Description
Diagnose and monitor disease through laboratory medicine by directing and interpreting tests on blood and body fluids; manage clinical laboratory operations, quality, and compliance; develop and validate assays; and advise clinicians on test selection and results, including transfusion services.
- • Interpret complex clinical laboratory results and issue consultative reports.
- • Review cases by correlating laboratory data with clinical information.
- • Manage and direct clinical laboratory sections (chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, microbiology, immunology, molecular diagnostics).
- • Oversee transfusion medicine services, including compatibility testing and transfusion reaction workups.
- • Develop, validate, and implement new assays and instruments to improve diagnosis and monitoring.
- • Ensure laboratory quality control, quality assurance, and proficiency testing performance.
- • Maintain regulatory compliance with CLIA, CAP, and other accrediting bodies.
- • Educate physicians, residents, fellows, and laboratory personnel in laboratory medicine.
- • Conduct clinical research and present scientific findings.
- • Provide on-call consultation for critical values and urgent test interpretation.
- • Advise clinicians on appropriate test selection, utilization, and reflex testing algorithms.
- • Analyze and interpret results from microbiology, serology, molecular, and other clinical tests (e.g., PCR, cultures, antigen/antibody assays).
- • Examine peripheral blood smears, body fluids, and other microscopic preparations for abnormalities.
- • Communicate significant laboratory findings to treating providers and multidisciplinary teams.
- • Plan and supervise the work of technologists, supervisors, and trainees in the clinical lab.
- • Oversee specimen collection, handling, and pre-analytical quality to prevent errors.
- • Implement and optimize laboratory information systems, decision rules, and result reporting.
- • Diagnose infectious diseases and immune disorders using serologic, molecular, and antigen detection methods.
- • Stay current by reviewing literature, participating in conferences, and engaging in professional organizations.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Available on paid plans only
Interview time
Related Pathways
Healthcare & Human Services
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026