Technical Standards

An individual intending to enter the APSU Medical Technology Program for degree/certification, subsequently to enter the profession of Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science, must have certain minimal technical skills and essential functions. The APSU MT Program expectations include:

1. Sufficient visual acuity to read small font text; to read text presented on a video or computer monitor; to recognize and identify instrument communication lights and/or readouts; to distinguish cells under high power light microscopy by means of color differences, morphology, granulation patterns, etc.; to recognize differences in morphology for bacterial colonies growing on solid media; to identify color, clarity, and viscosity of body fluids, etc.
2. Sufficient proficiency in the English language to read and comprehend complex scientific literature, to write technical papers and reports, to communicate effectively orally with other English speakers. International students must comply with APSU requirements regarding the TOEFL exam (or equivalent measures). See APSU University Bulletin.
3. Sufficient hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to operate complex mechanical and electronic instruments (e.g., compound microscope, spectrophotometer, centrifuge, electronic balance, computer terminal, semi-automated pipetting device, etc.); and perform complex manual techniques (e.g., drawing blood, plating bacterial cultures, manipulating microscope slides, test tubes, etc.).
4. Sufficient sound judgment and coping skills to perform effectively and function independently in stressful academic and clinical laboratory environments.
5. Sufficient emotional health and psychological/social adjustment to cooperate effectively in group activities and assignments and to perform in an ethical manner with professional colleagues and patients.
6. Sufficient confidence and maturity, upon training, to draw blood from fellow students, faculty, and/or patients as well as to handle properly, using universal safety precautions, blood and other body fluids as a part of performing clinical laboratory analyses in a student or clinical laboratory environment.