Clinical Laboratory Science - Prospects for the Future
Cutting Edge of Technology 
Over 3,000 laboratory tests are currently available for diagnostic use. With the completion of the Human Genome Project, introduction of new medical technologies will cause this number to more than double. Genomic laboratory testing allows identification and quantification of:
- infectious disease agents, e.g. bacterial, viral, or parasitic
- cancer cells
- inherited diseases
- human cells, e.g., for organ transplantation, criminology, paternity testing, and forensic medicine.
Who performs this testing?
Clinical Laboratory Scientists
The LLU CLS program currently provides 20 percent of California's clinical laboratory scientist graduates. What opportunities will these graduates have for employment and career advancement?These positions may be found in:
Medical Opportunities
Hospital Laboratories
Hospital laboratories are found in small 30-bed hospitals up to large medical centers with over 1000 beds. Employment opportunities exist in rural, suburban, and metropolitan areas.Transfusion services
Transfusion services perform collection, processing, and testing of the nation's blood supply, as well as maintain donor information for bone marrow and organ transplantation.Reference laboratories
Reference laboratories provide laboratory services to medical clinics. Large regional reference labs are becoming major employers. These labs perform the more sophisticated, unusual, and esoteric laboratory tests. These are the Lab's Lab.
Molecular diagnostic services
Molecular diagnostic services utilize genetic testing and molecular biology methods for diagnosis.
Molecular biotechnology companies
Molecular biotechnology companies use molecular biology methods to produce pharmaceutical and laboratory compounds.In Vitro Fertilization laboratories
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) laboratories work with fertility clinics in monitoring hormone production as well as IVF procedures.Veterinary clinics
Veterinary medicine uses the same technologies and laboratory services as clinical medicine.
Research Opportunities
Research laboratories
Research laboratories push the frontiers of new development in medicine, nutrition, genomics, biochemical, and cellular biology.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities
Diagnostic product manufacturing and manufacturing companies
These companies develop, manufacture, and market products for:
scientific & medical applicationsPositions include:
laboratory supplies, reagents, and instrumentation
cellular culturing and harvesting
biochemical and chemical compounds
pharmaceutical use
Product development
Technical specialists and advisors
Quality management specialists
Marketing/sales
Consultation services
Physician office laboratories Quality control management
Regulatory agency compliance
Teaching Opportunities
Public health applications
Epidemiology
Microbiology/virology
Environmental health
CDC - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
NIH - National Institutes of Health
Forensic applications
Criminology and crime labs
Drug testing/toxicology
Anatomic pathology
Information management & computer applications
Medical laboratories are becoming the medical information integration centers for patient care.
Computer and information management skills are in high demand, as systems are developed and maintained for entire hospital, medical center, scientific, and medical manufacturing institutions.
CLS Student Capstone Project 2013