Clinical laboratory technicians (CLT), also known as Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT), often work under the supervision of clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) to perform routine clinical laboratory tests on blood, tissue, and body fluids to help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.  Technicians' duties include collecting blood samples, analyzing patient specimens, reporting results to physicians, evaluating quality control measures, and maintaining equipment.  Like medical technologists, technicians use laboratory instruments ranging from microscopes and computers to automatic analyzers in the areas of chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, blood banking, immunology, and microbiology.

Work Environment
Clinical laboratory technicians work in hospitals, medical clinics, physician offices, research laboratories, reference laboratories and industries supporting clinical laboratory science fields.
Advancement
Clinical laboratory technicians can advance to the position of CLS through additional education, experience, and subsequent passing of the examination at the CLS level.