Glossary

academically-based program

When an accredited educational program is sponsored by a college or university it is referred to as academically-based. This is in contrast to a hospital-based program.

accreditation or accredited or accredited educational program

Institutions that meet professional standards can become accredited. Educational programs in laboratory science are accredited as are laboratories. Completion of an accredited educational program is typically required to become certified and eligible for employment.

ABHI or American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics

The American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics provides certification for individuals working in histocompatibility laboratories.

anatomical pathology

Anatomical pathology is the section of the laboratory devoted to tests on organs and tissues removed during biopsy or autopsy or by other methods.

ASCP-BOC or the Board of Certification

Board of Certification is joint venture of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Association of Genetic Technologists and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. It is one of several certifying agencies that establish standards for individuals to meet and offer tests to validate professional knowledge.

CAAHEP or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs sets standards for educational programs in cytotechnology.

categorical certification

Clinical laboratory scientists (medical technologists) are qualified to work in all areas of the clinical pathology laboratory. Some individuals are certified to work in just one area like microbiology or clinical chemistry. This is called categorical certification since it covers just one category.

certification, certified, or certification agency

People that meet professional standards can become certified. Typically this involves completion of specified educational requirements and passing an examination from a national certifying agency. Certified individuals use initials after their name to denote their qualification such as CLS(NCA), MT(ASCP), CT, etc.

CG or cytogenetic technologist or cytogenetics

CG is short for cytogenetic technologist or cytogenetics. Cytogenetic technologists extract the chromosomes from cells, perform tests on them and examine them for abnormalities.

CHT or certified histocompatibility technologist

A certified histocompatibility technologist (CHT) performs the testing to prevent rejection of transplanted organs like kidneys and livers. This is done in the histocompatibility department.

clinical experience

The portion of an educational program that is spent in a laboratory working along side professionals and learning the technical skills needed to perform the job.

clinical program

Typically used synonymously with internship, referring to a hospital-based educational program.

clinical pathology

Clinical pathology is the medical laboratory section devoted to testing of blood and body fluid samples like urine and spinal fluid.

CLPlb

CLPlb is the acronym for a phlebotomist certified by the National Credentialing Agency for Medical Laboratory Personnel.

CLS or clinical laboratory scientist or clinical laboratory science

CLS is synonymous with medical laboratory scientists, or the older term, medical technologist. A medical laboratory scientist is a laboratory professional with a bachelor's degree who is qualified to work in all areas of the clinical pathology laboratory. The different titles are associated with different certifying agencies.

CLSp(MB)

CLSp(MB) is the acronym for an individual certified in molecular biology/molecular pathology by the National Certification Agency for Laboratory Personnel.

CLT or clinical laboratory technician

CLT is short for clinical laboratory technician. A clinical laboratory technician is a laboratory professional with an associate's degree who is qualified to work in all areas of the clinical pathology laboratory. The title clinical laboratory technician is synonymous with medical laboratory technician. The different titles are associated with different certifying agencies.

CT or cytotechnologist or cytotechnology

CT is short for cytotechnologist or cytotechnology. A cytotechnologist examines slides of cells from body sites for evidence of cancer.

histocompatibility technologist

A histocompatibility technologist performs the testing to prevent rejection of transplanted organs like kidneys and livers. The acronym for a certified histocompatibility technologists is CHT.

histology

Histology is the microscopic anatomy of tissues and in the medical laboratory is the area where tissues are prepared for microscopic examination.

hospital-based program

When an accredited educational program is sponsored by a laboratory it is referred to as hospital-based since it is usually hospital laboratories that do this. This is in contrast to an academically-based program.

HT or histotechnician

HT is short for histotechnician. A histotechnician is a laboratory professional with an associate's degree who is qualified to work in the histology section of the anatomical pathology laboratory.

HTL or histotechnologist

HTL is short for histotechnologist. A histotechnologist is a laboratory professional with a bachelor's degree who is qualified to work in the histology section of the anatomical pathology laboratory.

internship

In the laboratory science professions, an internship refers to an accredited educational experience in a hospital-based educational program. This is a more formal educational experience than internships in other disciplines such as business.

MLS or medical laboratory scientist or medical laboratory science

MLS is short for medical laboratory scientist or medical laboratory science. A medical laboratory scientist is a laboratory professional with a bachelor's degree who is qualified to work in all areas of the clinical pathology laboratory. The title medical laboratory scientist is synonymous with clinical laboratory scientist and medical technologist. The titles are associated with different certifying agencies.

MLT or medical laboratory technician

MLT is short for medical laboratory technician. A medical laboratory technician is a laboratory professional with an associate's degree who is qualified to work in all areas of the clinical pathology laboratory. The title medical laboratory technician is synonymous with clinical laboratory technician. The titles are associated with different certifying agencies.

molecular technology or molecular technologist

Laboratory testing related to DNA and RNA is called molecular. Individuals can be educated and certified to work specifically in the molecular pathology laboratory {See CLSp(MB) or MP}

MP

MP is the acronym for individuals certified in molecular biology/pathology by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

MT or medical technologist or medical technology

MT is short for medical technologist or medical technology. A medical technologist is a laboratory professional with a bachelor's degree who is qualified to work in all areas of the clinical pathology laboratory. The title medical technologist is synonymous with clinical laboratory scientist and medical laboratory scientist. The titles are associated with different certifying agencies.

NAACLS or the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science is the agency that sets standards for educational programs in medical laboratory science (both bachelors and associate levels), histology (both associate and bachelor's levels), cytogenetics, pathologist's assistant, and phlebotomy.

NCA or National Credentialing Agency

National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel was one of several certifying agencies that established standards for individuals to meet and offer tests to validate professional knowledge. In 2009, NCA dissolved and its sponsoring organizations, the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and the Association of Genetic Technologists, joined with the American Society for Clinical Pathology to sponsor the ASCP-BOC.

Pathologist

A physician who completes medical school and then specializes in pathology. There are subspecialties including anatomical, clinical, and forensic.

Pathologist's assistant

Individuals who dissect tissue samples and prepare them for histological testing are called pathologist's assistants. They work in the anatomical pathology laboratory.

pathology

The science using laboratory tests to detect, monitor, and predict disease.

PBT or phlebotomy technician

PBT is the acronym for a phlebotomist certified by the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (see ASCP-BOR)

phlebotomist

A phlebotomist is an individual who collects blood samples from patients and may perform limited testing.

registry

The American Society for Clinical Pathology-Board of Registry was one of several certifying agencies. The ASCP-BOR examination was called "the registry" examination because the BOR published a list of certified individuals and the list is a "registry".