Medical Laboratory Science
Medical Laboratory Science
Program Director: Floyd Josephat, MLS (ASCP), AHI (AMT), EdD
Program Mission
The Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (BS MLS) program is committed to providing students with a solid educational background and a set of skills translatable to a variety of laboratory settings including hospital laboratories, reference laboratories, industry, research laboratories, and many more. The faculty, in its concern for the health and safety of the general public, is committed to ensuring that each student develops knowledge, skills, and values essential to the appropriate role, providing the basis for continuing intellectual and professional growth.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general UAB admission requirements, to gain admission to the BS MLS program, applicants must:
- Have a minimum cumulative overall GPA of 2.75 at the time of application. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 does not guarantee admission to the BS MLS program. Admission is competitive and is based on space available.
- Have successfully completed a minimum of 58 semester credit hours prior to matriculation into the BS MLS program.
- Have successfully completed all BS MLS prerequisite courses with a “C” or above prior to matriculation into the BS MLS program.
- Provide a written statement of interest and career goals.
- If accepted, a background check and drug screening will be required at program admission and again prior to clinical placement.
- If accepted, complete the UAB Student Health and Wellness Level III Immunization requirements and provide proof of medical coverage.
Application Procedure
Students are eligible to apply when they have successfully completed a minimum of 40 semester hours of credit. If accepted, applicants are enrolled in the Fall semester after completion of all admission requirements. Applicants should submit the following materials:
To the UAB Undergraduate Admissions Office:
- Completed UAB undergraduate application and fee, if applicable. The online application can be found at https://www.uab.edu/admissions/apply.
- Official transcripts from each college or university attended.
To the Medical Laboratory Science program, School of Health Professions:
- Completed application to the BS MLS Program. Application form is available online at https://www.uab.edu/shp/cds/undergraduate/medical-laboratory-science-major.
- Unofficial copies of all transcripts from each college or university attended.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental tasks, behaviors, and abilities necessary to successfully complete the requirements of the Program. A full list of the essential functions of the program is available from the BS MLS website under the Admissions link. Essential functions are physical abilities, mental abilities, skills, attitudes, and behaviors the students must evidence or perform at each stage of their education. The absence of an essential function would fundamentally alter a student's ability to meet the program’s goals. The essential requirements include categories of observation, movement, communication, intellect, and behavior.
Accreditation and Certification
The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Program graduates are eligible to apply for the certification examination offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC).
NAACLS
5600 N River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: 773.714.8880
Fax: 773.714.8886
URL: http://www.naacls.org/
ASCP Board of Certification
33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312.541.4999
Fax: 312.541.4998
URL: http://www.ascp.org/
Contact Information
For detailed information, contact the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science Program in the UAB School of Health Professions:
1716 9th Avenue South, SHPB 430
Birmingham, AL 35294-1212
Telephone: 205-934-3209
E-mail: AskMLS@uab.edu
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Blazer Core 1 | 41 | |
| Pre-Calculus Algebra 2 | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CH 125 | General Chemistry I HONORS | |
| General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
or CH 126 | General Chemistry I HONORS Laboratory | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
or CH 127 | General Chemistry II HONORS | |
| General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
or CH 128 | General Chemistry II HONORS Laboratory | |
| Prerequisites | 16 | |
| Introductory Biology I | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
or CH 245 | Organic Chemistry I Honors | |
| Introduction to Microbiology | ||
or BY 271 | Biology of Microorganisms | |
or BMD 330 | Clinical Microbiology for Health Professions | |
| Genetics | ||
or BMD 440 | Human Genetics for Health Professions | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| MT 401 | Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science | 3 |
| MT 403 | Body Fluids | 1 |
| MT 404 | Body Fluid Lab | 1 |
| MT 418 | Immunology | 3 |
| MT 428 | Hematology I | 4 |
| CLS 402 | Fundamentals of Phlebotomy and Body Fluid Collection | 1 |
| MT 423 | Clinical Microbiology | 3 |
| MT 424 | Clinical Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| MT 426 | Instrumentation and Automation | 2 |
| MT 427 | Instrumentation and Automation Laboratory | 1 |
| MT 432 | Hematology II | 4 |
| MT 430 | Immunohematology | 4 |
| MT 431 | Immunohematology Laboratory | 1 |
| MT 438 | Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| MT 439 | Infectious Diseases Laboratory | 1 |
| MT 442 | Molecular Diagnostics | 3 |
| MT 443 | Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory | 1 |
| MT 405 | Laboratory Management | 3 |
| MT 451 | Clinical Chemistry | 4 |
| MT 452 | Clinical Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MT 460 | Clinical Correlations | 3 |
| MT 470 | Certification Review | 1 |
| MT 495 | Clinical Practice | 12 |
| General Electives | 2 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Example Program of Study for a Major in Medical Laboratory Science
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours | ||
| EH 101 | 3 | EH 102 | 3 | ||
| HRP 101 | 3 | Reasoning | 3 | ||
| BY 123 & 123L | 4 | BY 124 & 124L | 4 | ||
| CH 115 & CH 116 | 4 | CH 117 & CH 118 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours | ||
| BY 210 | 3 | BY 271 & 271L | 4 | ||
| CH 235 & CH 236 | 4 | History | 3 | ||
| MA 105 | 3 | Humans and Society | 3 | ||
| History | 3 | Creative Arts | 3 | ||
| Communications | 3 | City as a Classroom | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours | Summer Term | Hours |
| MT 401 | 3 | MT 423 & MT 424 | 4 | MT 430 & MT 431 | 5 |
| MT 403 & MT 404 | 2 | MT 426 & MT 427 | 3 | MT 438 & MT 439 | 4 |
| MT 418 | 3 | MT 432 | 4 | MT 442 & MT 443 | 4 |
| MT 428 | 4 | CLS 402 | 1 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 13 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours | ||
| MT 405 | 3 | MT 495 | 12 | ||
| MT 451 & MT 452 | 5 | MT 470 | 1 | ||
| MT 460 | 3 | ||||
| CDS 4051 | 1 | ||||
| 12 | 13 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 122 | |||||
- 1
Or another 1 credit hour elective, approved by your academic advisor
CLS-Clinical Laboratory Sci Courses
CLS 402. Fundamentals of Phlebotomy and Body Fluid Collection. 1 Hour.
An in depth course in phlebotomy covering aspects of safety procedures, hygiene, capillary puncture, venipuncture, arterial access and maintenance, intravenous access and maintenance, drug administration via IV, intramuscular and subcutaneous methods and non-blood collections of bodily fluids.
MT-Medical Technology Courses
MT 350. Special Topics: Chemistry. 1-3 Hour.
Designed specifically for individual student to cover topics not covered in MLT curriculum.
MT 400. Health and Safety Management. 1 Hour.
Review of infection control principles focused on bloodborne, airborne, drug-resistant and opportunistic pathogens, and general health and safety guidelines and standards.
MT 401. Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science. 3 Hours.
Overview of issues and skills surrounding working in the modern laboratory environment; introduction to roles and functions of a medical laboratory scientist; includes safety, equipment, mathematics, measurements, microscopy, dilutions, quality assurance, regulations of the laboratory, laboratory operations, and educational principles.
MT 403. Body Fluids. 1 Hour.
Diagnosis and monitoring renal and systemic disease through the physical, biochemical, and microscopic analysis of urine and feces. Diagnosis of central nervous system and systemic disease through cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Diagnosis of metabolic and infectious disease through analysis of peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, transudates, and exudates. Fertility testing using semen analysis.
MT 404. Body Fluid Lab. 1 Hour.
Diagnosis and monitoring renal and systemic disease through the physical, biochemical, and microscopic analysis of urine and feces. Diagnosis of central nervous system and systemic disease through cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Diagnosis of metabolic and infectious disease through analysis of peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, transudates, and exudates. Fertility testing using semen analysis. Concurrent enrollment MT 403.
Prerequisites: MT 403 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 405. Laboratory Management. 3 Hours.
Current catalog description will remain unchanged. Ethics and Civic Responsibility are significant components of this course.
MT 406. Laboratory Techniques. 2 Hours.
Overview of issues and skills surrounding working in the modern laboratory environment;
includes safety, collection of specimens, equipment, mathematics, measurements, microscopy,
dilutions, quality assurance, basic spectrophotometry, phlebotomy, automation of laboratory
testing and lab computers.
MT 418. Immunology. 3 Hours.
Physiology of immune responses to infectious agents, tumors, transplant; abnormal responses: hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, immunoproliferative disorders, and immunodeficiencies; antigen-antibody reactions; complement; principles and applications of clinical immunology.
MT 423. Clinical Microbiology. 3 Hours.
Reservoirs, modes of transmission, disease associations, and morphological and biochemical characteristics of microorganisms commonly isolated in the clinical laboratory; methods used to isolate and identify bacteria, parasites, and fungi.
Prerequisites: BY 271 [Min Grade: C] or BY 261 [Min Grade: C]
MT 424. Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. 1 Hour.
Performance of techniques and tests used in the isolation and identification of bacteria, fungi and parasites commonly seen in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Concurrent enrollment MT 423.
Prerequisites: (BY 261 [Min Grade: C] or BY 271 [Min Grade: C]) and MT 423 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 426. Instrumentation and Automation. 2 Hours.
This course includes the study of the theory and principles of automation and instrumentation used in laboratories. An emphasis will be placed on quality control, quality assurance, instrumentation principles, basic statistics, and the regulatory, and economic issues encountered in laboratories including, clinical labs, health labs, government labs, private labs and other laboratories.
Prerequisites: CH 117 [Min Grade: C] and CH 118 [Min Grade: C]
MT 427. Instrumentation and Automation Laboratory. 1 Hour.
This course includes the practical application of automation and instrumentation used in laboratories. An emphasis will be placed on quality control, quality assurance, instrumentation principles, basic statistics, and the regulatory, and economic issues encountered in laboratories including, clinical labs, health labs, government labs, private labs and other laboratories.
Prerequisites: CH 117 [Min Grade: C] and CH 118 [Min Grade: C] and MT 426 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 428. Hematology I. 4 Hours.
Systematic examination of the normal hematologic and hemostatic systems: blood cell production, structure and function; blood cell morphology; performance, evaluation and interpretation of routine and special tests; primary hemostasis, coagulation and fibrinolysis. The course includes a mandatory laboratory component.
MT 430. Immunohematology. 4 Hours.
Analyze blood group antigen-antibody reactions;donor blood collection and testing serological characteristics and immunogenetics of the major blood group systems; pretransfusion testing, basic and advanced techniques of antibody identification and problem-solving; transfusion therapy; laboratory eveluation of hermolytic disease of the newborn; and the investigation of immune coating of red cells in vivo, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Application of theory and problem-solving skills is emphasized.
Prerequisites: MT 418 [Min Grade: C]
MT 431. Immunohematology Laboratory. 1 Hour.
Performance and evaluation of: red cell phenotyping, antibody detection and identification, pretransfusion testing, and laboratory investigation to diagnosis and treat hemolytic anemias and adverse effects of transfusion.
Prerequisites: MT 418 [Min Grade: C] and MT 430 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 432. Hematology II. 4 Hours.
Pathology of the hematologic and hemostatic systems: anemias, leukopenias, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative syndromes, chronic leukemias, acute leukemias, primary hemostatic disorders, coagulopathies, thrombophilia, and interpretation and correlation of laboratory data supporting diagnosis and management or treatment. The course includes a mandatory laboratory component.
Prerequisites: MT 428 [Min Grade: C]
MT 438. Infectious Diseases. 3 Hours.
Pathogenic mechanisms of infectious diseases; normal flora and pathogens of various body sites; methods for collection, transport, and culturing different types of clinical specimens; interpretation of cultures.
Prerequisites: MT 423 [Min Grade: C] and MT 424 [Min Grade: C]
MT 439. Infectious Diseases Laboratory. 1 Hour.
Performance and interpretation of direct Gram stains; culturing various types of clinical specimens for isolation of bacteria; performing and interpreting tests used in the identification of potential pathogens; reporting culture results; antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance testing.
Prerequisites: MT 423 [Min Grade: C] and MT 424 [Min Grade: C] and MT 438 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 442. Molecular Diagnostics. 3 Hours.
The course will focus on the development of knowledge in and the fundamental principles of: molecular biochemistry, medical genetics, molecular pathology, performance, evaluation and interpretation of molecular tests.
Prerequisites: BY 210 [Min Grade: C]
MT 443. Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. 1 Hour.
The course will focus on applications and analysis, and the development of competencies in: nucleic acid isolation, analysis of nucleic acids and protein, cytogenetics, PCR and others.
Prerequisites: MT 442 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 451. Clinical Chemistry. 4 Hours.
Theory of clinical laboratory techniques to identify and quantitate chemical analytes in body fluids and the correlation of these analytes to human disease.
Prerequisites: MT 426 [Min Grade: C] and MT 427 [Min Grade: C]
MT 452. Clinical Chemistry Laboratory. 1 Hour.
Performance of laboratory techniques used to identify and quantitate chemical analytes in body fluids and the correlation of these analytes to human disease.
Prerequisites: MT 451 [Min Grade: C]
MT 455. Research Principles. 2 Hours.
Clinical research principles and methods relevant to laboratory medicine assays; applications of descriptive and inferential statistics with diagnostic assay accuracy studies; development of competencies for critical analyses of empirical research papers to determine quality of empirical evidence and the operating characteristics of the diagnostic assays studied and the planning process for verification studies of diagnostic assays. Quantitative Literacy is a significant component of this course.
MT 460. Clinical Correlations. 3 Hours.
Analyze and interpret laboratory case studies; correlate clinical and technical information obtained from various topics covered throughout the curriculum; work with groups to present case studies with an emphasis on application and interpretation of laboratory protocols, competence in grammar usage and mechanics, and writing conventions required for laboratory professionals. Writing is a significant component of this course.
Prerequisites: MT 430 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently) and MT 432 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently) and MT 451 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently) and MT 438 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 470. Certification Review. 1 Hour.
Review of medical technology/ clinical laboratory science body of knowledge with required comprehensive trial certification final examination using self-directed online materials. Experience with the development of a personal certification maintenance plan to meet requirements defined by national certification agencies in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Medical Technology students only.
Prerequisites: MT 495 [Min Grade: C](Can be taken Concurrently)
MT 495. Clinical Practice. 1-12 Hour.
This CLS program capstone course involves directed clinical practice in hematology, chemistry, microbiology, immunology and immunohematology with focused activities to reinforce, integrate and apply knowledge obtained throughout the curriculum. Students will organize, build on, and reflect on previous assignments/experiences to demonstrate attainment of discipline-specific writing, quantitative literacy, ethical issues, and civic engagement.
Faculty
| Josephat, Floyd, Professor and Program Director, 2015, EdD (Union University-Tennessee) |
| Miller, Brianna, Assistant Professor, 2009, MS (UAB), SBB, Transfusion Medicine |
| Perry, Katelynn, Instructor, 2023, MS (UAB) |
| Roscoe-Nelson, Shanequa, Instructor, 2023, MS (UAB) |
| Webb, Tera, Assistant Professor, 2021, PhD (UAB), Medical Laboratory Science and Simulation |