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Laboratory Careers

The need for medical laboratory science professionals is growing quickly. There are a number of career opportunities within a medical laboratory environment at Summa Health, and roles are based on academic and technical requirements, including training and experience to ensure the laboratories run efficiently. Explore information below for more information on the different laboratory professional roles at Summa Health. 

Medical laboratory professionals: 

  • Provide data that is vital in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.   
  • Use specialized instruments and techniques to analyze a variety of samples including blood, urine, body fluids, tissue and stool. 

Clinical laboratories in the United States are regulated by the federal government. These regulations ensure that results are accurate, reliable and timely. These standards include requirements for education and training of laboratory personnel, so physicians can be confident in our ability to process specimens, perform testing, and report accurate results. 

Summa Health Laboratories hold certificates of accreditation under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA 88), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
 

Careers in the Laboratory

Histotechnologist (HTL) Histologic technician (HT)

These professionals embed tissue removed from the body in paraffin and then cuts these blocks to produce slides. The slides are then stained with a Hematoxylin and Eosin stain. The slides are given to the pathologist for microscopic examination to produce a diagnosis.

Minimum Education:
  • For an HT: Associate degree in Science, and have taken the HT examination through the College of American Pathologist.
  • For an HTL: Bachelor Degree in Science and have taken the HTL examination through the College of American Pathologist.
  • Candidates with an HT or HTL is preferred, but with the decrease in the number of Histology Schools, many labs are reverting to training their own technicians.
 

 

Laboratory Assistant (LA)

Laboratory Assistants:
  • Receive a variety of biological specimens (including verification and identification of samples), requisitions, and various types of communication. 
  • Prepare specimens for laboratory testing as outlined in procedure manual, for example, centrifuging, plating cultures, aliquot specimens, specimen storage, and reference laboratory specimens.  
  • Perform limited technical functions to assist the laboratory testing personnel in specimen analysis.
 
Minimum Education:
  • High school diploma.  
  • Laboratory assistants may choose to become certified as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) through credentialing agencies including American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC).
 

Laboratory Technician Trainee (LTT)

A Laboratory Technician Trainee:
  • Participates in a training program.
  • Learns and makes progress in performance of routine and standard laboratory tests and procedures on various biological specimens, with the goal of meeting requirements to convert to Medical Laboratory Technician status within 1 year or less.  
Minimum Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution.
 


Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), Medical Technologist (MT), Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)

These laboratory professionals perform routine and highly specialized tests to diagnose and aid clinicians in the treatment of disease. They:
  • Troubleshoot and prevent potential problems with results, specimens or instruments.
  • Communicate test results to the pathology department or treating clinicians.
  • Examine blood, body fluids under the microscope for bacteria, parasites, fungus, or cells that might indicate cancer or other malignancies.
  • Are responsible for quality control, evaluating instrumentation, helping implementation of test procedures. 
 
Scientists/Technologists also may assume managerial roles, including supervising laboratory personnel as the general and/or technical supervisor.
 
Minimum Education: 
  • Bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited institution. 
  • 60 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited institution that, at a minimum, includes either 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses, OR 24 semester hours of science courses that include six semester hours of chemistry, six semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination.
  • Most labs require a certification within a certain timeframe after hire to demonstrate their competence to conduct their job functions. Scientists/Technologists are certified by organizations such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC), the American Medical Technologists (AMT), or the National Registry of Microbiologists (NRM). The Akron Cooperative Medical Laboratory Science Program (ACMLSP or MLS Program) is a collaborative effort among Akron Children’s Hospital and Summa Health.  Our MLS Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Click here to apply.
 

Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT)

A Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) or a clinical laboratory technician (CLT) performs routine tests in all areas of the clinical laboratory. These laboratory professionals:
  • Perform routine and standard laboratory tests and procedures on various biological specimens.
 
Minimum Education:
  • Associate Degree in Laboratory Science (chemical or biological) from an accredited institution including training in an approved program, or equivalent, with certification or eligibility.
  • Undergraduate degree in Science (biology, chemistry, nursing) and successful completion of medical laboratory technician trainee role via Summa Health. 
  • Most labs require a certification within a certain time frame after hire to demonstrate their competence to conduct their job functions. Technicians are certified by organizations such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC). Stark State College is an affiliate of Summa Health and provides MLT degrees. Click here to apply.
 

Phlebotomist (PBT)

Phlebotomists, sometimes called phlebotomy technicians, work directly with the patient, to draw blood or assist in other body fluid collection used for laboratory testing. They are trained in venipuncture and skin puncture. They may assist the laboratory in the central receiving and specimen handling department.
 
Minimum Education:
  • High school diploma and phlebotomy training, either through a phlebotomy program or on the job experience.
  • Some phlebotomists may be certified through credentialing agencies including American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC).
 
Current Job Opportunities
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