85th Anniversary Mural Honouring the Profession
The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) celebrates it’s 85th anniversary in 2022 – what a milestone! For eight decades and counting, CSMLS has been the certifying and professional body for medical laboratory professionals across Canada. We are proud to have advocated and educated on behalf of all members, while continuing to support their career journey and growth.
To celebrate, CSMLS commissioned a mural by Hamilton artist Lester Coloma that honours the work of medical laboratory professionals and encapsulates all they do for patient care. Located in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, minutes away from the location where our Society was first formed in 1937, every detail in the mural was specifically chosen to represent different elements of the profession. From one medical laboratory professional using the microscope to another caring for a patient, members and patients alike can see themselves in Coloma’s work – showing just how entwined the laboratory is to every Canadian’s life.
To the medical laboratory professionals working across the country to inform diagnosis and guide patient care, we see you and we celebrate you! Thank you for your work and commitment.
See the numbers on the interactive digital mural, or the numbered menu below, to learn more about the role of medical laboratory professionals.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
1) Sample Analysis
Medical Laboratory Professionals (MLPs) analyze patient samples to provide results that guide diagnosis and treatment. These MLPs are called Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs). They often work behind the scenes in a laboratory with special equipment, but patient care is always their first priority!
2) Sample Collection
MLPs also sort, prepare and process patient samples to be tested. These MLPs are often Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs). These are the laboratory professionals that most often interact directly with you!
3) Detecting Disease in Blood
This inner ring shows what a blood cells looks like under a microscope. To find signs of disease, MLTs analyze blood samples to look for any abnormalities in the patient’s blood. The larger, dark cells in this ring are a sign of sepsis, an illness where the body has a severe response to an infection.
4) Karyotype Genetic Test
This ring shows genes in a karyotype test, which is the process of sorting a patient’s chromosomes to spot genetic abnormalities or disease. Clinical Genetics Technologists use sample tissues like amniotic fluid, blood and bone marrow to complete this test, and it is often performed to monitor a baby’s development before birth.
5) Bacteria on a Petri Dish
The streaks on this outer ring are inspired by bacteria in a petri dish. MLTs often use petri dishes to help diagnose infectious diseases, using a process called streaking to isolate and identify a specific microbe from the patient sample.
6) Caring for Patients
MLPs perform approximately 1.2 million laboratory tests every day to help diagnose and treat the thousands of health issues that affect Canadians, like cancer, auto-immune diseases, diabetes, and COVID-19. Every time you have a sample collected and tested, thank a medical laboratory professional for the results!
Who Are Medical Lab Professionals
Medical Laboratory Technologist
MLTs analyze samples, such as tissues and body fluids, to provide results for physician diagnosis and treatment.
Clinical Genetics Technologist
CGTs use a variety of instruments to analyze and diagnose changes or abnormalities in chromosomes and DNA, which are unique to every individual. A CGT’s analysis of these cells can lead to a diagnosis of genetic diseases.
Diagnostic Cytology Technologist
DCTs are health professionals that analyze cellular changes that can determine the presence of specific diseases.
Medical Laboratory Assistant
MLAs work under the supervision of an MLT, performing the practical components of sample analysis. MLAs sort, prepare, and sometimes process samples that will be tested and analyzed by an MLT.