MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY Program MISSION, Goals & ENTRY-LEVEL Competencies

The mission of the Medical Laboratory Technology program is to provide qualified entry-level medical laboratory technicians for clinical laboratories. Graduates will participate as an essential member of the healthcare team and possess the entry-level competencies necessary to perform routine clinical laboratory tests in areas such as clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, immunology, immunohematology and transfusion medicine, microbiology, and urine and body fluid analysis in a variety of settings, such as hospital laboratories, private clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, physicians' offices, health clinics, and physician treatment centers.
 
The MLT Program sets forth to meet the following goals: 

• Instruct students academically and professionally to prepare them for a national certification exam, entry-level employment, and continuing education.
• Graduate individuals that are prepared to join the healthcare team as communicative, competent, and ethical professionals.
• Create an environment that promotes and fosters the student’s interest in the profession.
• Provide a quality program by continually assessing the Program’s outcomes and implementing changes as needed for quality improvement.
• Maintain the Program’s accreditation by meeting the standards of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
• Support Central Virginia Community College in maintaining the College’s accreditation by meeting the standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 

Graduates of the MLT program will be able to perform the following entry-level competencies: 

• Collect and process biological specimens for analysis; use predetermined criteria to make specimen-oriented decisions.
• Perform analytical tests on blood, body fluids, tissues, and/or products, with the level of analysis ranging from waived and point-of-care testing to complex testing.
• Recognize critical values and recognize pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical factors that influence procedures and test results; take appropriate actions within predetermined limits, when indicated.
• Perform and monitor quality control samples. Apply troubleshooting techniques when results fall outside of predetermined limits to solve the problem(s).
• Perform preventative and corrective maintenance on equipment and instruments and/or refer to appropriate sources for repairs.
• Correlate the significance of test results to the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
• Comply with safety guidelines and institutional and governmental regulations that apply to laboratory personnel and operations. 
• Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct and communication skills to extend to frequent interactions with members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service, and patient education.
• Recognize the need for professional competence and act upon it through continuing education.
• Apply basic scientific principles and methodologies in learning new techniques and procedures.
• Apply the principles and practices of quality assessment for all major areas practiced in the contemporary clinical laboratory.