As you are gaining the education portion of the laboratory field, ASCLS is a great way to enhance your experience in your future career. ASCLS has over 10,000 members nationwide and is a great way to network. Networking can broaden the professional growth and further career development.
There are state, regional, and national meetings that are held continually throughout the year. These meetings are great way to learn new and exciting things within the laboratory field and also a good way to keep up with continuing education. Members receive a bimonthly journal featuring articles on research activities, technology, education, government actions, and P.A.C.E. credits. Members also receive ASCLS Today Magazine with updated information on activities in legislative, education, and other areas.
As a student, I fully understand how things can get tough financially. ASCLS can help lighten the load with their many scholarship opportunities and discounted rates on numerous things like insurance. There are so many benefits with ASCLS, so please check out the rest of the website to see all that ASCLS has to offer.
Yukiko Goto Student Representative Any questions? Contact me at: goto0003@umn.edu
"Clinical laboratory science professionals, often called medical laboratorians, are vital healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing laboratory information from laboratory analyses that assist physicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as in disease monitoring or prevention (maintenance of health). We use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and technology, computers, and methods requiring manual dexterity to perform laboratory testing on blood and body fluids. Laboratory testing encompasses such disciplines as clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Clinical laboratory science professionals generate accurate laboratory data that are needed to aid in detecting cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, infectious mononucleosis, and identification of bacteria or viruses that cause infections, as well as in detecting drugs of abuse. In addition, we monitor testing quality and consult with other members of the healthcare team.
The clinical laboratory science profession has more than one career track based on level of education: clinical laboratory technician (2 years) and clinical laboratory scientist (4 to 5 years). Clinical laboratory technicians are competent in the collection, processing and analysis of biological specimens, the performance of lab procedures, the maintenance of instruments, and relating lab findings to common diseases/conditions. Clinical laboratory scientists have a more extensive theoretical knowledge base. Therefore they not only perform laboratory procedures including very sophisticated analyses, but also evaluate/interpret the results, integrate data, problem solve, consult, conduct research and develop new test methods" (www.ascls.org).
Beginner's Guide to ASCLS This is a quick reference guide for Student and New Professional Members.
Career Information
Laboratory Science Program Finder
Find us on Facebook
ASCLS Student Forum
ASCLS-MN Student Forum
ACLS Region V Student Forum and New Professional Committee
Check out our website