Learn more about the Medical Laboratory Assistant certificate program and career as a medical laboratory assistant (MLA).
Updated: June 2023
1. Is the Medical Laboratory Assistant program easy?
The program requires students to enter with a strong math and science base. The program
builds on these subjects and requires students to complete 15-20 hours of homework
per week.
2. Do MLAs perform invasive procedures (use needles)?
Yes. MLAs perform invasive venipunctures and capillary punctures to collect blood
samples from patients.
3. Do MLAs require physical dexterity?
Yes. MLAs require physical dexterity (especially hand dexterity) to perform manual
techniques and invasive procedures.
4. Is accuracy, precision and detail required as an MLA?
Yes. MLAs must adhere to strict policies and procedures to ensure accuracy of specimens.
5. How do MLAs work with specimen samples?
MLAs prepare samples such as blood, body fluids and tissues for diagnostic testing
by other laboratory professionals such as combined laboratory and x-ray technologists
(CLXT), cytotechnologists (CYTO) and medical laboratory technologists (MLT).
6. Are communication skills important as an MLA?
Yes. MLA’s must have strong communication skills and interact professionally with
patients, their families, medical laboratory technologies, doctors, nurses and other
hospital personnel on a daily basis.
7. Do MLAs work in isolation?
No. MLAs work as team members in busy ever-evolving technical environments. They are
an integral member of the health care team.
8. Do MLAs work shift work?
Yes. MLAs work a variety of shifts which may include early mornings (5 or 6 a.m.),
days, evenings, weekends, nights and statutory holidays.
9. What other procedures/tests are MLAs involved with?
MLAs also perform ECGs. MLAs must:
- Communicate clearly their intent with the patient as to what they need the patient to do.
- Must touch the patient to position the ECG leads correctly.
- Communicate results to physicians.
10. What occurs in the average day for an MLA at work?
Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves when handling patient specimens (human and biohazard), chemicals, reagents and equipment.
- Makes critical decisions with accuracy.
- Maintains concentration for long periods of time in a rapidly changing environment.
- Requires good hand eye coordination.
- Sustains long periods of standing at analytical instruments and/or sitting at a microscope for the majority of an 8-hour shift.
Communicates and interacts professionally with a variety of people including (but not limited to):
- Combined laboratory and x-ray technologists
- Doctors
- Other medical laboratory assistants
- Medical laboratory technologies
- Nurses
- Patients and their families
- Pharmacists
- Phlebotomists