About Us

The goal of our program is to provide a learning experience that will:

• Stimulate and challenge the student to become educated in the principles of laboratory medicine.
• Teach the clinical significance of laboratory procedures in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
• Provide an in-depth curriculum and clinical experience in an environment in which the problem-solving and judgment abilities of the student can develop and mature.
• Develop an understanding of the principles, necessity and practices of quality assurance.
• Allow acquisition of the technical skills necessary to perform manual tests and operate complicated, state-of-the-art instrumentation.
• Build problem-solving skills and familiarize students with principles of research/evaluation methods and personnel/business management in a clinical laboratory.
• Offer instruction in issues regarding patient rights, patient safety, patient privacy and compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Deliver instruction in environmental, health and safety practices necessary in a clinical laboratory.
• Assist in the development of communication skills that will enable effective listening, reading, speaking, writing and presentation of concepts, ideas and information.
• Provide examples of professionalism, leadership, integrity and compassion that can be observed and practiced.
• Demonstrate dedication to and the need for the continued acquisition of knowledge required for continuing professional development.

Upon completion of the CLS training program, individuals will possess the competencies necessary to perform the full range of clinical laboratory tests in areas of clinical chemistry, hematology/hemostasis, immunology, immunohematology, transfusion medicine, microbiology, urine and body fluid analysis, molecular diagnostics, laboratory operations and other emerging diagnostics, and will play a role in the development and evaluation of test systems and interpretive algorithms. 

The CLS will have diverse responsibilities in areas of analysis and clinical decision-making, regulatory compliance with applicable regulations, education and quality assurance/performance improvement wherever laboratory testing is researched, developed or performed.

At entry level, the CLS will have basic knowledge and skills in:

• Principles and practices of clinical study design, data analysis, implementation and dissemination of results.
• Principles and practices of administration and supervision as applied to clinical laboratory science.
• Communication skills sufficient to serve the needs of patients, the public and members of the healthcare team.
• Principles and practices of professional conduct and the significance of continuing professional development.
• Educational methodologies and terminology sufficient to train and educate users and providers of laboratory service.
• Application of safety and governmental regulations and standards as applied to clinical laboratory science.

Adapted from “Unique Standards for the Medical Laboratory Scientist, Core Standards for Accredited and Approved Programs.” National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), adopted 2012 (revised 2019).