create a better foundation, but am also hesitant. Has anyone made a career change like this?

Thanks!!