Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician

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Courses - May 2025

Level 1

Course details

Anatomy and Physiology
ANAT1120

Description:

This course will introduce students to essential human anatomy and physiology, including a brief review of biochemistry, cellular biology, infectious processes, human tissues, and body systems. The primary emphasis will be on the system-by-system overview of the human body's anatomy and physiology. This course provides a foundation for health science students to understand the various medical tests, procedures, and drugs available for diagnosis and treatment. The fundamental concepts covered in this course will form the basis for further studies in allied health sciences

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Clinical Biochemistry 1
CHEM1080

Description: This course will introduce students to biochemistry for medical laboratory science. Students will review chemical nomenclature and organic compounds' structure, followed by a focus on the characteristics—structure, properties, and metabolism—of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and non-protein nitrogen compounds. The importance of acid-base balance, body water/electrolyte balance, and enzymes will also be discussed.
  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

College Reading & Writing Skills
COMM1085

Description: This course introduces students to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills needed for academic and workplace success. Students will analyse a variety of texts and apply the steps of planning, writing, and revising to produce writing that meets the expectations of selected audiences and purposes. The course prepares students for college-level writing tasks, research, and documentation by asking them to produce clear, informed, and purposeful documents relevant to both academic and professional contexts.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Professional Practice and Ethics
ETHS1030

Description:

Students will explore the concept of a health professional and examine the roles and expectations of a medical laboratory professional in the Canadian health system. Emphasis on career liabilities, along with an overview of the profession's professional bodies, regulatory and organizational structure, will be reviewed. Students will also evaluate commonly encountered ethical, legal, and professional challenges/opportunities in the workplace. Through course content, lectures, selected readings, and student discussions, ethical and legal theories will be examined, together with what constitutes professional behaviour, values, and practical wisdom

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Laboratory Mathematics and Procedures for MLA
MATH1365

Description:

This course will provide students with the skills to perform math calculations to ensure accurate patient results. It includes a review of basic mathematical principles; calculations associated with dilutions, solutions, molarity, and normality; calculations specific to clinical laboratory areas; basic statistical calculations associated with quality assurance and quality control; and a review of the application of Westgard principles. Students will also be introduced to essential descriptive statistics used within the MLA sector.

  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Safety in the Workplace
OHS1320

Description: This course focuses on developing awareness and skills for the student to safely manage and conduct him or herself within a variety of employment settings. Through the units of the course, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of general Health and Safety guidelines, including WHMIS, Fire Safety and Workplace Violence. The unit on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act will instruct the student on the requirements for Accessible Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulations. General information on Safe Driving, Privacy of Information and Hand Washing will be addressed as well. The course also provides participants with critical information regarding their insurance coverage (WSIB or other) while employed. As well as guidelines to follow in the event of an injury. Participants will receive a printable Record of Completion upon successful conclusion of this course, in order to demonstrate awareness of safe working practices to their employers.
  • Hours: 14
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Medical Lab Techniques 1
SCIE1410

Description: This course provides an orientation to medical laboratory science and the profession's common techniques, practices, and equipment. Students will be introduced to the fundamental practice of medical laboratory science in Canada and provided the opportunity to develop basic applied skills suitable for the clinical laboratory setting that will carry through the remainder of the program. Students will be introduced to accepted safety procedures for handling specimens, reagents, and equipment (including WHMIS training). The laboratory sessions will introduce students to selected manual skills that are an integral part of medical laboratory science.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Clinical Microbiology 1
BIOL1100

Description: This course introduces students to the principles and methods of microbiology in the health sciences and provides an overview of level II microbiology laboratory safety aspects. Selected topics include an introduction to the field of microbiology, taxonomy, and nosocomial infection; an introduction to the classification, structure, and cultivation of bacteria; an overview of the significant role microbiology has in the overall health of the public; and an introduction to routine microbiology laboratory methods, including staining, aseptic technique, and select biochemical tests.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ANAT1120 AND SCIE1410
  • CoRequisites:

Specimen Procurement A
SCIE1420

Description:

This course will provide students with a complete overview of the pre-analytical aspects of medical laboratory science specimen procurement, including the practice of phlebotomy. In addition, students will explore ethical, legal, and therapeutic elements associated with phlebotomy. Students will also learn to collect, store, and prepare blood and other samples for analysis and evaluate collection and handling methods for any types of body fluids and tissue samples. This course is co-taught with SCIE1420B, which comprises the laboratory section of specimen procurement

  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites: SCIE1425

Specimen Procurement B
SCIE1425

Description:

This course will provide students with a complete overview of the preanalytical aspects of medical laboratory science specimen procurement, including phlebotomy practice. In addition, students will explore ethical, legal, and therapeutic elements associated with phlebotomy. Students will also learn to collect, store, and prepare blood and other samples for analysis and evaluate collection and handling methods for body fluids and tissue samples. This course is co-taught with SCIE1420A, which comprises the didactic elements of specimen procurement.

  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites: SCIE1420

Medical Lab Techniques 2
SCIE1430

Description: This course is a continuation of Medical Laboratory Techniques 1 and will allow students an opportunity to develop additional technical skills in the laboratory setting, including instrumentation and quality skills relevant to the medical laboratory sciences field. In addition to a review of instrumentation practices relating to common laboratory equipment, quality control, operation principles, and standard operating procedures in the laboratory setting, students will be introduced to CLSI guidelines, overall quality management, and quality system essentials.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: SCIE1410
  • CoRequisites:

Introduction to Immunology & Hematology
SCIE1440

Description:

This course introduces the fundamental knowledge associated with routine clinical hematology and immunology. In preparation for advanced study in hematology and immunohematology, topics will include an overview and introduction of routine hematology procedures; a review of basic cellular elements of blood, including red cells, white cells, and platelets; a review of the specific and non-specific mechanisms of immunity; and a review of basic molecules of immunity.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: ANAT1120 AND SCIE1410
  • CoRequisites:

Medical Lab Assistant/Technician Simulation
SCIE1500

Description:

This course requires students to apply their pre-requisite knowledge and skills in a simulated clinical laboratory setting. Using appropriate safety guidelines, students practice the preanalytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of the clinical specimens' testing process. Emphasis is on developing technical competence, use of quality assurance principles, and applying critical thinking skills to data interpretation and instrument troubleshooting. This course will prepare students to enter the clinical phase of the program at an affiliated hospital.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites: ANAT1120 AND ETHS1030 AND MATH1365 AND SCIE1410
  • CoRequisites:

Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 3

Course details

Field Placement (Medical Laboratory Assistant/Technician)
FPLT1620

Description:

This course allows the student to develop technical competence while reviewing theoretical material from previous semesters. This four-week hospital rotation will emphasize clinical procedures and acquaint the student with the hospital operation and administration associated with preanalytical practice common within the MLA sector.

  • Hours: 150
  • Credits: 5
  • Pre-Requisites: BIOL1100 AND OHS1320 AND SCIE1420 AND SCIE1425 AND SCIE1430 AND SCIE1440 AND SCIE1500
  • CoRequisites:

Program outcomes

  1. Comply with the legal and ethical requirements of professional practice to protect the patient's right to a reasonable standard of care.
  2. Assess and verify sample data to ensure that appropriate specimens are collected and handled according to established protocols in preparation for laboratory analysis.
  3. Perform preanalytical clinical laboratory procedures and techniques in conformance with approved safety guidelines, established protocols and existing legislation.
  4. Practice and promote the principles of quality management systems to meet established policies, processes, and procedures.
  5. Interact with clients, patients and other healthcare professionals using effective communication, teamwork skills and inter professional collaboration to provide quality laboratory service.
  6. Assess information and question as needed, using critical and problem-solving strategies, to support a safe and efficient medical laboratory practice.
  7. Evaluate pertinent laboratory data to interpret, document and report preanalytical and point-of care laboratory findings.
  8. Respect patient diversity, dignity, and confidentiality to ethically contribute to health care, public education and patient welfare.