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Standards of Practice

After extensive development, the CSMLS is proud to launch new national Standards of Practice for both medical laboratory technologists and medical laboratory assistants. These documents are important to not just practicing members, but to the profession as a whole. They provide current and meaningful standards for professional practice and behaviour in the field.

  Standards of Practice for Medical Laboratory Technologists

A standard of practice is defined as the desired and achievable performance level against which actual performance can be judged; it provides a benchmark for evaluating acceptable performance levels.

CSMLS Standards of Practice are designed to measure the accuracy and quality of individual performance and to provide the expectations associated with professionalism for medical laboratory technologists (MLTs); they represent the minimum national standards in Canada.

Provincial regulatory bodies, established under provincial statutes, also have specific, stringent standards of practice which govern disciplinary matters within their mandate and jurisdiction. Employers utilize both these provincial and national frameworks to establish specific workplace responsibilities and to develop job descriptions, policies and procedures.

The CSMLS General Medical Laboratory Technology Competency Profile establishes the scope of practice for medical laboratory technologists in Canada; it restricts MLTs to performing only those duties specifically outlined within that competency profile. MLTs must skillfully perform laboratory procedures. They must know the theory behind laboratory analyses and understand associated clinical applications. They must be competent, demonstrate sound judgment and possess good interpretive skills. They must be able to adapt to evolving situations related to various tests and outcomes, must follow established laboratory methods and must adhere to relevant quality control protocols. In addition, medical laboratory technologists must demonstrate appropriate professional conduct at all times.

Standard 1:  Professional Responsibility and Accountability

Medical laboratory technologists are responsible for their individual professional practice and conduct.

MLTs: 

  1. Follow the CSMLS Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics.
  2. Are responsible and accountable for continued individual competence.
  3. Practice within the legal and ethical framework of their profession.
  4. Adhere to accepted standards within their profession.
  5. Place patient welfare above all other considerations.
  6. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration with other health professionals.

Standard 2: Competent Application of Knowledge

Medical laboratory technologists possess a high degree of scientific knowledge; they understand the theories, techniques and clinical applications associated with medical laboratory analyses. They apply these skills and scientific knowledge to current practice. They maintain continued competence, commit to lifelong learning and sustain their professional skills.

MLTs:

  1. Demonstrate competence as outlined in the current CSMLS General Medical Laboratory technology Competency Profile.
  2. Correlate analyses, diagnoses, clinical data and treatment information to improve and maximize patient outcomes.
  3. Apply institutional policies and procedures in day-to-day practice.
  4. Adapt to changing practice requirements within the clinical environment.

Standard 3: Competence and Proficiency in Laboratory Practice

Medical laboratory technologists skillfully perform laboratory analyses. They utilize sound judgment and advanced interpretive skills to effectively recognize and quickly respond to developing situations associated with laboratory methods and patient testing, including troubleshooting equipment malfunctions and reviewing abnormal quality control results.

MLTs:

  1. Practice according to established protocols, safety guidelines, and existing legislation and regulations.
  2. Verify relevant data and ensure that appropriate specimens are properly procured and handled.
  3. Perform pre-analytical procedures on specimens from a variety of sources.
  4. Apply appropriate principles when performing analytical techniques and validating test results.
  5. Utilize scientific knowledge to interpret medical data.
  6. Practice and promote principles of good quality management and efficient resource utilization.
  7. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills to successfully address workplace challenges.
  8. Apply critical thinking skills to day-to-day professional practice.
  9. Demonstrate effective ability to research, investigate, evaluate and problem-solve in the workplace.

Standard 4: Communication and Collaboration

Medical laboratory technologists utilize effective communication skills and demonstrate strong teamwork abilities when interacting with patients and health care providers.

MLTs:

  1. Respect and support the role of patients and other health care providers.
  2. Articulate the role of medical laboratory professionals in planning, developing, delivering and evaluating patient care.
  3. Share relevant medical laboratory knowledge with patients, health care providers and the public.
  4. Document, protect and maintain confidential information.

References

Wallen, G. R., & Fisher, C. A. (2018). Clinical Research Nursing. Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, 671–685. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-849905-4.00039-3

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science; Competency Profile General Medical Laboratory Technologists, January 2015. Retrieved from https://go.csmls.org/cert/MLT_CP_2016.pdf

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science; Code of Professional Conduct, 2011. Retrieved from https://www.csmls.org/csmls/media/documents/Governance/Code_of_Professional_Conduct-en.pdf

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science. (2015). CSMLS Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.csmls.org/About-Us/Our-Members/Code-of-Ethics.aspx.

  Standards of Practice for Medical Laboratory Assistants

A standard of practice is defined as the desired and achievable performance level against which actual performance can be judged; it provides a benchmark for evaluating acceptable performance levels.

CSMLS Standards of Practice are designed to measure the accuracy and quality of individual performance and to provide the expectations associated with professionalism for medical laboratory assistants (MLAs); they represent the minimum national standards for CSMLS-certified MLAs across Canada. Employers utilize this framework to establish specific workplace responsibilities and to develop job descriptions, policies and procedures.

The CSMLS Medical Laboratory Assistants Competency Profile establishes the scope of practice for CSMLS-certified MLAs; it restricts CSMLS-certified MLAs to performing only those duties specifically outlined within that competency profile. MLAs must skillfully perform laboratory procedures and must know the theory behind those laboratory analyses. They must be competent and demonstrate sound judgment. In addition, medical laboratory assistants must demonstrate appropriate professional conduct at all times.

Standard 1: Professional Responsibility and Accountability

Medical laboratory assistants are responsible for their individual professional practice and conduct.

MLAs:

  1. Follow the CSMLS Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics.
  2. Are responsible and accountable for continued individual competence.
  3. Practice within the legal and ethical framework of their profession.
  4. Adhere to accepted standards within their profession.
  5. Place patient welfare above all other considerations.
  6. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration with other health professionals.

Standard 2: Competent Application of Knowledge

Medical laboratory assistants possess scientific knowledge relating to the theories and techniques associated with their role in medical laboratory testing. They apply these skills and knowledge to current practice. They maintain continued competence, commit to lifelong learning and sustain their professional skills.

MLAs:

  1. Demonstrate competence as outlined in the current CSMLS Medical Laboratory Assistant Competency Profile.
  2. Apply relevant knowledge, technical skills and professional judgment to improve and maximize patient outcomes.
  3. Apply institutional policies and procedures to day-to-day practice.
  4. Adapt to changing practice requirements within the clinical environment.

Standard 3: Competence and Proficiency in Laboratory Practice

Medical laboratory assistants must be skilled in pre- and post-analytical techniques regarding the procurement and handling of specimens and must demonstrate sound professional judgment when applying those techniques.

MLAs:

  1. Practice according to established protocols, safety guidelines, and existing legislation and regulations.
  2. Verify relevant data and ensure that appropriate specimens are properly procured and handled.
  3. Perform pre-analytical procedures on specimens from a variety of sources.
  4. Prepare reagents for medical laboratory testing using approved methods according to laboratory standards.
  5. Participate in quality management initiatives.
  6. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills to successfully address workplace challenges.
  7. Apply critical thinking skills to day-to-day professional practice.

Standard 4: Communication and Collaboration

Medical laboratory assistants utilize effective communication skills and demonstrate strong teamwork abilities when interacting with patients and other health care providers.

MLAs:

  1. Respect and support the role of patients and other health care providers.
  2. Articulate the role of medical laboratory professionals in planning, developing, delivering and evaluating patient care.
  3. Share relevant medical laboratory knowledge with patients, health care providers and the public.
  4. Document, protect and maintain confidential information.

References

Wallen, G. R., & Fisher, C. A. (2018). Clinical Research Nursing. Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, 671–685. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-849905-4.00039-3

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science; Competency Profile General Medical Laboratory Assistant, January 2016. Retrieved from https://go.csmls.org/cert/MLA_CP_2016.pdf

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science; Code of Professional Conduct, 2011. Retrieved from https://www.csmls.org/csmls/media/documents/Governance/Code_of_Professional_Conduct-en.pdf

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science. (2015). CSMLS Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.csmls.org/About-Us/Our-Members/Code-of-Ethics.aspx

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement : We respectfully acknowledge the CSMLS office, located in Hamilton, Ontario, is situated upon the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Mississauga Nation, Anishinaabe Peoples, and the Neutral Peoples. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon wampum, which is a treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the Between the Lakes Treaty No. 3, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

 

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