The scope of a medical laboratory scientist's work begins with the receipt of patient or client specimens and finishes with the delivery of test results to physicians and other healthcare providers.

Medical laboratory scientists may also assist healthcare providers with test selection and specimen collection and are responsible for prompt verbal delivery of critical lab results.

Some estimates suggest that up to 70% of medical decisions are based on laboratory test results and MLS contributions affect 95% of a health system's costs.

However, some are specialists, qualified by unique undergraduate education or additional training to perform more complex analyses than usual within a specific field.

Specialties include clinical biochemistry, hematology, coagulation, microbiology, bacteriology, toxicology, virology, parasitology, mycology, immunology, immunohematology (blood bank), histopathology, histocompatibility, cytopathology, genetics, cytogenetics, electron microscopy, and IVF labs.

[8] In the United Kingdom the number of Clinical Scientists in a pathology discipline are typically greater, where less medically qualified pathologists train as consultants.

[9] In Canada, three-year college or technical school programs are offered that include seven semesters, two of them comprising an unpaid internship.

[12] Once they graduate they must have worked at least six months under supervision, be registered with the Medical Sciences Counsel of New Zealand, and hold a current Annual Practicing Certificate.

Some programs in the United States have halved the time students spend completing their clinical rotation reduced due to staffing shortages.

[19] In the United States, a two-year academic program (associate's degree) qualifies the graduate to work as a medical laboratory technician (MLT).

Due to several factors, including boomer retirement, and inadequate recruitment and retention efforts, the medical laboratory workforce is shrinking.

There is a strict and formal post graduate training programme for both careers followed by statutory registration for each with the Health & Care Professions Council UK (HCPC):[1], for the safety and assurance of the customers - the patients.

Their aim is to provide expert scientific and clinical advice to clinician colleagues, to aid in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patient care.

Although not essential, some candidates will apply with higher degrees in an attempt to improve their chances of selection for training and several universities currently offer MSc courses in Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology which have been approved by the ACB or the AHCS.

Full-time and 'sandwich' courses are available, and further information may be obtained from individual programmes, although the level of financial support provided varies, and should be clarified at interview.

Some entrants to the profession will already have obtained a PhD, and the training and research experience that this provides is invaluable to the work of the Clinical Scientist.

In larger Departments, there may be opportunities to study for a research degree after entering the profession and acquiring registration, but since this has to be fitted in with other responsibilities, it may take some years to complete.

It should be clearly understood that the major role of the profession is patient care and that research, management and all the other aspects will come as side issues and not be the predominating factor in the career path.

[27] MSF claims that these workers have lost out financially since the decision of the then health minister Kenneth Clarke to exclude them from the pay review body in 1984.

At the end of the fifth year, suitable students are presented for final professional examination by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

All the three national accrediting agencies will certify scientists in the clinical laboratory as generalist (chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology/blood bank, and microbiology).

[35] In the United States, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA '88) define the level of qualification required to perform tests of various complexity.

Some states also require completion of a specified number of continuing education contact hours prior to issuing or renewing a license.

This scientific expertise and leadership will provide important benefits and added value to patients and to the service as it moves forward through the 21st century.

This will bring to fruition the vision of science and realise the potential of scientific and technological advances for both translational and personalised medicine.

For life science disciplines (Immunology, Microbiology, Virology, Haematology, Biochemistry) the training curriculum and formal examinations are administered by the Royal College of Pathologists.

Junior clinical scientists may become involved in academic research, working towards award of a Ph.D. or DClinSci The informal abbreviations of job titles may be a source of confusion.

[45] Reasons for the shortage include current professionals retiring, a modern increase in medical laboratory scientist and technician demand, changes in the practice caused by new technological advances (which need training to learn to use), and vacancy and retirement rates being greater than the number of graduates from medical laboratory programs.

Some clinical organizations suggest that professional-development programs for the allied health fields should be improved to cultivate interest in younger professionals and students.

[47] The Institute of Medicine is actively working on re-viewing policy reforms and new plans and recommendations to increase medical professional turnout among younger people.