Who Are the Medical Frontliner's Secret Weapon Against COVID-19?

With the gradual decrease of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, we owe the utmost gratitude to our medical front line teams. They have sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears to ensure that the rest of the world are safe from the coronavirus.

But there is one role amongst the team that played the biggest part in our ongoing battle against COVID-19. 

The Medical Laboratory Technologist.

Who is the Medical Laboratory Technologist?

Have you ever wondered who conducts the detailed medical laboratory testing for your annual exam and analyses the results? Or who conducts specialized testing for genetic disorders like down syndrome? The answer is the medical laboratory technologist.

A behind the scenes kind of guy, the medical laboratory technologist is heavily involved in the process of diagnosing for treatment, rehabilitation and prevention through clinical laboratory tests.

With COVID-19, these medical laboratory professionals are in charge of conducting the day-to-day complex testing. These professionals also have a critical role in helping clinicians know how to collect specimens and interpret test results.

What are the responsibilities of a Medical Laboratory Technologist?

The responsibilities of someone in this work field includes:

• Determining the normal and abnormal components of body fluids by conducting chemical analyses of blood, urine, spinal fluids, and gastric juices.
• Studying blood cells by counting and identifying cells, using microscopic techniques and procedures.
• Prepares blood, plasma, and platelets for transfusions by conducting blood group, type, and compatibility tests.
• Maintaining laboratory supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.

What skills do you need as a Medical Laboratory Technologist?

Obviously, you will need the technical skills learned in school. But what about the soft skills?

• Problem solving: As a medical lab tech, your ability to solve problems is critical. You will need to recognize the nature of the problem, combine numerous pieces of information and draw conclusions, and understand new information and materials by studying and working with them.
• Communicate: No existing job is carried out without communication, including working in a lab. The ability to understand both written and spoken information is important, as well as good listening skills.
• Critical thinking: When encountering complex problems, critical thinking skills will help you determine your options, compare them, and chose the option with the most promising outcome.

How much is the salary of a Medical Laboratory Technologist?

In Malaysia, a medical lab tech will begin their career at an average of RM2,500 a month. But with years of experience, they can earn an average total compensation of RM 45,000 per annum!

Where can I study to be a Medical Laboratory Technologist?

There are plenty of universities across Malaysia that offer Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) courses, in both public and private sectors. But if there’s one that offers the absolute best MLT course, it’s definitely Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College.

With 20 years in healthcare education, Ramsay is one of Malaysia’s top healthcare college due to their hands-on clinical experience at in their group of internationally recognized hospitals guided by experienced Clinical Instructors. Ramsay is also fully equipped with an abundance of training and procedure rooms alongside labs and classrooms.

Ramsay’s Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) provides the academic background and technical skills necessary to master the health care system as a practicing medical laboratory technician. This way, students will gain educational experiences and knowledge to develop critical thinking, technical and interpersonal skills to be a successful clinical laboratory scientist!

Ramsay is also introducing some new degree programmes very soon, including a Degree in Nursing in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), as well as a collaboration with Coventry University (UK) for their bachelor’s programme in in Biomedical Science, Physiotherapy and Psychology!

The medical laboratory technologist is an important figure in our pandemic war – our lives literally depend on their research! Interested to join their courageous world? Then don't forget apply to Ramsay’s MLT programme right HERE, in which you can become Malaysia's top medical laboratory technologist!