Literature review: Position of Laboratory Scientist, Analyst, and Technologist in Standard Occupation Classification
Bon-Kyeong Koo
Int. J. Bio. Lab. Sci 2021(10)2:75-85【PDF】
Abstract
Terms for medical laboratory personnel were researched using code names in the standard occupational classification and the job titles for a total of 46 countries including the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS) and European Association for Professions in Biomedical Science (EPBS) through Google search. In the case of the technologist or technician type, the identities used by medical laboratory personnel include biomedical laboratory health technician, clinical diagnostic laboratory technician, clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technician, medical technologist, biomedical analysis technician, clinical analysis technician, and medical analytics technician. For the analyst type, professional titles include bio analyst, biomedical analyst, and medical analyst, whereas for the scientist type, professional designations include biomedical scientist and medical laboratory scientist. Additionally, other professional titles may include bioengineer and medical technical laboratory assistant. In most countries, medical laboratory technologists and technicians belong to the Major Group 3 Technicians and Associate Professionals in the International Standard Classification of Occupations 2008 (ISCO-08). Biomedical scientists or medical laboratory scientists in the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand are categorized as Major Group 2 Professionals according to their standard occupational classification. Medical laboratory personnel must be distinguished in the International Standard Classification of Occupations because they have different education levels, experience levels, and responsibilities. Medical laboratory personnel with a bachelor's degree qualification should be moved to the Major Group 2 Professionals. Medical laboratory personnel with an associate degree or diploma qualification should be designated as Major Group 3 Technicians and Associate Professionals. A medical technologist and a medical technician or a medical laboratory technologist and a laboratory medical technician are not properly recognized by individuals with similar terms. This review proposes a new professional designation of "Medical Laboratory Analyst and Biomedical Analyst" as unified terms for medical laboratory personnel with a bachelor's degree qualification (excluding the title of medical laboratory scientist and biomedical scientist).
Key words: Associate professionals, Biomedical analyst and Medical laboratory analyst, Biomedical scientist and Medical laboratory scientist, Medical laboratory technologist and technician, Professionals
