The Medical Laboratory Science BS degree program is the only undergraduate program in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology and also in the School of Medicine. Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) is where basic laboratory science meets the practice of medicine. It is a profession of highly knowledgeable and skilled individuals who perform clinical laboratory tests on blood, other body fluids, or tissue samples. This is a critical part of health care, as the results obtained by these laboratory tests are a vital tool for physicians in their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Approximately 70% of information doctors use to diagnose and treat patients come from the information obtained from laboratory test results produced by Medical Laboratory Scientists. Upon graduation from this program students will qualify to take the national ASCP MLS certification exam, which provides the credentials to work in a clinical laboratory performing diagnostic testing and reporting.

Program Description

1. Pre-professional Phase. During the first two years, students enroll as pre-majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, satisfying general education requirements as well as completing prerequisite courses.
2. Professional Phase. The professional phase begins autumn quarter of the third year and continues for seven consecutive quarters at the UW School of Medicine. Courses in the first year of the professional phase provide students an appropriate theoretical background and basic technical skills that enable them to function effectively in the clinical laboratory.

The final year is offered in the clinical laboratories of the UW Medical Center and its principal affiliates. Students in the core clinical laboratories receive on-the-bench training in chemistry, hematology, immunohematology, and microbiology.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: Graduates of the medical laboratory science program are expected to have in-depth knowledge of the relationships between laboratory data and pathologic processes, and how laboratory data relate to clinical medicine. They have experience with the performance and quality control of routine and specialized medical laboratory testing procedures and an understanding of the theoretical basis of these procedures. In addition, they have experience trouble-shooting and resolving typical problems in the clinical laboratory and are familiar with laboratory quality assurance, safety, governmental regulations, information systems, management, research design and practice, educational methodology, continuing education, communication, ethics, professionalism, and concepts and principles of laboratory operations.

  Successful medical laboratory scientists enjoy studying the biological, chemical, and physical sciences and find personal satisfaction and intellectual reward in applying scientific methods in the diagnosis and evaluation of disease. A medical laboratory scientist may practice as a generalist, using knowledge in several of the scientific areas, or may specialize in one scientific area in larger hospitals. Medical laboratory scientists may work in a variety of settings, including clinical laboratories in large medical centers, hospitals, and clinics. Others carry out research in industrial, public health, and medical laboratories, or teach in hospitals, colleges, and universities.

• Instructional and Research Facilities: The major training sites are the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center. Affiliate hospitals include Seattle Children's hospital, Labcorp Dynacare, Group Health Cooperative, MultiCare Health System, Northwest Hospital, Providence Everett Medical Center, Providence St. Peter Hospital, Veterans' Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, and Highline Medical Center. The Puget Sound Blood Center is also affiliated with the University of Washington. These laboratories support patient care, and provide training and research in the major clinical divisions of chemistry, hematology, immunohematology (blood banking), and microbiology, including multiple subspecialties in these divisions. In addition, students can either receive training in a variety of clinical laboratory rotations designed to enrich their core clinical experiences or participate in research in collaborative projects supervised by faculty members in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Enrichment rotations include subspecialty sections in chemistry, hematology, and/or microbiology; molecular diagnostics laboratories; and laboratories where multi-tasking skills are utilized.
• Honors Options Available: For Interdisciplinary Honors, see University Honors Program.
• Internship Opportunities: One or two internships per year in Japan available to graduates of the medical technology program.
• Department Scholarships: Several offered.
• Student Organizations/Associations: None currently active.

Of Special Note: The medical laboratory science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, (847) 939-3597, (773) 714-8880, (773) 714-8886 (fax), info@naacls.org, www.naacls.org. Graduates are eligible for certification by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology and by the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, Inc.