Histotechnician vs. Medical Laboratory Technician: What Are the Differences?

A career in the medical field can be both rewarding and challenging. Two positions that are in high demand are histotechnicians and medical laboratory technicians. Though both roles require knowledge of laboratory procedures and equipment, there are several key differences between the two.

In this article, we discuss the similarities and differences between histotechnicians and medical laboratory technicians, and we provide additional information about each position.

What is a Histotechnician?

Histotechnicians are responsible for the technical aspects of histology, which is the study of tissues. They prepare tissue samples for examination by a pathologist, which involves a number of steps such as fixation, sectioning and staining. Histotechnicians work in hospitals, clinics, private laboratories and research facilities. They use a variety of instruments and equipment to perform their duties, such as microscopes, cryostats and tissue processors. In addition to preparing tissue samples, Histotechnicians may also be responsible for maintaining laboratory equipment and supplies, keeping accurate records and performing quality control checks.

What is a Medical Laboratory Technician?

Medical Laboratory Technicians work in hospitals, clinics and private laboratories to collect and analyze samples from patients. They use a variety of techniques and equipment to analyze blood, tissue and other bodily fluids. Medical Laboratory Technicians may specialize in areas such as immunology, hematology or microbiology. They document their findings and report them to the supervising physician. Medical Laboratory Technicians typically work under the supervision of a Medical Laboratory Technologist.

Histotechnician vs. Medical Laboratory Technician

Here are the main differences between a histotechnician and a medical laboratory technician.

Job Duties

Medical transcriptionists and laboratory technicians share some of the same job duties, such as entering patient information into medical records and preparing samples for testing. However, there are key differences in their daily tasks.

For example, an audio-video transcriber may have fewer daily job responsibilities than a laboratory technician because they only perform one task. While laboratory technicians perform many different job duties, these professionals must complete all of their assigned tasks before leaving work each day.

Job Requirements

A histotechnician typically needs an associate degree in histotechnology or a related field to enter the profession. Some employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree, but it is not always required. A medical laboratory technician usually only needs a certificate or diploma from an accredited program to begin working in the field. However, some employers may prefer candidates with an associate degree.

Work Environment

Medical laboratory technicians work in a variety of environments, including hospitals, doctor’s offices and private laboratories. They may also work for the government or military. Histotechnicians typically work in forensic labs, where they process evidence from crime scenes. These professionals may also work in medical facilities, such as hospitals or physician’s offices.

Skills

Both histotechnicians and medical laboratory technicians need to have excellent attention to detail. This is important because they often work with small samples and need to be able to identify even slight changes. They also both need to be comfortable working with technology as they use microscopes and other equipment to examine samples.

While both roles require some level of customer service skills, histotechnicians may need them more frequently as they are often the ones who collect samples from patients. Medical laboratory technicians typically do not interact with patients directly but may need to communicate with doctors and nurses about results.

Both histotechnicians and medical laboratory technicians need to have strong critical thinking skills. This is important because they need to be able to analyze data and make decisions about next steps in their process. For example, if a histotechnician sees something unusual in a sample, they need to be able to determine whether it is worth investigating further or if it can be safely ignored.

Salary

The average salary for a histotechnician is $59,748 per year, while the average salary for a medical laboratory technician is $54,289 per year. Both of these salaries may vary depending on the location of the job, the size of the company and the level of experience the technician has.