Medical Laboratory Programs

Laboratory analysis plays an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of many diseases. Laboratory professionals perform a myriad of such tests to aid the physician in the management of disease.

For more information regarding program policies, procedures, and essential functions or to obtain a copy of the Medical Laboratory program handbook, please contact Joan O'Connell-Spalla at (330) 941-1761 or joconnellspalla@ysu.edu.

Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT-AAS) Curriculum

The medical laboratory technician program is a two-year program leading to the Associate of Applied Science degree. The curriculum focuses on the knowledge and basic skills necessary to understand and master the procedures performed in the medical laboratory. Included are the principles, methods, calculations, and interpretation of laboratory procedures, computer technology, and communication and interpersonal skills. Technical instruction includes procedures in hematology, microbiology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, and body fluids. This program requires five semesters of study including one summer semester.

Medical laboratory technicians (MLT) work in a supportive role in a hospital laboratory, private laboratory, clinic, public health facility, or pharmaceutical laboratory. The MLT performs laboratory tests under the supervision or direction of pathologists and other physicians, and clinical laboratory scientists. Physicians and other health care professionals use these tests to determine the presence and extent of disease, the etiologic implications about the cause of disease, and to monitor the treatment of the disease.

The MLT collects samples from patients and develops data on the blood, tissues and body fluids by using a variety of precise methodologies and technologies. Medical laboratory technicians use modern instruments, with the ability to discriminate between similar items and correct errors using preset strategies. The MLT has knowledge of specific techniques and instrumentation and is able to recognize factors that affect laboratory procedures. The MLT also monitors quality assurance procedures.

Graduates are eligible to take the certification examinations for MLT/CLT offered through ASCP and become certified as an MLT (ASCP).

Students must have a minimal Math Placement of Level 3 or its equivalent to be considered for the MLT program. Students in Pre-MLT are not considered to be enrolled in the MLT program. Students must first complete the following courses with a minimal grade of C:

COURSE TITLE S.H.
MLT 1501Introduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession2
MLT 1501LIntroduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession Laboratory1
BIOL 2601General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells4
BIOL 2601LGeneral Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory0
Total Semester Hours7

Program admission is based on the applicant's overall GPA and performance in Chemistry, MLT, and Biology courses. All MLT, BIOL, & CHEM courses must be completed with a minimum grade of a "C". Students must maintain an overall program GPA of at least 2.75. Students receiving a total of 6 hours or more grades of "D"/ "F" in MLT, BIOL, or CHEM will be dismissed from the program. All developmental courses such as the following do not count toward degree requirements.

COURSE TITLE S.H.
ENGL 1539Fundamentals of College Writing4
ENGL 15403
RSS 1510AAdvanced College Success Skills3
RSS 1510BBasic College Success Skills3
MATH 1501
MATH 1505Intermediate Algebra with Applications5
MATH 1507Intermediate Algebra3

There will be no course substitutions for MLT, BIOL, or CHEM courses. Students are permitted a total of two course repetitions for recalculation of GPA. Readmission to the program is based on GPA and availability of class space. Students must maintain a minimum of 2.75 GPA for placement into clinical practicum. Courses must be taken in proper sequence; students may invalidate clinical placement when failing to do so. Students are required to complete a physical exam, background check, and immunizations as program requirements.

Medical laboratory technicians are expected to function with a maximum degree of effectiveness in professional attitude, patient relations, and integrity. The capacity for competent performance at all levels must be assured before the student will be assigned to a clinical internship. The student must be competent in the didactic (knowledge), psychomotor (laboratory skills), and affective realm (attitude and responsibility) prior to clinical placement.

Program Accreditation

The MLT program is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences and meets the standards developed by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
phone (773) 714-8886
http://www.naacls.org

Program outcomes for students graduating between 2020 and 2021 include:

  • Graduation rate 100%
  • Certification exam pass rate 100%
  • Job placement rate 100%
COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
General Education
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
STAT 2625Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning4
Natural Science Requirements
BIOL 2601
2601L
General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells
and General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory
4
BIOL 2602
2602L
General Biology 2: Organisms and Ecology
and General Biology: Organisms and Ecology Laboratory
4
Select 1 course from either Social Science or A&H domains: 3
Major Requirements
CHEM 1510Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences4
CHEM 1510LChemistry for the Allied Health Sciences Laboratory0
MLT 1501Introduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession2
MLT 1501LIntroduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession Laboratory1
MLT 1502Urinalysis and Body Fluids2
MLT 1502LUrinalysis and Body Fluids Laboratory1
MLT 1503Immunohematology3
MLT 1503LImmunohematology Laboratory1
MLT 2601Clinical Chemistry 12
MLT 2601LClinical Chemistry 1 Laboratory1
MLT 2603Immunohematology Laboratory 2 (Immunohematology Laboratory 2 )1
MLT 2605Molecular Diagnostics2
MLT/MLS 3700Clinical Chemistry 24
MLT 3701Clinical Hematology 12
MLT 3701LClinical Hematology 1 Laboratory1
MLT 3702Clinical Hematology 22
MLT 3702LClinical Hematology 2 Laboratory1
MLT 3704Clinical Immunology and Serology3
MLT 3704LClinical Immunology/Serology Laboratory1
MLT 3706Medical Laboratory Seminar3
MLT 3716Clinical Internship6
MLT 3717Clinical Microbiology Interpretation1
MLT 3787Diagnostic Microbiology3
MLT 3787LDiagnostic Microbiology Laboratory2
Total Semester Hours71-73
Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500 Success Seminar 1
MLT 1501 Introduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession 2
MLT 1501L Introduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession Laboratory 1
BIOL 2601
2601L
General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells
and General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory
4
CHEM 1510 Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences 4
CHEM 1510L Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences Laboratory 0
ENGL 1550 Writing 1 3
General Education Requirement 1 3
 Semester Hours18
Spring
MLT 1502 Urinalysis and Body Fluids 2
MLT 1502L Urinalysis and Body Fluids Laboratory 1
MLT 1503 Immunohematology 3
MLT 1503L Immunohematology Laboratory 1
MLT 2601 Clinical Chemistry 1 2
MLT 2601L Clinical Chemistry 1 Laboratory 1
BIOL 2602
2602L
General Biology 2: Organisms and Ecology
and General Biology: Organisms and Ecology Laboratory
4
BIOL 2602L General Biology: Organisms and Ecology Laboratory 0
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
 Semester Hours17
Summer
MLT 3700 Clinical Chemistry 2 4
MLT 3701 Clinical Hematology 1 2
MLT 3701L Clinical Hematology 1 Laboratory 1
 Semester Hours7
Year 2
Fall
MLT 3702 Clinical Hematology 2 2
MLT 3702L Clinical Hematology 2 Laboratory 1
MLT 3787 Diagnostic Microbiology 3
MLT 3787L Diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory 2
MLT 3704 Clinical Immunology and Serology 3
MLT 3704L Clinical Immunology/Serology Laboratory 1
STAT 2625 Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning 4
MLT 2603 Immunohematology Laboratory 2 (Immunohematology Laboratory 2 ) 1
 Semester Hours17
Spring
MLT 3706 Medical Laboratory Seminar 3
MLT 3716 Clinical Internship 6
MLT 2605 Molecular Diagnostics 2
MLT 3717 Clinical Microbiology Interpretation 1
 Semester Hours12
 Total Semester Hours71

Only those students who complete MLT 1501 Introduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession / MLT 1501L Introduction to the Medical Laboratory Profession Laboratory and BIOL 2601 General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells / BIOL 2601L General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory with a grade of C or better will be considered for admission into the MLT Program.

Learning Outcomes

  • Graduates will be prepared to function as entry-level health care professionals in the medical laboratory as medical laboratory technicians and medical laboratory scientists. At entry level, the medical laboratory graduate will be able to demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply and evaluate information relative to the medical laboratory profession.
  • These learning outcomes include comprehension of the theory and the ability to apply and evaluate the didactics of hematology, clinical chemistry, immunohematology, microbiology, immunology, coagulation, molecular diagnostics, and other emerging diagnostics.
  • Graduates will be prepared to function as entry-level health care professionals in the medical laboratory as medical laboratory technicians and medical laboratory scientists. Upon completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate technical proficiency in laboratory applications.
  • These psychomotor learning outcomes include the performance of laboratory procedures in hematology, clinical chemistry, immunohematology, microbiology, immunology, coagulation, molecular diagnostics, and other emerging diagnostics. The graduate will demonstrate proficiency in the functions of all phases of laboratory analysis (pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes).
  • Graduates will demonstrate professional conduct and interpersonal communication skills consistent with the medical laboratory profession.
  • Students will exhibit the ability to think critically across all 3700-level courses through the application of fundamental didactic and psychomotor skills to assess the medical relevance and significance of specific aspects of laboratory testing.