Medical Laboratory Professionals in Egypt: What Do They Do?
Have you heard about the exciting growth in the healthcare industry but do not exactly see yourself becoming a medical doctor or nurse? I suggest you consider a career as a medical laboratory professional if you want to fulfill your dream of becoming a healthcare professional without having to have direct contact with patients. These professionals work behind the scenes in helping doctors identify the root of the patients’ problems. Their jobs provide the basis for a physician’s diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Physicians are able to diagnose and treat patients based on the information generated from the laboratory analyses. The information are generated using biomedical instrumentation and technology, computers and in some cases, manual dexterity to perform chemical testing on blood and body fluids. The body is wired to function optimally when the different components are within their normal range. Distortion of this balance to either extreme is the cause of different forms of infections/diseases. To accurately diagnose and treat the patient, physicians rely majorly on the information provided from the laboratory analyses to check if there are imbalances in the system.
Who Are Medical Laboratory Technicians/Technologists?
Medical laboratory professionals generate accurate laboratory data needed by physicians for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They are vital for effective healthcare delivery. They examine and analyze blood, body fluids, tissues and cells. Thus, their work can directly result in the doctor’s ability to diagnose and treat a number of different conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, identification of disease causing bacteria or viruses, infectious mononucleosis, etc.
What are the career paths for medical laboratory professionals?
There are two career paths for these professionals. These career paths are based on the level of education and they include:
- Medical Laboratory Technicians (requiring two years of postsecondary school training)
- Medical Laboratory Scientists/Technologists (requiring 4-5 years of University training)
These two career paths perform similar but distinct duties. Medical laboratory technicians collect, process and analyze biological specimens. They also perform laboratory procedure and relate laboratory findings to common disease conditions. In addition to the above duties, medical lab technologists have more extensive theoretical knowledge base. They interpret the results, integrate data, solve problems, consult, conduct research and develop new testing methods.
Who Should Consider a Career as a Medical Laboratory Technician/Technologist?
Those who posses the following traits should consider a career in the laboratory science:
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Meticulous and attention to details
- Interest in the science of health
- Team work
- Computer literacy
Are There Job Opportunities for Medical Laboratory Technicians/Technologists in Egypt?
Yes! There are a number of job opportunities for these professionals in Egypt and there is a growing need for them also in Egypt.
What Do Medical laboratory Technician/Technologists do?
Here are some of the responsibilities of these professionals:
- Collecting samples
- Preparing solutions and reagents
- Examining cells
- Analyzing data and test results
- Operating, cleaning and adjusting lab equipment
Where Do Medical Laboratory Technicians/Technologist work?
Among other places, medical laboratory professionals typically work in the following places:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Private laboratories
- Public health organizations
- Research and development laboratories
- Universities
- Pharmaceutical and reference laboratory
What are the Areas of Specialty as a Medical Laboratory Technologist?
As a medical laboratory technologist, you can specialize in a variety of areas such as:
- Immunohematology
- Immunology
- Clinical chemistry
- Microbiology
- Phlebotomy
- Histotechnology
- Cytotechnology
- Molecular biology
How to Become a Medical Laboratory Technician/Technologist in Egypt
As stated earlier, medical laboratory technicians require two years postsecondary school training for the certificate. As a technologist, you require a 4-5 years of university training from an accredited institution for the degree. During your training, topics covered will include anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, medical laboratory techniques, applied immunology, blood coagulation, urinalysis, etc.
Licensing/Certification
Medical laboratory technicians/technologists do not need to compulsorily be licensed before they can operate in Egypt.
How Much Does a Medical Laboratory Professional Earn in Egypt?
According to salary explorer, a person working as a medical laboratory technician in Egypt typically received a monthly salary of about 6, 840 EGP (82, 100 EGP yearly)
