Medical Laboratory Technologist: Roles, Ethics & Safety

Posted on Feb 21, 2026 in Pharmacy

Role of a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT)

A Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) plays a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases by performing laboratory investigations accurately and efficiently.

Major Roles and Functions

Sample Collection and Handling

  • Collects blood, urine, stool, and other body fluids using aseptic techniques.
  • Proper labeling, storage, and transportation of samples to avoid errors.

Performance of Laboratory Tests

  • Performs biochemical, hematological, microbiological, and immunological tests.
  • Follows standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all investigations.

Operation of Laboratory Instruments

  • Operates instruments such as spectrophotometers, centrifuges, auto-analyzers, pH meters, etc.
  • Ensures proper calibration and functioning of equipment.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance

  • Performs internal quality control and participates in external quality assurance programs.
  • Ensures accuracy, precision, and reliability of test results.

Reporting of Results

  • Records observations carefully and reports results accurately to clinicians.
  • Maintains confidentiality of patient reports.

Laboratory Safety and Waste Management

  • Follows biosafety rules and infection control measures.
  • Proper segregation and disposal of biomedical waste.

Maintenance of Records

  • Maintains patient records, test registers, reagent logs, and instrument maintenance records.

Assisting in Diagnosis and Patient Care

  • Helps clinicians in diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.
  • Plays an important role in preventive health care.


Ethics and Responsibilities of a Medical Laboratory Technologist

Ethics refer to moral principles that govern professional conduct. A Medical Laboratory Technologist must follow ethical standards and professional responsibilities.

Ethics of a Medical Laboratory Technologist

Confidentiality

Patient information and laboratory results must be kept strictly confidential.

Reports should be disclosed only to authorized personnel.

Honesty and Integrity

Test results must be reported truthfully without manipulation or falsification.

Errors should be reported immediately.

Professional Competence

An MLT should perform tests only within their scope of training.

Continuous learning and skill upgradation are essential.

Impartiality

No discrimination based on gender, caste, religion, or economic status.

Equal service to all patients.

Respect for Patients

Treat patients with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Maintain professional behavior at all times.

Responsibilities of a Medical Laboratory Technologist

  • Accurate and timely performance of laboratory investigations.
  • Proper handling, storage, and disposal of samples and reagents.
  • Maintenance and calibration of laboratory instruments.
  • Adherence to laboratory safety rules and infection control measures.
  • Cooperation with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff.
  • Proper documentation and record keeping.

Conclusion

Ethical conduct and professional responsibility ensure trust, reliability, and quality in laboratory services.


3. Laboratory Safety Measures and First Aid in a Biochemistry Laboratory

Laboratory safety is essential to prevent accidents, infections, and chemical hazards in a biochemistry laboratory.

A. Laboratory Safety Measures

1. Personal Protective Measures

  • Wearing lab coat, gloves, masks, and protective eyewear.
  • Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in the laboratory.

2. Chemical Safety

  • Proper labeling of chemicals.
  • Use chemicals according to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
  • Store acids, alkalis, and flammable chemicals separately.

3. Biological Safety

  • Handle biological samples as potentially infectious.
  • Follow universal precautions.
  • Proper disinfection of work surfaces.

4. Instrument Safety

  • Proper training before using instruments.
  • Switch off electrical equipment after use.
  • Regular maintenance and calibration.

5. Waste Disposal

  • Segregation of waste according to biomedical waste rules.
  • Proper disposal of sharps, chemicals, and biological waste.

B. First Aid in a Biochemistry Laboratory

Chemical Burns

  • Wash affected area immediately with plenty of water.
  • Remove contaminated clothing.

Acid or Alkali Spill on Skin

  • Rinse with running water for at least 15 minutes.
  • Seek medical attention if severe.

Eye Injury

  • Wash eyes using eye wash station with clean water.
  • Do not rub eyes.

Cuts and Wounds

  • Clean wound with antiseptic.
  • Apply sterile dressing.

Fire Accidents

  • Use fire extinguisher or fire blanket.
  • Switch off electrical supply.

Electric Shock

  • Switch off power immediately.
  • Do not touch victim directly; seek medical help.


Laboratory Safety Measures in a Microbiology Laboratory

A microbiology laboratory deals with potentially infectious microorganisms; therefore, strict safety measures are essential to prevent laboratory-acquired infections and environmental contamination.

A. Personal Safety Measures

  • Wear laboratory coat, gloves, mask and closed footwear.
  • Long hair should be tied; avoid loose clothing.
  • Eating, drinking, smoking, and mouth pipetting are strictly prohibited.
  • Hands must be washed before and after laboratory work.

B. Aseptic Techniques

  • Use aseptic methods while handling cultures and specimens.
  • Flame sterilization of inoculating loops and needles before and after use.
  • Avoid unnecessary exposure of cultures to the environment.

C. Handling of Specimens

  • Treat all clinical specimens as potentially infectious.
  • Proper labeling of specimens.
  • Use leak-proof containers for transport.

D. Equipment Safety

  • Use biosafety cabinets while handling infectious aerosols.
  • Regular maintenance and calibration of incubators, centrifuges, autoclaves.
  • Do not open centrifuge until it stops completely.

E. Decontamination and Disinfection

  • Disinfect work surfaces before and after work.
  • Autoclave contaminated materials before disposal.
  • Use appropriate disinfectants (phenol, hypochlorite, alcohol).

F. Waste Disposal

  • Segregation of biomedical waste according to color coding.
  • Proper disposal of sharps in puncture-proof containers.


Biosafety Levels (BSL)

Biosafety Levels (BSL) are containment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in laboratories.

Types of Biosafety Levels

BSL-1

  • For organisms not known to cause disease in healthy adults.
  • Example: Bacillus subtilis
  • Basic laboratory practices, no special containment.

BSL-2

  • For moderate-risk pathogens causing human disease.
  • Example: Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus
  • Use of lab coats, gloves, biosafety cabinets for aerosols.

BSL-3

  • For organisms causing serious or potentially lethal infections via inhalation.
  • Example: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Controlled access, negative air pressure, special ventilation.

BSL-4

  • For highly dangerous and life-threatening agents with no available treatment.
  • Example: Ebola virus
  • Full-body protective suits, maximum containment facilities.


3. Biomedical Laboratory Safety Precautions (Short Note)

Biomedical laboratory safety precautions are measures taken to protect laboratory staff from biological, chemical, and physical hazards.

Key Precautions:

  • Use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Follow universal precautions for handling specimens.
  • Proper segregation and disposal of biomedical waste.
  • Safe handling of sharps and needles.
  • Immediate reporting of spills, accidents, and exposures.
  • Vaccination of laboratory staff (e.g., Hepatitis-B).


Methods of Preparation of Distilled Water

Distilled water is purified water obtained by boiling water and condensing the steam, leaving behind impurities, dissolved salts, and microorganisms. It is widely used in laboratory experiments to avoid contamination.

A. Simple Distillation

  • Water is heated in a distillation flask until it boils.
  • Steam rises and enters a condenser, where it is cooled by cold water.
  • Condensed pure water is collected in a receiver flask.
  • Impurities and dissolved salts remain in the original flask.
  • Uses: Laboratory reagents, preparation of culture media, and cleaning glassware.

B. Fractional Distillation

  • Used when water contains volatile impurities (like alcohol).
  • The distillation apparatus has a fractionating column that separates water from other volatile substances based on boiling points.
  • Pure water is collected after condensation.

C. Steam Distillation

  • Water is boiled by passing steam directly through it.
  • Steam carries volatile substances into the condenser where pure water is collected.
  • Prevents overheating of heat-sensitive water-soluble substances.

D. Multiple (Double) Distillation

  • Water is distilled two or more times to remove even minute impurities.
  • Commonly used for laboratory standard solutions where highly pure water is required.

E. Deionization and Distillation Combination

  • Water is first deionized to remove salts.
  • Then distilled to remove any remaining organic or microbial contaminants.

2. Types of Water Distillation Plants

A. Batch Distillation Plant

  • Water is distilled in small batches.
  • Simple, low-cost, but time-consuming.
  • Suitable for small laboratory needs.

B. Continuous Distillation Plant

  • Water is distilled continuously without interruption.
  • Large capacity suitable for industrial or hospital laboratories.
  • More efficient and produces large volumes of distilled water.

C. Steam Distillation Plant

  • Steam is generated in a boiler and passed through water to collect condensed water.
  • Prevents overheating and saves energy.

3. Storage of Distilled Water

  • Store in clean, sterilized glass or plastic containers.
  • Containers must be tightly closed to prevent contamination.
  • Do not store near acids, alkalis, or chemicals to avoid chemical contamination.
  • Store in cool, dark places to minimize microbial growth.
  • Label containers with date of distillation; usually, water is used within 24–48 hours for microbiological work.


Calibration of Pipettes

Calibration is the process of verifying and adjusting a pipette so that it delivers accurate and precise volumes of liquid. Pipettes are widely used in laboratories for measuring and transferring specific volumes of liquids, so accurate calibration is essential.

1. Importance of Pipette Calibration

  • Ensures accuracy and precision in experiments.
  • Prevents systematic errors in volumetric analysis.
  • Essential for standardization of solutions in biochemistry and microbiology labs.
  • Maintains reliability of laboratory results.

2. Types of Pipettes

  • Volumetric Pipette – Measures a single fixed volume accurately.
  • Graduated (Measuring) Pipette – Measures variable volumes; has graduations along the length.
  • Both types require regular calibration to ensure accuracy.


Procedure for Calibration (Gravimetric Method)

  • Clean the pipette and ensure it is dry.
  • Weigh an empty container on a calibrated balance.
  • Draw distilled water into the pipette up to the mark.
  • Dispense water into the pre-weighed container.
  • Weigh the container again to find the mass of water delivered.
  • Calculate the volume delivered using the formula:
  • Compare the delivered volume with the nominal volume of the pipette.
  • Adjust the pipette if necessary (for adjustable pipettes).

5. Precautions During Calibration

  • Avoid air bubbles in pipette tip.
  • Read the meniscus at eye level.
  • Use distilled water at controlled temperature (usually 20–25°C).
  • Ensure the balance is properly calibrated.
  • Repeat measurement 3–5 times and take average for accuracy.


Care and Maintenance of Analytical Balance

An analytical balance is a highly sensitive instrument used to measure small masses (mg level) accurately. Proper care and maintenance are essential to ensure accuracy, precision, and longevity of the instrument.

1. General Precautions

  • Place the balance on a stable, vibration-free, and level surface.
  • Keep it away from direct sunlight, drafts, and heat sources.
  • Avoid placing heavy objects or chemicals near the balance.
  • Ensure the balance is properly calibrated before use.

2. Cleaning

  • Keep the weighing pan clean at all times.
  • Remove spilled chemicals immediately using a soft brush or lint-free cloth.
  • Do not use harsh solvents or abrasive cleaners inside or on the pan.
  • Regularly clean the balance chamber to avoid dust accumulation.

3. Handling Samples

  • Always use a clean container when weighing liquids or powders.
  • Avoid overloading beyond the maximum capacity of the balance.
  • Use tweezers or gloves to handle small samples to prevent contamination.
  • Ensure samples are at room temperature; cold or hot samples can affect readings.

4. Calibration and Standardization

  • Perform internal or external calibration regularly as recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Use standard weights for verification.
  • Check calibration before and after critical measurements.

5. Environmental Considerations

  • Avoid vibrations from nearby equipment.
  • Control humidity; very high or low humidity may affect accuracy.
  • Avoid air currents – always close the balance door when weighing.

6. Maintenance

  • Perform regular preventive maintenance as per manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Check for smooth operation of the pan and display.
  • Replace worn parts such as weighing pans or draft shields when necessary.
  • Record maintenance and calibration activities in a logbook.


Normal and Molar Solutions; Preparation of Standard Solutions and Reagents

Normal and molar solutions.

Preparation of standard solutions.

Preparation and storage of reagents.

Normal Solution (Normality)

Definition: A normal solution contains 1 equivalent of solute per liter of solution.

Equivalent (Eq): Amount of substance that reacts with 1 mole of H⁺ or OH⁻ in acid-base reactions or 1 mole of electrons in redox reactions.


Preparation of Standard Solutions

Standard solutions are solutions of known concentration used for titration, calibration, or quantitative analysis.

Steps for Preparation

  • Weigh accurately the required amount of solute using an analytical balance.
  • Dissolve solute in a small quantity of distilled water.
  • Transfer solution to a volumetric flask of required volume.
  • Make up to the mark with distilled water.
  • Mix thoroughly by inverting the flask several times.

Example: Preparation of 0.1 M NaOH solution.

  • Weigh 4 g NaOH.
  • Dissolve in 50 mL distilled water, transfer to 100 mL volumetric flask.
  • Make up to 100 mL with distilled water.

3. Preparation and Storage of Reagents

A. Preparation of Laboratory Reagents

  • Use analytical grade chemicals for accurate results.
  • Dissolve the solute in distilled water.
  • Label reagents with:
    • Name of reagent
    • Concentration
    • Date of preparation
    • Expiry date

B. Storage of Reagents

  • Store in clean, dry, and tightly closed containers.
  • Avoid exposure to light, air, and moisture for light-sensitive or hygroscopic reagents.
  • Separate acids, bases, oxidizing and reducing agents to prevent reactions.
  • Store toxic and volatile reagents in well-ventilated cupboards.
  • Maintain a logbook of prepared reagents for tracking expiry and usage.