Medical Laboratory Science

Medical laboratory science professionals are among the largest group of health care workers in Canada, and they play an integral role in health care.

Medical laboratory science focuses on the analysis of human blood, body fluids and tissues, while also examining subjects including biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and genetics.

You will be trained to perform and evaluate diagnostic laboratory tests, which play a vital role in the treatment and prevention of disease.

You will participate in computer-assisted research, statistical analyses of medical experiments and data, safety practice, and infection control. You will also learn about Indigenous perspectives on health and how to provide quality patient care.

Medical laboratory science graduates are detail-oriented, critical thinkers with an aptitude for math and science. They work in hospitals, medical or research labs, blood banks, scientific supply companies, and more.

The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science is a joint program with Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Students first complete a diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, then apply to the U of R to complete another two years to earn a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science.

The Bachelor of Science degree builds on the practical knowledge obtained in the Medical Laboratory Technology diploma, including scientific theory, workplace management, and professional ethics. The Bachelor of Science program provides a broader context for the work that is done in a medical lab.

What is Medical Laboratory Science?

Medical laboratory science focuses on the analysis of human blood, body fluids, tissues, and other human biological specimens. As a medical lab science professional, you will assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. You will work in a diagnostic lab, working both independently and as part of a team to perform complex procedures, tests, and evaluations on all types of human biological specimens.

In medical laboratory science, you will learn about:

• clinical chemistry and microbiology
• hematology (the study of blood and blood disorders)
• hemopathology (the study of the diseases and disorders of blood cells)
• the microscopic detection of tissue abnormalities for diagnosis and treatment of diseases
• immunology
• specimen collection and handling
• transfusion science
• laboratory practices

Some courses in the medical laboratory science degree program include:

Introduction to Indigenous Health Studies

This introduction to health science emphasizes Indigenous perspectives. Topics include history of health and health care, theories of health, personal health, consumerism, interpreting health information and statistics, and health careers.

Introductory Genetics

This course covers chromosome theory of inheritance/eukaryotic transmission genetics. Topics include: nature of genetic material, DNA replication, mechanism of mutation, natural recombination, artificial recombination, recombinant DNA technology/genetic engineering, and population genetics.

Introduction to Organizational Behaviour

This course addresses the basic concepts and processes of organizational behaviour. Topics include: individual level variables, such as perception, personality, attitudes, and motivation; interpersonal and group processes, such as communication, teams, leadership, and power; and, organizational level factors such as organizational design, culture, and change.

Professional Ethics

This course examines the philosophical consideration of ethical problems which arise in the context of the conduct of various professions. Areas may include justice, business ethics, biomedical ethics, ethics of education, ethics of privacy and confidentiality (with applications to journalism, social work, psychology), and environmental ethics.