The primary mission of the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program is student success and growth as technical professionals in medical laboratory science. The MLT Program offers academic and vocational training in specialized laboratory skills and applied theory, as complementary programming for life, physical and allied health sciences.

The program curriculum emphasizes technical competence and proficiency skills in areas of the clinical laboratory, specific to the level of education as specified by national certifying agencies and employment practices. The program provides a career laddering approach in curriculum design and educational experiences to expedite student learning, comprehension, mastery and entry into healthcare professions.

The MLT program faculty serves the students, community and health care profession at large. Therefore, faculty appropriately emphasize quality classroom instruction, student advising, with complementary activities in education that serve to promote student growth as laboratory professionals.

• Dr. Audrey Hentzen
  • Phone: (307) 268-2632
  • Office: LS 111
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• Bernardino Madsen
  • Phone: (307) 268-2522
  • Office: LS 112
  • Weblink

• Associate of Science degree
  • Medical Laboratory Technician
    
    
• Certificates
  • Phlebotomy Technician Training
  • Clinical Health Care Assistant

MLTK 1500 Clinical Hematology and Hemostasis (2L,4LB,3CR):
An introductory course in the theoretical principles and procedures of hematology and hemostasis combined with relevant application to clinical laboratory medicine. This course provides background knowledge and opportunities to develop technical competencies for laboratory testing of blood, blood products, coagulation, and anticoagulant therapy. Emphasis is on the formed elements of the blood and components of the coagulation cascade and their correlation with pathophysiology. Prerequisite: BIOL 1000 or BIOL 1010, and MOLB 2210.

MLTK 1600 Clinical Immunohematology (2L,4LB,3CR):
Introductory course on the theoretical principles and procedures in immunohematology and serology (immunology) and their application in the medical laboratory. Emphasis is on blood banking procedures and potential problems that may be encountered in blood bank testing relative to antibody identification, compatibility testing, transfusion reactions and maternal/neonatal screening for hemolytic disease of the newborn. Course provides students with lectures and laboratory experience on immunohematology techniques. Prerequisite: BIOL 1000 or BIOL 1010, and MOLB 2210.

MLTK 1700 Microscopy: Urinalysis and Body Fluids (1L,4LB,2CR):
A variety of microscopic techniques are demonstrated and the advantages of each discussed. Theory and laboratory practice of routine and specialized procedures in analysis of urine and selected body fluids is presented. Clinical correlation between test results and disease states is emphasized. Prerequisite: BIOL 1000 or BIOL 1010, and MOLB 2210.

MLTK 1800 Principles of Phlebotomy (2L,4LB,3CR):
This didactic and laboratory course will introduce the student to the profession and practice of phlebotomy. Course activities and projects provide the student with knowledge and skills necessary to perform a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and precautions including: vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture specimen collection on adults, children and infants. Emphasis will be placed on infection prevention, universal precautions, proper patient identification, specimen acquisition, handling, processing, labeling, and quality assurance. Professional conduct, certification and federal regulatory issues will be covered as well.

MLTK 1970 Phlebotomy Practicum (12LB,3CR):
This clinical laboratory practicum will introduce the student to the profession and practice of phlebotomy. Students will observe and practice phlebotomy skills and job tasks. Emphasis is placed on the application of phlebotomy knowledge and skills necessary to perform a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and precautions including: vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture specimen collection on adults, children and infants. Infection prevention, universal precautions, proper patient identification, specimen acquisition, handling, processing, labeling, and quality assurance are essential tasks associated with the profession. Patient confidentiality must be maintained at all times and professional conduct is expected and assessed as part of the student grade.

MLTK 2500 Clinical Chemistry (2L,4LB,3CR):
This course provides fundamental theory and principles of clinical chemistry, advanced instrumentation, and techniques used in clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical research and design, and biotechnology. Primary focus will be on student performance of diagnostic testing and its clinical correlation to disease states, preventive medicine and healthcare. Advanced topics in quality assurance, therapeutic drug monitoring and endocrinology will be discussed. Prerequisite: CHEM 1025, CHEM 1028, MATH 1400, and MLTK 1800.

MLTK 2600 Clinical Microbiology (1L,4LB,2CR):
Concentrated laboratory instruction in clinical microbiology including methods for recovery, identification of pathogens, culture techniques, procedures, antibiotic testing and interpretation of clinical data. Emphasis is on clinical specimens, testing algorithms and data correlation including diagnostics, public health, and quality control. This course provides the essential overview of information and technical competencies needed for the clinical experience for medical laboratory technician majors. Prerequisite: MOLB 2220.

MLTK 2700 Immunology (3L,2LB,4CR):
Advanced biology course of immune systems: cellular and molecular mechanisms; host resistance to infectious agents; as well as hypersensitivities, autoimmunity, tumor and tissue rejection. Includes laboratory for molecular and immunological techniques. Prerequisite: MOLB 2220, or permission of the instructor.

MLTK 2800 Clinical Pathophysiology (4L,4CR):
Advanced topics in clinical chemistry, microbiology, immunohematology, serology, hematology, laboratory management, professional development and laboratory regulatory issues. Students are presented with clinical scenarios for evaluation, interpretation, development of decision-making strategies and resolution. Clinical cases involve advanced principles of clinical laboratory medicine and management. Prerequisite: MLTK 1500, MLTK 1600, MLTK 1700, MLTK 2500, MLTK 2600, and MLTK 2700.

MLTK 2970 Clinical Practicum (40LB,10CR):
On-line supported, laboratory experience in the six major areas of the clinical laboratory with the analysis of patient body fluids and samples. The clinical experience is off-campus at a clinical affiliate laboratory. Emphasis is on the application of knowledge and technical skills to clinical methodology, instrumentation, quality control, correlation of laboratory data with pathophysiology, OSHA practices and medical laboratory technician professionalism. Prerequisite: MLTK 1500, MLTK 1600, MLTK 1700, MLTK 2500, MLTK 2600, and MLTK 2700.

Graduates of the program must possess appropriate knowledge skills and attributes to become competent practitioners. Additionally, students must be empowered with life long learning skills that allow for their adaptation to changing technologies and new professional roles. The MLT program would provide training opportunities that encourage and practice the utilization of these skills to promote student success at the entry level profession with emphasis on their continual growth and career advancement.

Program Goals:

• Provide quality learning and training opportunities in all areas of the clinical laboratory to build student skills, proficiency and competency.
• Provide appropriate levels of academic and laboratory training for students as they progress through the program.
• Include clinical, simulated or on-line laboratory experiences to promote adaptability of graduates to new technologies, responsibilities and career opportunities.
• Incorporate clinical experiences to provide students with marketable skills.
• Monitor the job market and appropriately counsel students for competitive employment.
• Provide graduates that can successfully complete appropriate certification exams and who are competitive in securing future employment.
• Provide the opportunity for certified CLT/MLT graduates to obtain baccalaureate degrees that build on their associate degree.
• Periodically undergo program review to meet the diverse educational needs of students, accreditation standards and industry demands for qualified, skilled practitioners.
• Promote membership and active participation in professional societies.

Establish an advisory board of professionals for program development, evaluation and improvement.

MLT Entry-level Competencies
The educational experiences in the Casper College MLT program are designed to ensure that students are well prepared to enter the profession as a Medical Laboratory Technician, and have the ability to continue their learning throughout their professional career.

At the completion of the Casper College MLT program, students will be able to function as medical laboratory technicians who are competent in:

• collecting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances;
• performing analytical tests of body fluids, cells, and other substances;
• recognizing factors that affect procedures and results, and taking appropriate actions within predetermined limits when corrections are indicated;
• performing and monitoring quality control within predetermined limits;
• performing preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment and instruments or referring to appropriate sources for repairs;
• applying principles of safety;
• demonstrating professional conduct and interpersonal communication skills with patients, laboratory personnel, other health care professionals, and with the public;
• recognizing the responsibilities of other laboratory and health care personnel and interacting with them with respect for their jobs and patient care;
• applying basic scientific principles in learning to new techniques and procedures;
• relating laboratory findings to common disease processes, and
• establishing and maintaining continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.

These are the physical abilities that a student must be able to perform to be successful throughout the program curriculum and the profession.

Essential Observational Requirements:

The MLT student must be able to:

• Observe laboratory demonstrations in which biologicals are tested for their biochemical, hematological, immunological, microbiological, and histochemical components.
• Characterize the color, odor, clarity, and viscosity of biologicals, reagents or chemical reaction products. Employ a clinical grade binocular microscope to discriminate among the structural and color (hue, shading, and intensity) differences of microscopic specimens.
• Read and comprehend text, numbers, and graphs displayed in print and on a video monitor.

Essential Movement Requirements:

The MLT student must be able to:

• Move freely and safely about a laboratory.
• Reach laboratory bench-tops and shelves, patients lying in hospital beds or patients seated in specimen collection furniture.
• Travel to numerous clinical laboratory sites for practical experience.
• Perform moderately taxing continuous physical work, often requiring prolonged sitting, over several hours.
• Maneuver phlebotomy and culture acquisition equipment to safely collect valid laboratory specimens from patients.
• Control laboratory equipment (i.e., pipettes, inoculating loops, test tubes) and adjust instruments to perform laboratory procedures.
• Use an electronic keyboard to operate laboratory instruments and to calculate, record, evaluate, and transmit laboratory information .

Essential Communication Requirements:

The MLT student must be able to:

• Read and comprehend technical and professional materials.
• Follow verbal and written instructions in order to correctly and independently perform laboratory test procedures.
• Clearly instruct patients prior to specimen collection.
• Effectively, confidentially and sensitively converse with patients regarding laboratory tests.
• Communicate with faculty members, fellow students, staff, and other health care professionals verbally and in a recorded format.
• Independently prepare papers, prepare laboratory reports, and take paper, computer, and laboratory practical examinations.

Essential Intellectual Requirements for the Medical Laboratory Technology Program:

The MLT student must be able to:

• Possess these intellectual skills: comprehension, measurement, mathematical calculation, reasoning, integration, analysis, comparison, self-expression, and criticism.
• Be able to exercise sufficient judgment to recognize and correct performance.

Essential Behavioral Requirements:

The MLT student must:

• Be able to manage the use of time and be able to systematize actions in order to complete professional and technical tasks within realistic constraints.
• Possess the emotional health necessary to effectively employ intellect and exercise appropriate judgment.
• Be able to provide professional and technical services while experiencing the stresses of task-related uncertainty and a distracting environment.
• Be flexible and creative and adapt to professional and technical change.
• Recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment, and situation and proceed safely in order to minimize risk of injury to patients, self, and nearby individuals.
• Adapt to working with unpleasant biologicals.
• Support and promote the activities of fellow students and of health care professionals.
• Realize that the promotion of peers helps furnish a team approach to learning, task completion, problem solving and patient care.
• Be honest, compassionate, ethical and responsible.

The student must be forthright about errors or uncertainty.  The student must be able to critically evaluate his or her own performance, accept constructive criticism, and look for ways to improve.  The student must be able to evaluate the performance of fellow students and tactfully offer constructive comments.

Accreditation

The Casper College Medical Laboratory Technician program received a five year accreditation, the maximum any new program can receive on its initial accreditation. Our accreditation will be due for renewal in 2012.

Contact information for

NAACLS:
Clinical Laboratory Technician/Medical Laboratory Technician Programs
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 670
Chicago, IL 60631-3415
773.714.8880
http://www.naacls.org

Societies

Clinical laboratory science societies are organizations that are made up of members who are practitioners. They provide leadership and promote the profession, practice and advancement of the clinical laboratory science role in health care.

The following is the Code of Ethics for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
"I acknowledge my professional responsibility to:

• Maintain and promote standards of excellence in performing and advancing the art and science of my profession;
• Safeguard the dignity and privacy of patients;
• Hold my colleagues and my profession in high esteem and regard;
• Contribute to the general well being of the community; and
• Actively demonstrate my commitment to these responsibilities throughout my professional life."

Contact information:

• American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
  6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 300
  Bethesda, Maryland 20817
  301.657.2768
  http://www.ascls.org
  
  
• American Medical Technologists
  710 Higgins Road
  Park Ridge, IL 60068
  800.275.1268
  http://www.amt1.com
  
  
• American Association of Bioanalysts
  906 Olive Street, Suite 1200
  St. Louis, MO 63101-1
  314.241.1445
  http://www.aab.org

Certification

Certification is evidence that an individual has demonstrated proficiency in a particular area of practice. There are a variety of national certifications available for Phlebotomy and Medical Laboratory Technician that are recognized by hospitals and laboratories throughout the US. These certifications also meet Federal guidelines for clinical personnel. Additionally, some States require licensure for practice and certification is often part of the licensure application and eligibility.

Contact information:

• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
  

2100 West Harrison Street
Chicago IL 60612
312.738.1336
http://www.ascp.org


• National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA)
  P.O. Box 15945-289
  Lenexa, KS 66285
  (913) 438-5110
  http://www.nca-info.org
  
  
• American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)
  P.O. Box 1831
  Hickory, NC 28603
  Phone: (828) 294-0078
  http://www.aspt.org
  
  
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)
  710 Higgins Road
  Park Ridge, IL 60068
  800.275.1268
  http://www.amt1.com
  
  
• American Association of Bioanalysts
  906 Olive Street, Suite 1200
  St. Louis, MO 63101-1
  314.241.1445
  http://www.aab.org

Licensure

A license is a documented permit, issued by a government agency, either municipal or state, that grants the bearer permission to perform a particular service or procedure.

Often, the applicant must:

• Meet educational and experience requirements set by the agency.
• Show national certification.
• Show continuing education.

The State of Wyoming does not require a license to perform phlebotomy or medical laboratory testing. However, hospitals and laboratories are under Federal guidelines for clinical personnel (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988) which require MLT or MT certification to perform some human tests.

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