Some medical technologists work in a narrow field of practice. For instance, some labs specialize in genetics or cytopathology. Other labs may have specific roles and functions within a hospital or institutional setting.
A medical technologist working in transfusion medicine makes sure that there is enough of a safe supply of blood in a blood bank.
They may also do blood typing and screening for infectious diseases, such as HIV and viral hepatitis.5
In forensic pathology, a medical technologist may help review the clinical and anatomical evidence after a person’s sudden, unexpected death.
The forensic pathologist is responsible for getting specimens (such as clothing fibers or tissue from a body), but the medical technologist would run many of the tests that are needed to determine the cause of death.
Organ-Specific Pathology
There are pathology subspecialties that focus on specific organs or physiological systems.
A medical technologist working within these subspecialties would usually require extra training to learn about the different diseases that affect an organ system and how those diseases are diagnosed.
For example, a medical technologist might focus on:
Cardiovascular pathology (heart and circulatory system)
Endocrine pathology (glands that produce hormones)
Gastrointestinal pathology (digestive tract)
Genitourinary pathology (genitals and urinary tract)
