Start main content

Medical Laboratory Technologists

Descriptions & Duties

  • Medical Laboratory Technologists perform medical laboratory tests on specimens of body fluids and tissues in order to obtain information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Their duties include setting up, maintaining, calibrating, testing and operating medical laboratory equipment; and recording as well as analysing data obtained from laboratory tests and clinical results to medical practitioners and other health professionals.

Generic Competencies

Physical Abilities

Physical abilities

  • Physical strength
  • Eye hand coordination / precision / dexterity

 

Importance:1 (Max:5) 

Skill is rarely required

 

Technology Skills

Technology skills

  • Computer literacy
  • Application of technology

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive abilities

  • Creativity
  • Visualisation
  • Logical thinking

 

Importance:3 (Max:5) 

Skill is basically required

 

Comprehension And Expression

Comprehension and expression skills

  • Reading comprehension
  • Oral / written expression

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Social Skills

Social skills

  • Communication
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Organisation And Execution Skills

Organisation and execution skills

  • Planning
  • Organising
  • Judgement
  • Decision making

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Problem Solving Skills

Problem solving skills

  • Ability to solve simple and complex problems effectively and efficiently

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Management Skills

Management skills

  • Leadership
  • Management of finance / time / people / other resources

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Trade Specific Competencies

Professional knowledge and skills in medical laboratory

Medical Laboratory Technologists must be able to follow instructions from medical practitioners in order to perform correct tests or procedures and operate complex medical and testing machinery.

General Requirements

Academic qualification

  • generally have an ordinary certificate or a higher certificate in medical laboratory technology, a higher diploma in medical laboratory science, a bachelor's degree of science in biomedical science or medical laboratory science, or equivalent.

Professional qualification

  • must be a registered medical laboratory technologist under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance

Other specific requirements

  • must hold a valid practicing certificate issued by the Medical Laboratory Technologists Board under the Supplementary Medical Professions Council of Hong Kong

Career Path & Salary

Private Sector

Monthly Salary $20,000-$50,000

Monthly Salary $30,000-$60,000

Monthly Salary $40,000-$80,000

Government Sector

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 8-21

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 22-28

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 25-33

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 34-39

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 40-44

Monthly Salary Employed by Hospital Authority according to Hospital Authority Pay Scale instead of Civil Service Pay Scale

Monthly Salary Employed by Hospital Authority according to Hospital Authority Pay Scale instead of Civil Service Pay Scale

Monthly Salary Employed by Hospital Authority according to Hospital Authority Pay Scale instead of Civil Service Pay Scale

*For more details on Civil Service Pay Scales, please visit website of the Civil Service Bureau.
http://www.csb.gov.hk/english/admin/pay/952.html

Related Education & Training

Work Environment

  • Medical Laboratory Technologists usually work in hospitals and some independent laboratories. They may work evenings, weekends, or overnight hours.

Tools

  • Blood bank analysers - Agglutination viewers
  • Blood collection needle
  • Blood collection needle holders
  • Capillary or hematocrit tubes, Capillary tubes
  • Chemistry analysers; Automated/ semi-automated dipstick analysis systems; Heterologous test systems; Homologous test systems
  • Chromatographic detectors
  • Coagulation analysers; Portable coagulation analysers
  • Electrolyte analysers
  • Plasma extractors
  • Fluorescent microscopes
  • Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators
  • Glucose monitors or meters-
  • Hemacytometer sets
  • Hematology analysers; Automated platelet analysers; Hematology task-targeted automation TTA systems; Semiautomated hematology analysers
  • Immunology or serology test kits or supplies

Related Occupations