MLT course

Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) course is the branch of medical science responsible for performing laboratory investigations relating to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Candidates can pursue this 3-year programme after they have completed their 12th studies in the science stream and PCMB as the primary subject. Students learn to analyze human fluids, like Blood, Urine, Stool, Sputum, Synovial- fluid, Cerebro-spinal fluid, etc. under microscopic examinations to aid doctors in diagnosing the disease correctly. Aspirants can appear for entrance exams such as JEE main, JEE advanced, JNUEE, etc. to get admission into MLT course.

Candidates can pursue the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) course via classroom learning or distance education. However, aspirants need to check with the institute to see if they offer these options or not. Top colleges such as Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi - Delhi NCR, King’s George Medical University - Lucknow, Christian Medical College - Tamil Nadu, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, etc. offer admission to MLT course. The programme fee ranges between INR 17,970 to INR 1.45 Lakh. Students who graduate from the BLT course can find jobs in CT scan technician, MRI Technician, Pathology Technician, Optical Laboratory Technician, Dental Machine Technician, X-ray Technicians, Laboratory Technician, Medical Officer, Radiology Technician, Laboratory Manager, Research Associate, and more.

MLT is one of the most upcoming fields in allied health services. Some of the reasons to choose MLT are:

• Growing need in the healthcare industry – The healthcare industry is growing almost at a rate of 18% annually. Therefore, trained technicians are needed all over the world. Also, the onset of multiple and complicated diseases growing in the world due to changing lifestyles has created a huge demand for skilled MLT professionals.
• Multiple work opportunities – Once a student gets a degree in MLT, he/ she gets exposed to an ocean of opportunities in global job markets. They can work in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pathology labs, blood and organ banks, diagnostic centres, etc.
• Opportunities to work abroad – The international medical industry has a huge demand for allied health science professionals, especially MLT professionals. Therefore, the career opportunities available abroad for MLT graduates are enormous. The salary package offered abroad is high and the work environment is even much better.
• High salary packages – With the increase in demand for MLT professionals in the healthcare industry, the salary packages offered to them are pretty decent. They are valued for their skills and recruiting organizations are ready to pay excellent salary packages for the right candidates.
• Flexibility at the workplace – MLTs work in a wide range of facilities including hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pathology labs, diagnostic centres and more. Candidates can choose to work in a setting that they enjoy the most. Depending on the organization, they can also choose the schedule for working according to their needs such as weekdays, nights or even weekends.

MLT courses can be divided into three levels:

1. Certificate courses – Certificate in Medical Laboratory Technology is a short term course, the duration of which varies from 3 to 6 months depending on the institute. CMLT concerns the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases through a clinical laboratory test.
2. Diploma courses – Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology, also known as DMLT, is a two-year programme that can usually be completed after passing class 12th. It is a paramedical course that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease using clinical laboratory and other physical tests.
3. Degree courses – Degree courses include bachelor’s and master's degrees in MLT. Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT) is one of the most preferred courses by the students. The duration of the course is 3 years. While pursuing this course, students can get specialization in many areas such as microbiology, haematology, pathology, clinical chemistry, immune pathology, biomedical techniques, virology, radiology, bacteriology, genetics, cytopathology, serology, histology, coagulation, toxicology, etc. Master in Medical Lab Technology is a 2 year PG programme that includes fascinating subjects like molecular biology, human anatomy and physiology, etc.

The eligibility criteria of different levels of MLT courses are different. Some of the courses can be done just after the 10th, some require the candidate to have completed at least 12th standard while others ask for an undergraduate degree. However, the general eligibility requirements of MLT courses for each course level can be understood from the following table:

Subjects in Medical Laboratory Technology courses include knowledge of the human physiology and anatomy, managing biomedical wastes and other related subject matter. Some of the most important subjects covered during the Medical Laboratory Technology course, for instance, are: 

• Biochemistry
• Health Education and Health Communication
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• PC Software Lab
• Bio-Medical Waste Management
• Communication Lab
• Pathology
• Immunology and Serology
• Microbiology
• Histopathology and Histotechniques
• Clinical Haematology
• Immunohematology and Blood Banking
• Parasitology and Virology
• Clinical Enzymology
• Diagnostic Cytology
• Clinical Enzymology and Automation
• Principles of Lab Management and Medical Ethics
• Diagnostic Molecular Biology
• Advanced Diagnostic Techniques
• Clinical Endocrinology and Toxicology 

Certain semesters also include practical subjects such as Human Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Human Physiology. The final semester includes a mandatory Internship Project.

BMLT course syllabus is divided into 6 semesters which is tabulated below-

MLT is a course for those who pay attention to detail and are comfortable working with bodily fluids like blood. Some of the important skills required are –

• Communication skills
• Reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Time management skills
• Working under pressure
• Hardworking
• Technical abilities
• Sound abilities with mathematics and science

The demand for medical laboratory technicians or technologists in India is considerably high, enough to support a wide range of applications and specialisations. Moreover, the MLT scope in India is likely to continue to rise in the coming years.

• The scope of the MLT course is very broad and graduates with a Medical Laboratory Technology degree can find employment in a variety of industries all around the world.
• A career in the field of medical laboratory technology is one of the most challenging and rewarding in today’s times. A technician or technologist learns something new every day, which is beneficial to their work.
• Medical Laboratory Technicians can work in pathology labs, research labs, urologist offices, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and a variety of other settings.
• Apart from the aforementioned options, an aspirant can also work as a lecturer or teacher in the education field.
• With the passage of time, the MLT course has grown in terms of what a student learns during the course, thereby expanding the scope.
• Blood banking, clinical chemistry, haematology, immunology, microbiology, cytotechnology, urine analysis, and blood sampling are all part of the Medical Laboratory Technology sector. There are a plethora of sectors in which graduates can find acceptable employment.
• MLT professionals have a variety of work prospects in the healthcare industry. Clinical lab technologists are needed in every hospital and healthcare facility to detect issues and diseases that cause patients to become ill.
• Another particularly high-income option that is available to professionals who have gathered a few years of experience is to work self-employed. 

The healthcare industry is growing almost at a rate of 18% annually. Therefore, trained technicians are needed all over the country.

MLT course is offered by many reputed colleges and universities across the country. Some of these colleges with the courses offered are listed below:

Studying MLT abroad means you could gain access to the best programs and facilities the world has to offer. MLT courses aren’t offered in many countries, so if this is the degree for you then studying abroad could be your best option.

Some of the popular universities and colleges abroad which offer MLT courses abroad are listed below:

• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada
• Maryville University, USA
• University of South Australia, Australia
• University of Cincinnati, USA
• Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
• Queensland University of Technology, Australia
• University of n\New Brunswick, Canada

A candidate can work at various profiles after completing MLT courses. Some of the popular job profiles along with their job description are tabulated below-

The annual salary of the various job profiles available to candidates who have completed an MLT course depends on various factors like recruiting organizations, work experience, qualifications, etc. However, the average annual salary of popular job profiles can be understood from the following table-

Some of the top recruiters of MLT graduates are listed below:

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
• Forensic Science Laboratory
• Apollo
• Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Delhi
• Columbia Asia Referral Hospital
• Manipal Hospital
• Fortis
• Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai
• Paramount Health Services
• Cactus Global