Clinical Labs

Clinical Labs

Whether you're an experienced laboratory professional, a new graduate, or currently a student in the sciences, we invite you to explore the clinical laboratories at Mayo Clinic. Here you will be a valued member of an outstanding health-care team and will experience the exemplary environment of one of the world's leading health-care institutions.

The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology's (DLMP) mission is to provide the highest quality laboratory and pathology services to the patients, physicians, and others we serve. At one of the largest laboratories in the world, more than 3,300 people work in 50 specialty laboratories and perform more than 16,000,000 tests per year. Our work is performed by a highly skilled team of medical professionals, including pathologists, physicians, scientists, medical technologists, medical technicians, lab assistants, biologists, chemists, microbiologists, geneticists, and other specialists. We receive patient specimens for testing from Mayo Clinic and Mayo Health System and are a reference laboratory for other clinics and hospitals the world over.

Our employees are hired into a specific laboratory to allow for focused training and enhancement of specialty job skills. This ensures that the highest level of expertise in testing and consultation is available. Many of our clinical laboratory staff choose to make a long-term commitment to a specialty area and spend their entire career in the laboratory setting, while others elect to pursue other opportunities such as management, education, research, marketing, or computer science.

Mayo Clinic's Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology includes 50 specialty laboratories that fall within the following divisions:

Anatomic Pathology

Anatomic Pathology's mission is to provide the highest quality pathology services in clinical practice, research, and education while striving to broaden our understanding of human disease.

Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology

Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology provides diagnostic testing for antibodies, enzymes, peptides, proteins, and small molecular weight biochemicals such as products of metabolism, drugs, and hormones.

Clinical Microbiology

Clinical Microbiology provides a comprehensive array of conventional culture, direct exam and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular diagnostic testing, and serologic testing for diagnosing infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.

Clinical Core Laboratory Services (CCLS)

CCLS provides a wide range of services for hospital inpatients and clinic outpatients. The services offered include: specimen collections, tuberculin testing, hospital-based point of care testing, hospital-based STAT diagnostic testing, Mayo Family Practice laboratories (limited menus for on-site collection and testing), and a variety of services unique to the individual work area.

Hematopathology

Hematopathology encompasses a number of specialty labs that perform both basic and specialized hematology testing. Our laboratories utilize instrumentation, microscopic review and morphologic evaluation to obtain the complete hematologic picture of our patients.

Laboratory Genetics

Laboratory Genetics contributes to the study of genetic disease and the advancement of genetic testing and related technology.

Transfusion Medicine

Transfusion Medicine includes the "Blood Bank", but also many other activities vital to patient care, including stem cell collection and processing for bone marrow transplants, solid organ compatibility testing, and intraoperative blood salvage.

Laboratory Genetic Counselor

In various lab units on the Mayo campus, Laboratory Genetic Counselors provide pre-test and post-test consultation, technical support, and expertise to referring physicians and health-care professionals. These professionals also coordinate and track specimens, report results, and serve as educators and resources for other health-care professionals and the general public. A typical counselor will demonstrate excellent organizational skills, multitasking capabilities, and analytical comprehension. As the genetic field continues to evolve, being a "lifelong learner" is very important for staying abreast of the research and practice.

Individuals with proven competencies and experience in a clinical or research laboratory setting and demonstrated analytical and scientific competence with laboratory procedures are encouraged to consider a career as a development technologist. Development technologists develop, evaluate, and implement new tests or methodologies for the laboratory under the intellectual and scientific guidance of laboratory directors and development coordinators. The development technologist assumes responsibility for improvement of existing methods or implementation of new technology of proven validity; maintains complete and accurate documentation of data generated and work performed; organizes new method validation data, prepares data for publication and peer review, and participates in formal presentations within the institution; aids in the investigation, installation, and evaluation of laboratory equipment, instrumentation, computer software and hardware, new reagent systems, and other specialty items; and participates in the training of laboratory staff, residents, and students in principles of methods and applications within the laboratory. The technologist plays a major role in the development of molecular assays.

Pathology Assistants have a variety of roles in the Division of Anatomic Pathology. These include assisting with autopsies and examining tissue submitted to the division by surgeons and other physicians. They also photograph specimens, assist in research projects, and help teach residents and fellows. They may also be involved in coroner activities. The roles vary significantly depending on the primary work unit, but the career is very rewarding and patient-oriented.

Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technologist

Clinical Laboratory Scientists/Medical Technologists are highly qualified to work throughout the many laboratories within the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. They perform tests on specimens from Mayo Clinic and its affiliated laboratory services and from clinics and hospitals around the world. Clinical laboratory staff perform diagnostic tests from the routine to the esoteric, participate in the evaluation and implementation of the latest technologies, and develop new tests. Working independently or with other department members, they provide efficient and accurate reporting of results. They have expert organizational and multitasking skills and can manage the pressure of time constraints. Additionally, they participate in managerial activities and may be involved in scheduling, workload recording, inventory and ordering of supplies, education of new employees, and quality assurance activities. Preferred candidates are new graduates or experienced laboratory personnel with a bachelor's degree and graduation from an accredited program in clinical laboratory science or medical technology.

Individuals with proven competencies and experience in a clinical or research laboratory setting and demonstrated analytical and scientific competence with laboratory procedures are encouraged to consider a career as a development technologist. Development technologists develop, evaluate, and implement new tests or methodologies for the laboratory under the intellectual and scientific guidance of laboratory directors and development coordinators. The development technologist assumes responsibility for improvement of existing methods or implementation of new technology of proven validity; maintains complete and accurate documentation of data generated and work performed; organizes new method validation data, prepares data for publication and peer review, and participates in formal presentations within the institution; aids in the investigation, installation, and evaluation of laboratory equipment, instrumentation, computer software and hardware, new reagent systems, and other specialty items; and participates in the training of laboratory staff, residents, and students in principles of methods and applications within the laboratory. The technologist will play a major role in the development of molecular assays.

Cytotechnologists are responsible for the screening and reporting of negative gynecological cytology cases, and identifying and referring abnormal cases to the pathologists. They are also responsible for screening non-GYN specimens to identify abnormalities previous to the pathologist examination. They may work in the Image Morphometry Laboratory performing MIB-1 and DNA Ploidy Analysis; assist in developing cytology-related applications of FISH testing; and/or may attend and assist in performing adequacy determinations of GI FNA specimens. Cytologists will also assist in the training and evaluation of cytotechnology students. Preferred candidates are new graduates or experienced laboratory personnel with a bachelor's degree and graduation from an accredited program in cytotechnology.

Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical laboratory technicians are highly qualified to work in the laboratories within the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. They perform tests on specimens from Mayo Clinic and its affiliated laboratory services and from clinics and hospitals around the world. Clinical laboratory staff perform diagnostic tests from the routine to the esoteric, and participate in the evaluation and implementation of the latest technologies. Working independently or with other department members, they provide efficient and accurate reporting of results. They have expert organizational and multitasking skills and can manage the pressure of time constraints.

Histologists perform a variety of technical procedures that result in the creation of microscopic slide preparations, including specimen grossing, tissue processing, paraffin microtomy cutting, frozen cryostat cutting, and routine and special staining using manual and automated methodologies. In addition, histologists take responsibility for laboratory quality control, writing procedures, and managing an inventory of supplies and reagents. They work closely with a variety of technicians, pathologists, residents, and visiting scientists. The preferred candidate is certified as a histology technician. Candidates with an associate's degree in the sciences will also be considered and eligible for certification after one year of training and experience in the histopathology lab. These candidates will be required to achieve ASCP qualification requirements within two years.

A Lab Processing Assistant is an integral part of the laboratory team providing support in patient testing. Some of the assistant’s duties include performing pre-analytic specimen processing, operating a variety of laboratory and office equipment, entering information and test orders into the laboratory computer system and may respond to a high volume of phone calls seeking laboratory testing information. This role is responsible for ensuring correct patient identification on specimens and documentation and resolution of pre-analytic specimen-related issues.

Laboratory Services Technician / Phlebotomist

Laboratory Services Technicians are primarily responsible for the collection of blood samples for laboratory testing by venipuncture or skin puncture. Laboratory Service Technicians must be aware of the tests requested, any medications a patient is taking that may interfere with the ordered test, the correct timing of collections, the effect of diet, and any other preanalytical factors that could affect specimen integrity. Laboratory Services Technicians perform other duties such as bleeding times, limited point of care (POC) testing, and limited specimen preparation.

Vascular Access Team Technicians are responsible for the collection of blood samples for the testing laboratory by venipunctures; skin punctures; arterial punctures; arterial, right atrial, and pulmonary artery line collections; IV placement; and site care in the intensive care units. Technicians perform point of care (POC) testing from blood specimens collected on hospitalized patients and provide POC data to aid in physician diagnosis and treatment of patients. Vascular Access Team Technicians work closely with physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and the hospital clinical laboratory to provide high-quality, efficient services.

Laboratory Assistants perform duties that include sorting, centrifuging, aliquoting and delivering specimens to the appropriate testing laboratories in a timely and efficient manner to meet turnaround times designated by the department. Laboratory Assistants are also responsible for accurate reporting of test results. Other duties include maintaining an organized, long-term specimen storage system and serving as a resource for physicians, consultants, and other laboratory personnel regarding specimen handling and processing.

Summer Lab Science Program

Summer Lab Science Program: Offering students the opportunity to gain experience in the clinical laboratory environment by working alongside Mayo Clinic laboratory employees.

The department recognizes that leadership is essential to ensure high quality and cost-effective pathology and laboratory services. Technologists working in the clinical laboratories at Mayo Clinic who are interested in advancement opportunities within the labs have several tracks from which to choose:

The Development Technologist Track is designed for technically skilled technologists with several years of experience in the clinical laboratories. These technologists generally have honed their skills on routine diagnostic assays and are able to use those skills as a development technologist. In the Development Track, technologists spend their time developing new tests using either commercially available kits or Mayo Clinic-developed assays. They also develop and apply new technologies to existing tests. Individuals with the Development Track are also involved in writing scientific papers and presenting findings at local and national scientific meetings.

"The Development Track depends upon the direction and mentorship from individuals who identified my education, skills, and experience as valuable to the laboratory, division, and department. As Development Coordinator of the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, I now have the rewarding task of mentoring and assisting others in achieving their career goals."

The technical specialist track has been developed to encourage individuals to utilize their knowledge and highly-specialized expertise in such areas as instrumentation oversight or managing a specific technology or methodology. Some technical specialists focus on creating enhancements to the laboratory information system or developing new computer-based tools. Others in this role serve as physician extenders.

Professional opportunities in this track: Technical Specialist I&II and Technical Specialist Coordinator III.

"I began work at Mayo Clinic in 1997 as a Medical Technologist in the Special Coagulation Laboratory. I am currently the equipment specialist and am responsible for maintaining and resolving problems for all of the lab's equipment. I troubleshoot the equipment myself, work with the lab services group, or communicate with the instrument manufacturer. I also work at the bench approximately two or three days a week when needed."

The Education Track is designed for those individuals who have developed strong teaching and training skills in the clinical laboratories. In the Education Track, these specialists teach students, train employees, and design schedules and curriculum.

Professional opportunities in this track: Education Specialist I&II and Education Program Coordinator.

The Quality Track is designed for individuals with outstanding attention to detail, record keeping, and analytical skills. Our quality specialists lead individual laboratory audits and inspections by national accrediting agencies.

Professional opportunities in this track: Quality Specialist I&II.

The Management Track is designed for those individuals who have developed strong skills at the bench and are interested in the "big picture" of leading a diagnostic laboratory. Individuals within this track develop a new set of skills, including skills that allow them to bridge the gap between the technical and the business sides of laboratory testing.

"My work as a supervisor has been fantastically rewarding. I get great satisfaction in making sure our team has the tools, resources, and motivation to take care of the patient testing efficiently and with commitment to high quality results. Our group has come together as a strong team that can count on each other as well as on the management team."  

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