What Is a Med Tech?
Medical Technicians, also referred to as Med Techs, perform a number of important laboratory tasks in a variety of medical settings. Read below for more details regarding the basic duties of a Medical Technician. Schools offering Medical Assisting degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
A Career as a Medical Technician
Under the supervision of a medical technologist or physician, Medical Technicians (Med Techs) may be responsible for performing many laboratory tests. A Med Tech's work mostly occurs in a laboratory regardless of where he or she is employed.
Basic Duties
Med Techs prepare blood, urine and tissue samples for analysis using special laboratory equipment. They may also use a variety of chemicals and other agents to help find bacteria and other microorganisms. The role a Med Tech plays may be helpful in a number of ways, including determining a patient's response to medical treatment by testing blood levels, as well as matching blood types when a transfusion is necessary. Many Med Techs are also trained in phlebotomy, which involves the collection and proper storage of blood.
Work Environment and Education
Med Techs work in laboratories under the supervision of medical technologists. A Medical technologist receives more extensive training than a Med Tech and plays an important part in guiding a Med Tech's work. Med Techs may work for hospitals, clinical facilities, private medical practices or pharmaceutical companies. Most Med Techs have completed a one or two-year certificate or associate's degree from an accredited community college or vocational school, and receive the remainder of their Med Tech training on-the-job. Med Tech professionals may choose laboratory work that is general in nature, or they may choose to specialize in a particular area. Some of the areas in which Med Techs may specialize include:
- Cytotechnology
- Virology
- Hematology
- Microbiology
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
Subscribe to RSS feed for
Medical and Health FAQs
