Programs in medical laboratory assisting prepare people to test cells, blood, and tissue samples. Lab assistants learn to help carry out tests according to guidelines set by lab technicians and technologists.

If you've ever seen a doctor for a checkup, you know that much of what the doctor tells you about your health is based on test results. Think about the few drops of blood a nurse draws from your fingertip or arm. From that small sample, medical laboratory assistants can run many different tests and find out a lot of information.

For example, they can measure your blood-sugar levels to make sure you're not diabetic. They can count red blood cells to make sure you're not anemic. They can count white blood cells to make sure your immune system is working properly.

Medical laboratory assistants use clinical tests to analyze blood, body fluids, tissues, and cells. These tests help doctors detect, diagnose, and treat diseases. As a student in this program, you learn how to use many different kinds of laboratory equipment in order to carry out tests. You also study anatomy and physiology to understand how the body works and learn how to interpret test results.

There are many things to test within the human body and many ways to do these tests. Because of this, medical lab assistants can choose to specialize. For example, if you wanted to study diseases of the blood, you could work in a hematology clinic and study blood cells. Other places you could work include blood banks and kidney dialysis clinics.

Many schools offer accredited associate degree programs in medical laboratory assisting. An associate degree's typically takes two to three years of full-time study after high school. A few schools offer bachelor's degrees in this area.