I'm a MLT(ASCP), MT(HEW/HHS) Bloodbank Section Supervisor in a small hospital. We do limited testing, no antibody identifications,etc and stick to basic transfusion practices. As mentioned in other posts, some MLTs were trained as well and perform as well as MTs. The MLTs and MTs were trained side by side for the same length of time, the same curiculum. I will add, there are not many MTs willing to come here, due to location, pay, on call etc. Sometimes there are no other choices. I have been surveyed in the last seventeen years by JCAHO, IDPH(CLIA) and an FDA visit, none of which made any comments or recommended that a MT should be the section head or that I didn't qualify. Sorry, didn't mean to be so lengthy. One last item, I would NOT accept the same position in a larger hospital that would perform more complex transfusion testing and infusion practices, I would, however, feel comfortable working as a bloodbank tech in one.
I'm a MLT(ASCP), MT(HEW/HHS) Bloodbank Section Supervisor in a small hospital. We do limited testing, no antibody identifications,etc and stick to basic transfusion practices. As mentioned in other posts, some MLTs were trained as well and perform as well as MTs. The MLTs and MTs were trained side by side for the same length of time, the same curiculum. I will add, there are not many MTs willing to come here, due to location, pay, on call etc. Sometimes there are no other choices. I have been surveyed in the last seventeen years by JCAHO, IDPH(CLIA) and an FDA visit, none of which made any comments or recommended that a MT should be the section head or that I didn't qualify. Sorry, didn't mean to be so lengthy. One last item, I would NOT accept the same position in a larger hospital that would perform more complex transfusion testing and infusion practices, I would, however, feel comfortable working as a bloodbank tech in one.