MLT in the Transfusion Sevice

[Walter]

A poll for those in hospital Transfusion Services:

Do you restrict Transfusion Service work to Medical Technologists baccalaureate degree) only?

If yes, please state your reason for the restriction.

[David Saikin]

I have been in places where only MTs or baccalaureate (sp) degreed individuals were allowed to work in blood bank. Most insititutions I have been in are not so restrictive.

[adiescast]

We use both MLTs and MTs at about a 50/50 ratio. We also use one non-degreed (lab assistant) for issuing blood and preparing components.

I prefer MTs because they have better training up front on complex antibodies and quality issues. Most of my long term MLTs are perfectly capable of handling these issues with their on-the-job learning and some CE to catch them up on theory.

[catmontgomery]

We have a majority of MTs and few MLTs working in our blood bank. All Techs who work in our blood bank go through training and competency testing prior to staffing the bench in blood bank. Annually, we have competency checks on all of our blood bank techs using CAP testing, written competency tests, and visual work inspections by the blood bank supervisor and another supervisor familiar with blood bank. We feel all our MTs and MLTs are competent in providing quality results and products.

[skopti]

We have MT's and MLT's working in the blood bank. They go through the same extensive training and competency testing.

[Lcsmrz]

Although we have both MTs and MLTs working in the blood bank, they undergo the same training, but have different job responsibilities. MTs have to sign-off on non-routine work (ABID, Ag typings, etc) that the MLTs perform, as well as the QC/PM.

[John C. Staley]

While I answered yes to the poll it is not becasue I believe in the policy. It is currently a corporate policy (unwritten I believe, I've never seen it written) that only MT/CLS can perform technical work in the transfusion services. Non-MTs are allowed to do other things but not bench testing. At a previous place of employment one of the best bench techs I have ever met was an MLT. She stopped at MLT becasue the chemistry requirements for MT were just more than she could deal with. She was very capable in all areas of the department, which, at the time was a hospital based blood bank. For an MLT to pass the registry they have to know enough bloodbanking that would make them a valuable asset for most, if not all routine bench testing. I think it is foolish to restrict MLTs from the transfusion service. There are not enough techs out there to be over looking these qualified folks.

[Nancy Leland]

Many years ago this institution had MLT's in the Blood Bank and ended up paying the MLT's the same as the MT's because the duties they were essentially the same as the MT's. You can not pay differently based on education, only on differences in duties. We are very large and still find it difficult to restrict duties, because that would mean the MLT's would not work weekends. I would rather have MT's in that case, for all the reasons already stated in other postings.

[conwaysbb]

At present I have only MTs and Technical Assitants. Technical Assitants perform receiving and issuing of blood and modifications of blood and blood components but no patient/donor testing.

Our facility has just started to become a site for teaching of MLT students as we are a teaching hospital. I find some of these students very capable of performing patient testing and with our current crunch on finding vaible candidates for positions in the lab, especially on evening and night shifts, it is becoming apparent that MLTs are needed.

I do find that MTs whom come out of an accreditated MT program and have gone through an internship, are the best candidates but they are very few and far between lately. I also have had several candidates lately that upon interviewing have very limited blood banking skills even though their resumes state they have adequate experience. This is even scarier. This also makes it look more attractive to hire these MLTs who have gone through our blood bank, since I know they are taught very well (lol).

We are currently looking into the possibility of changing one of out night shift positions from MT to a MLT position and are awaiting just our medical Director's approval.

[Melanie]

licensed MLT's are allowed to do all routine blood bank testing, including basic antibody identification. The stipulation is that all work is reviewed by a Senior Technologist and tranfusion recommedations are made by a Senior Tech or Supervisor. MLT's are not allowed to work alone and must have a MT or higher to work with in the transfusion service. They are allowed to process components without direct supervision.

[Cathy]

We have a mixture of MTs and MLTs. While an MT (or equivalent) signs out the daily work, techs check each others panels before putting into the supervisor review folder, and it doesn't matter in this case if the check-er is an MT or MLT. The same is true for our double check prior to issuing blood products. The majority of our training is done by an MLT (new techs and MLT students).

[cell1]

We currently only have MT's working in the transfusion service. However I feel that there are some MLT's that are more qualified than the MT's that I now have working for me!

[Gloria Lucchese]

NO, we don't use them.

[GSD2SABSAL]

Our hospital policy changed several years ago as the Technical shortage became more prevelent. Today it is difficult to hire Blood Bank personnel, MT or MLT, but I will evaluate any candidate I feel can contribute to the department and provide quality patient care . In addition, we test all prospective candidates especially in panel interpretation and thought processes as they pertain to problem solving in the Blood Bank.

[labgirl153]

Most the facilities at which I've worked over the years employ some MLTs with some restrictions or no restrictions in the least. MTs normally have the benefit of more theory and training, but ultimately, the true test of competence rests on the individual, i.e. their initiative to read on their own, to seek out additional CE, their degree of confidence level and trouble-solving skills. Also, much of their success rests on the willingness of the supervisor and others to mentor them.

Overall, I would say that MLTs perform well in the transfusion service, but are not exceptional. I've also worked with military-trained MLTs who made the transition to civilian life and found these folks to be the least proficient and lacking theory to an alarming degree, (with one exception...an ex-air force guy who was a great blood banker).

BTW, although I hold a B.S./M.S. in biology, I'm an MLT (although that will soon change after taking the registry for the BB specialist). I'm also responsible for my department's CE. Over the years, on the way to earning my bachelors and masters degree, I experienced some discrimination during my attempts to learn more and become a better tech, but I attribute most of this to working the off-shifts, where management tends to ignore workers, instead, grooming dayshift folks for educational opportunities and promotion.

[David Saikin]

Just an addendum to my reply months ago (and I should have posted this with that). The BEST Blood Banker I have ever worked with is an MLT. I learned so much from this tech . . . she is the best.

[caj1018]

We prefer MTs but use both interchangably. Even though both do the same work, we DO pay more based on education. This has proved to be a good incentive for our MLTs to continue their education and go for the MT degree. Because of the tech shortage our hospital is encouraging our most capable phlebotomists to go to junior college and get their MLT degrees - and paying for it.