What Is Medical Lab Science?

Read time 6 minutes

Published on Sep 2, 2025

Medical laboratory science (MLS) is the field where diagnostic services are performed on specimens provided by the patient to treat and monitor disease. We spoke with Kara Hansen-Suchy, an associate professor at Grand Canyon University, to learn more about medical laboratory science and the value of a medical laboratory science degree.

-Kara Hansen-Suchy, Associate Professor

When asked what is medical lab science, Suchy explained, “Medical laboratory science is one of the most important jobs no one knows exists. We’re the ones making sure a doctor’s diagnosis is backed up by data. We’re the reason that ‘Hmm, maybe it’s an infection’ turns into ‘Here’s the specific bug, the resistance pattern and the right treatment.’

The field needs passionate, curious and detail-loving people. People who love solving mysteries, can handle bodily fluids without flinching and are interested in a career that grows with them. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s powerful. If that excites you, you’re already halfway there!”

What Do Medical Laboratory Scientists Do?

Medical laboratory scientists spend most of their day in the laboratory, where they stay busy analyzing specimens and recording test results. They identify organisms that may be harmful to the health of patients and then report their findings to doctors and nurses.

When asked what do medical laboratory scientists do, Hansen-Suchy explained, “While doctors, nurses and other members of the allied healthcare team care for patients directly, lab scientists work behind the scenes to find out what’s going on inside the body. They use a growing array of methodologies including using microscopes, computers and automated instrumentation to determine the health status of patients.

It has been estimated that up to 70% of medical decisions are based on the interpretation of laboratory tests.”¹

Skills for Medical Laboratory Science

Medical laboratory science requires a mix of soft and technical skills to be successful in the field. Hansen-Suchy adds, “To be a great medical laboratory scientist, you need to be part detective, part tech wizard and part Zen master — all while working behind the scenes to keep healthcare running smoothly.”

Based on her experience working in medical laboratory science, Hansen-Suchy lists the following technical skills as the most important for the field:

Manual dexterity: When you’re pipetting or trying not to rip a glove while loading a sample, your hands need to be steady.
Solid understanding of lab instruments: You’ll spend a lot of quality time using lab instruments, especially when they throw error codes.
Interpreting results: Knowing how individual test results connect to the bigger clinical picture is huge. You’re not just printing numbers; you’re spotting when something looks off and knowing when to question it.
Quality control: You must make sure your analyzer didn’t just invent a WBC count of 92. You’re the lab’s quality control analyst, and that means a lot of documentation.
Tech-savvy: You need to be comfortable using new and familiar technology, because laboratory information systems (LIS), middleware and interfaced instruments are basically your coworkers.

“Tech skills are more important than ever. Understanding how systems integrate and how to interpret complex results will set you apart in the field. Also, knowing how to reboot things helps. A lot.”

— Kara Hansen-Suchy, Associate Professor, College of Natural Sciences

The following soft skills are Hansen-Suchy’s non-negotiables for working in a lab:

Attention to detail: If you mix up a decimal or mislabel a tube, you could turn someone’s baseline potassium result into a heart attack waiting to happen. Tiny errors = big consequences.
Analytical thinking: You don’t just run tests; you make sense of them. You’re the kind of person who enjoys solving puzzles, except the puzzles here involve patient samples and critical lab values.
Communication: When you’re talking to nurses, techs and analysts, being able to clearly explain results (or politely correct someone’s specimen labeling error) is essential.
Problem-solving: Is the QC out? Is the instrument making that weird noise again? Why is this blood sample glowing? You’ll be the one figuring it out.
Time management: You’ll be analyzing samples all day, so knowing how to prioritize is what keeps the chaos manageable.
Teamwork: Working well with a team matters, even if you’re introverted. You’ll lean on your coworkers during busy shifts, and they’ll lean on you.
Integrity and professionalism: You need to be able to do the right thing, even when no one’s watching.
Adaptability: Labs are full of surprises: broken centrifuges, mystery samples, “urgent” add-ons. You’ve got to be flexible and even be able to laugh about it (after the shift, of course).

“In short? You need to be sharp, careful, collaborative and cool under pressure. And if you can handle all that and still find time to snack between STATs — you’re definitely MLS material,” says Hansen-Suchy.

Medical Laboratory Science Careers and Specializations

A bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science can teach you the skills and competencies to become a medical laboratory scientist. Within this field are specializations that professionals pursue based on their personal interests and career goals. These specializations include:

Blood bank technologists: This specialization focuses on the collection, classification and preparation of blood for analysis and transfusions.

Clinical chemistry technologists: If you are interested in the hormonal and chemical properties of bodily fluids, you may be the right fit for a clinical chemistry specialization.

Cytotechnologists: Working as a cytotechnologist involves using a telescope to look for signs of cancer and abnormalities in slides of body cells.

Hematology technologists: This specialization identifies diseases by examining blood samples.

Histotechnologists: If you are interested in human tissue, histotechnologists test tissue to look for signs of disease.

Microbiology technologists: These specialists examine microorganisms such as bacteria.

Molecular biology technologists: Working as a molecular biology technologist involves specializing in protein and nucleic acid testing on cell samples.

Medical laboratory scientists work in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, physicians’ offices, ambulatory health services and state, local and private educational services.²

Recent Advances in Medical Laboratory Science

When asked about the recent changes and advancements in medical laboratory science, Hansen-Suchy shared, “Automation is growing. We’ve got analyzers now that can load, test, result and even flag specimens before you’ve finished your first sip of coffee. Pre-analytical systems can spin, sort and decap tubes faster than ever. Fewer manual steps = fewer errors. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital pathology are creeping in, too. Some systems can now scan slides and identify cells consistently. But don’t worry; it’s not replacing humans, just helping us be faster and more accurate.”

Laboratory testing software has advanced in recent years, highlighting the importance of staying up to date with the latest technologies. LIS and middleware are smarter. We’ve got software that talks between machines, flags critical values, trends patient data and practically nudges you when something’s wrong. It’s like having a second set of eyes, except it never blinks or needs a break. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is also becoming increasingly popular. While convenient, it means lab professionals are now overseeing testing outside the lab by training nurses and checking quality,” says Hansen-Suchy.

Due to the increase in automation, there may be more specialization opportunities for medical laboratory science professionals in the future. “Molecular diagnostics, informatics and even lab automation engineers are becoming real niches within the field,” Hansen-Suchy explains.

Advice for Aspiring Medical Laboratory Scientists

Here’s some advice from Kara Hansen-Suchy if you’re thinking of starting the journey to become a medical laboratory scientist:

“You’ll be entering a field where science meets patient care, and where your work makes a direct impact, even if most patients never know your name (or even that you exist — seriously, we’re like the healthcare ninjas).”

— Kara Hansen-Suchy, Associate Professor

“Start with the right education. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science. This is the best and easiest route, although there are other routes to become certified. Make sure the program is NAACLS-accredited — that’s the gold standard for certification eligibility.

Internships are priceless. During your clinical internship (usually in your final year), you’ll rotate through real hospital labs. Internships are where textbook knowledge meets real-life pressure, and they’re often your best shot at getting hired after graduation.

The field is evolving, so stay curious. Technology is advancing faster than a STAT potassium. Molecular diagnostics, lab automation, digital pathology and LIS systems are becoming the norm. Being open to learning new tools (and maybe taking some extra CE courses) will keep you sharp and relevant.

Get certified. Once you graduate, you’ll want to take the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) exam. It's your ticket to becoming a certified MLS (a.k.a., the job requirement in almost every legit lab).
And yes, it’s a tough exam, but you’ll survive. Caffeine and flashcards help.

Soft skills matter, too. You’ll work with instruments, but also real people. Teamwork, communication and the ability to handle stress will get you far.”

Learn More About Medical Laboratory Science Degrees

If a medical laboratory science career sounds like a good fit for you, earning a degree in the field is a great first step. GCU offers a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science that provides graduates with skills in medical laboratory science. This program instructs students on how to perform and analyze clinical laboratory tests, as well as areas such as molecular diagnostics and laboratory operations.

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Georgia Farrokh

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Grand Canyon Education

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Shuren, J. (2024, Jan. 18). FDA and CMS Statement: Americans Deserve Accurate and Reliable Diagnostic Tests, Wherever They Are Made. CMS.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, April 18). Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved June 24, 2025.

Approved and verified accurate by the Associate Dean of the College of Natural Science on Aug. 18, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.