Medical Laboratory Technologist

Degree programme objectives

This Bachelor’s study programme aims to train graduates for highly specialized work in medical (clinical and research) laboratories, primarily in the following areas: clinical biochemistry, clinical haematology, immunohaematology and blood transfusion service, clinical immunology, clinical microbiology, clinical genetics, and histopathological examination methods. The programme is designed to increase the theoretical knowledge and initial practical skills of laboratory technicians through multidisciplinary education that allows them to adapt to the demands and developments in individual fields, especially with regard to the ongoing consolidation of individual areas of laboratory medicine. Graduates are qualified and competent to work as non-physician healthcare workers in the Czech Republic with the option of finding a position in another state of the EU.

Study plans

Medical Laboratory Technologist

full-time, single-subject

Medical Laboratory Technologist

combined, single-subject

Studies

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Objectives
This Bachelor’s study programme aims to train graduates for highly specialized work in medical (clinical and research) laboratories, primarily in the following areas: clinical biochemistry, clinical haematology, immunohaematology and blood transfusion service, clinical immunology, clinical microbiology, clinical genetics, and histopathological examination methods. The programme is designed to increase the theoretical knowledge and initial practical skills of laboratory technicians through multidisciplinary education that allows them to adapt to the demands and developments in individual fields, especially with regard to the ongoing consolidation of individual areas of laboratory medicine. Graduates are qualified and competent to work as non-physician healthcare workers in the Czech Republic with the option of finding a position in another state of the EU.
Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:
- Hold a position that requires working with analytical and computer equipment and other lab instruments in all types of medical laboratories in clinical biochemistry, clinical haematology, immunohaematology and transfusion service, microbiology, etc.
- be familiar with pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical procedures in the individual fields of laboratory work, including the knowledge of critical points and the principles of good laboratory practice.
- understand the clinical laboratory accreditation process with regard to national standards and the requirements of standards.
- ensure correct identification and verification of samples of biological material, preparation of analytical samples, and their processing and archiving.
- use analytical equipment and laboratory instruments in accordance with standard operational procedures, including correct manipulation, storing, and inspection of reaction sets.
- perform specialized laboratory tests, participate in the establishment of new analytical methods and procedures including internal quality control programs and inter-laboratory comparisons.
- keep medical records
- take part in the processing of data both for economic purposes and also as part of the gathering and evaluation of research data.
Occupational Profiles of Graduates
Graduates can find employment as highly qualified professionals in the laboratories of health-care facilities or research institutions. The sound theoretical knowledge and practical skills obtained during their studies and in standard medical laboratories mean that they can find work in all types of medical laboratories, research and education institutions, food, water, and product safety authorities.
Regulated Professions
- Medical Laboratory Technician
Practical Training
This study programme aims to provide high-quality practical training in standard clinical laboratory settings, allowing the students to gain practical skills while using modern analytic equipment and other instruments and following standard logistics, operational, and organizational laboratory procedures. The curriculum includes the main features of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes and allows students to learn about the significance and practical application of teamwork.
Practical training takes place at facilities specialized in the seven main areas of clinical lab activity during the 5th semester in two 4-day blocks . The laboratories are located at: University Hospital Brno – Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical Haematology, Department of Medical Genetics, Department of Transfusion Medicine and Blood Bank, Institute of Pathology and Anatomy; and St. Anne’s University Hospital – Department of Microbiology, Department of Immunology.
The topics of practical training are described in course outlines for each of the fields of laboratory work. The course, completion, and evaluation of the training is recorded in a simple logbook.
Goals of Theses
The standard bachelor's thesis range from 72000 to 900000 characters, including the cover letter, content, index, list of literature and annotations. The themes of the thesis are based on the problems of medical laboratories and their needs and on the research and scientific plan of the faculty. The student chooses the subject of the work to be processed, from the offer of the relevant laboratory workplaces (departments and institutes of the faculty hospitals). He / she also has the opportunity to propose the subject of the bachelor thesis himself, provided that his / her proposal is accepted by the relevant department / institute and is included in the bachelor thesis topic for the respective academic year. The aim of the bachelor thesis is to elaborate professional problems demonstrating the ability to analyze the given problem with the subsequent synthesis of the obtained data and the proposal of a practical solution. Emphasis is placed on managing the problem using recent available data and on the ability to find the most effective solution.
Access to Further Studies
After completion of the Bachelor's studies, it is possible to continue further studies in any Master's degree programme (after satisfying the admission requirements), especially to the follow-up specialization master's program Bioanalytik (specialist in laboratory methods) at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of MU Brno.