CLINICAL LABORATORY ASSISTANCE ■ 80% of language is

Introduction unspoken
■ Multidimensional
What is a clinical lab assistant?
● The Laboratory Assistant will coordinate
Dimension Definition
and perform tasks and activities in several
areas of the clinical laboratory. Kinesic The study of nonverbal
● Each day a certain Laboratory Assistant will communication
be assigned specific areas of responsibility
It include characteristics of body
within the scope of the job as outlined.
motion and language
● CLA is a person with phlebotomy
experience who has skills in specimen Proxemics The study of an individual's
processing and basic laboratory testing. concept and use of space
● CLAs are generalist, responsible for
Appearance Dress codes: make a statement
assisting the MLS or MLT with workloads in
any area. Touch Very important to human beings
and even more so those suffering
Primary Qualifications from disease
● Under board Medical Technology
Ex: therapeutic touch: designed
● Fresh graduate or at least one year
to aid in healing
experience as phlebotomist

Soft Skill: Qualities and character as a person. ○ Ability to listen (active listening)
- Must have fine motor coordination, clear ■ Listening is the foundation of
speech, normal hearing, and good visual good interpersonal
acuity with ability to distinguish major colors communication
- Must be able to move readily from one ■ Active listening means taking
location to another in the hospital and within positive steps through
the lab feedback to ensure that the
listener is interpreting what
Basic duties the speaker is saying exactly
1. Oversees specimen collection activities as the speaker intended.
2. Oversees specimen referral activities ■ The ordinary person can
3. Oversees laboratory requisition preparation absorb verbal messages at
for outpatients about 500 to 600 words per
4. Oversees training for new phlebotomists minute, and the average
5. Process sample tests in some technical speaking rate is only 125 to
areas 150 word per minute.
6. Phlebotomy procedures and specimen Therefore to avoid
requirements distraction, the listener must
7. Workload recording use the extra time for active
8. Supply / equipment inventory ordering listening.
9. Chemical hygiene and / or lab safety
procedures Documents Used in the Laboratory
10. Oversees rotation of stored patient samples ● Requisition Form
(blood) ● Result Form
- With signature of rmt and pathologist to be
Communication Protocol valid
● Communication is a skill. Defined as the ● Policy Manual
means by which information is exchanged - Rules and regulation of workplace
or transmitted. ● SOP
● This dynamic constantly changing process - Step by step process in the laboratory
involves 3 components: -ex: urinalysis, collect urine and so on
○ Verbal communication ● Work Orders
■ Expression through spoken - Tasks need to be competed
word is the most obvious ● Memorandum
form of communication - Document released by the local
- Sender (speaker) government or regulating bodies that has
- Receiver (listener) something to do with the laboratory
- Communication procedures
feedback - example: CDC
- Telephone etiquette -
be respectful
○ Nonverbal skills
 A person with phlebotomy
Different Clinical Analysis Areas of the
Clinical experience who has skills in
Laboratory
Laboratory specimen processing and
Assistant basic laboratory testing.
● 2 major divisions in the clinical laboratory
They are generalists.
Clinical Analysis Anatomical and
Areas Surgical Pathology They are trained to collect
Phlebotomist blood for laboratory tests
- Specimen Processing -Tissue Analysis that are necessary for the
- Hematology -Cytologic Examination
diagnosis and care of
- Chemistry -Surgical Biopsy
- Microbiology -Frozen Sections patients.
- Blood Bank -Performance of
- Immunohematology Autopsies
- Immunology/Serology

Clinical Laboratory Personnel and their

Professional Image

Clinical Professional Image

Laboratory
Personnel

Laboratory It is the duty of the

Director / Laboratory Director to direct
Pathologist and manage the laboratory
services. He or she may be
a Pathologist or Clinical
Laboratory Scientist with a
Doctorate.

Laboratory Usually a technologist with

Administrator / an advanced degree and
Laboratory several years of experience.
Manager He/she may supervise
several ancillary services
such as radiology and
respiratory therapy.

Technical This person usually has

Supervisor additional education and
experience in one or more
of the clinical laboratory
areas. Responsible for the
administration of the area
and who reports to the
laboratory administrator.

Medical The responsibilities of the

Technologist/ MT/MLS include performing
Medical Lab ALL LEVELS of testing in
Scientist any area of the laboratory.
Generally has a Bachelor's
degree plus additional
studies and experience in
clinical laboratory setting.

Most often an individual

Medical with an associate degree
Laboratory from a 2-year program if
Technician certification from a
proprietary school.
Responsible for performing
routine testing.