A South Dakota State University program that trains students to work in medical laboratories has sent its first senior class out to work on their internships at regional hospitals.

According to Pat Tille, director of SDSU's medical laboratory science program, there will be an acute need for lab technicians in the years ahead for South Dakota.

SDSU can help meet that need because the relatively new program is running at only half its capacity.

"Many lab technicians are 50 or older," Tille says. "This program will have a huge impact on the shortage of laboratory professionals that will occur in the region and nationally over the next decade," Tille said.

The Department of Health has recognized the medical laboratory science field as an area of "highest need" in the state. A recent report by U.S. News and World Report listed laboratory technologists as among the best medical professions for job growth nationwide in the next 10 years.

Students in SDSU's medical laboratory science program start their training on campus, and the 24 students accepted to the clinical portion of the training will spend the spring and summer of their senior year working with a pre- ceptor at one of 14 regional hos pitals that are taking part in the SDSU program.

Students who complete the degree will have experience in chemistry, immunology, immunohematology, urinalysis, microbiology, hematology and molecular diagnostics.

"It really is a medical science degree," Tille says. "It's an interdisciplinary degree which requires a diverse and broadly trained, medical professional."

The program recently received preliminary approval for accreditation from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Tille explained that the agency needs a class to have finished the program in order to conduct a complete evaluation for accreditation.

"While the accreditation is ongoing, students in the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification exam," Tille said.

Graduates can look forward to work in hospital labs, forensics , toxicology, genetics, molecular testing, research and development or sales.

According to Tille, the degree is "perfect" for students who are interested in a medical profession but are not necessarily interested in nursing or other advanced medical degrees.

"Everybody has a laboratory diagnostic test completed several times during their lifetime," Tille said. "In this profession, you're directly involved in the diagnostics and management of the patient, but patients don't see the laboratory professionals who work behind the scenes."

Anyone interested in more information about the medical laboratory science program should contact Tille at Pat.Tille@sdstate.edu.

SOURCE:reproduced