Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology

Medical Laboratory Technology/Science is a profession that involves the use of a range of scientific disciplines and associated technologies in the investigation, monitoring and treatment of disease. Medical Technologists acquire knowledge and practical skills in disciplines such as Haematology, Medical Microbiology, Histopathology, Cytology, Clinical Biochemistry and Medical Parasitology that enable them to play vital role in the health care services.

Students graduating from this program may be employed as medical laboratory technicians. Medical laboratory technicians perform a wide variety of routine diagnostic and prognostic laboratory procedures in a health care setting. Through this program graduates gained both theoretical and practical laboratory experience analyzing the chemistry, cellular composition, microbial flora and immunological components of body fluids and tissues.

These skill and knowledge are critical in performing tests such as matching blood types for transfusions; blood cell counts to help diagnose anemia, leukemia and infections, and isolation and identification of disease-producing bacteria and other microbes and procedures critical to the diagnosis, and follow up of diseases. These tests play a vital role in the diagnosis.

Working with the supervision of a medical technologist, an MLT performs a full range of laboratory tests for basic clues to determine the causes or extent of diseases or to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Medical laboratory technicians must be dedicated and self-motivated. This skilled individual is responsible for performing laboratory tests efficiently and accurately for high quality patient care.

Graduates may find employment in medical laboratories located in hospitals and medical clinics, independent laboratories, physicians' offices, public health agencies, pharmaceutical research and educational institutions and industrial firms as sales in sales with scientific supply companies.

Graduates from the course will find employment as Medical Laboratory Technologists in government and private institutions such as:

* Pathology Department of hospital
* Immunohaematology Department of hospital
* (Blood Transfusion Service)
* Research Institute
* Universities
* Government/ Private Medical and Health Institutions
* Private Pathology Laboratories

Medical Laboratory Technologists practice their scientific knowledge and practical skills in patient care by producing accurate results that assist the Medical Practitioner in diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Areas of practice of Medical Laboratory Technology include:

* Chemical Pathology
* Nutrition
* Radiochemistry
* Medical Microbiology
* Virology
* Medical Parasitology
* Immunology
* Anatomy Pathology
* Cytology
* Haematology
* Immunohaematology
* Biotechnology