The mission of the department of Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) is to prepare competent graduate and ethically oriented clinical laboratory professionals with the knowledge and the skills for career entry and practice. The Department is committed to prepare graduates for leadership roles in the clinical laboratory and professional organizations and to instill an understanding of the need for maintaining continuing competency in a rapidly changing and dynamic profession. To achieve its mission, the department relies on highly specialized dedicated staff members.

Undergraduate education in the MLT Department provides:

• Fundamental knowledge in basic and clinical sciences.
• The opportunity to practice in different areas of interest such as Hematology and Blood Banking, Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Serology/ Immunology, Clinical Chemistry, and Histopathology.
• Intensive training in problem solving, laboratory skills, and practical skills.
• A well-rounded education that includes communication skills, the ability to function well on a team, an appreciation for ethical behavior, and the ability to engage in lifelong learning.

This education is expected to prepare our students to thrive and to lead. It also prepares them to achieve our Program Educational Objectives:

Successful Careers: Graduates of the program will have successful technical or professional careers in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.

Lifelong Learning: Graduates of the program will continue to learn and to adapt in a world of constantly developing technology and technological devices.

Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of the programs, graduates must be able to:

• Acquire preliminary knowledge about the fundamentals of basic medical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, including chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, microbiology, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, epidemiology and biostatistics as well as psychology and sociology.
• Describe the anatomy and physiology of body systems and recall anatomic terminology in order to relate major areas of the clinical laboratory to general pathologic conditions associated with the body systems.
• Identify policies and procedures for maintaining laboratory safety and labelling biohazardous substances.
• Identify the modes of transmission of various infectious pathogens and their different preventive methods.
• List the general criteria for handling different specimens and reasons for specimen rejection or recollection.
• State the basic principles of various molecular techniques used in medical laboratory sciences and their various clinical applications.
• Describe homeostasis, the stages of coagulation and the properties of arterial, venous and capillary blood.
• Recognize different blood collecting equipment, types of additives used, substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents and the special precautions needed.
• Explain the rationale for evidence-based practice and utilize it in researching a health-related question
• ecognize the basic code of ethics by which medical laboratory technologists practice their profession to maintain standards of excellence.

Intellectual Skills

On Successful completion of the program, graduates must be able to:

• Determine the basic functions of each of the main body systems, including the circulatory, genitourinary, and other body systems necessary to perform assigned specimen collection tasks.
• Evaluate various specimens for the presence of drugs/toxins
• Correlate laboratory results to potential pathological conditions.
• Interpret the results of the different laboratory tests performed
• Correlate antibiogram to different microorganisms.
• Differentiate between the various blood components (serum, plasma, RBCs, WBCs and platelets).
• Discriminate between normal and abnormal blood picture.
• Compare the gross and microscopic picture of normal tissue structures with that of abnormal tissue entities.
• Select the type of equipment needed, the additives used in various specimen collection with the special precautions needed to inhibit interferences during proper lab investigations.
• Determine the standard operating procedures for collection, labeling, transportation of specimens and their processing in the lab.
• Recognize and report any lab hazardous situations in a timely manner including hand contamination, needle stick injury and chemical splash.
• Interpret recently published research and its implications for professional practice
• Analyze and apply methods from external resources

Practical Skills

On Successful completion of the program, graduates must be able to:

• Perform in all labs the standard precautions for infection prevention and control such as hand hygiene, aseptic techniques, PPE, waste and sharp disposal, sterilization, disinfection of equipment and environmental cleaning.
• Apply laboratory techniques related to basic sciences
• Handle specimens according to established laboratory criteria to prevent hazardous situations for lab personnel as well as prevention of clinically significant errors in test results.
• Set up equipment for routine use and follow established quality control protocols for maintenance and calibration of equipment.
• Prepare stains, stock solutions, working solutions and media for use in clinical laboratories.
• Perform routine hematology, microbiology and histology staining procedures.
• Prepare specimens for histology i.e. specimen accessioning and tissue cassette labeling
• Analysis of chemical analytes and microscopic constituents of blood and other body fluids and report results
• Practice culturing, isolating and identifying of bacteria from various clinical specimens
• Prepare and perform analyses of clinical specimens for different pathologic parasites and fungi.
• Perform, read and interpret serologic tests for the presence of antibodies, antigens and/or specific proteins
• Instruct patients in the proper collection and preservation of urine and semen samples.
• Collect acceptable specimens for laboratory evaluation according to best practice and applicable regulation and maintain patient safety and specimen integrity during collection.
• Practice safe work procedures at all times to ensure the safety of patients and co-workers and protection of the workplace.

General Skills

The medical laboratory technologist must have the ability to:

• Demonstrate respect for diversity in the workplace and patient population
• Cooperate with persons involved in the context of the work in a manner which reflects consideration of the relevant human relations factors
• Demonstrate effective time management skills and respect time.
• Interacts in a professional and competent matter using effective listening, verbal and written communication in dealing with laboratory colleagues, patients and other health professionals.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a part of a team.
• Respect patient dignity and privacy and maintain confidentiality of information at all times.
• List the causes of stress in the work environment and discuss the coping skills used to deal with stress at the workplace.
• Implement continuous knowledge and educational activities and keep current with scientific advances.
  

To obtain a Bachelor Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology, students must successfully complete a total of 100 credits + ICDL. The standard duration of study for the award of a Bachelor Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology is 6 full semesters.

Medical Laboratory Technology Graduates can work in many sectors including but not limited to:

• Hospital and private medical laboratories
• Forensic Laboratories
• Blood banks
• Pharmaceutical and medical equipment supplying companies
• Consumer-product testing laboratories
• Biomedical research centers
• Quality and Safety departments
• Public health agencies
• NGOs
• Graduates can also pursue higher education (MSc, PhD) in clinical laboratory sciences, medicine or related disciplines.