Mission statement

Mayo Clinic's Medical Laboratory Science program is committed to training undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students in laboratory medicine, quality assurance, and professional practice. 

Faculty members promote academic excellence, instill professionalism, and encourage the pursuit of lifelong learning. At Mayo Clinic, we strive to retain excellent students for employment and promotion.

Program goals 

• Provide the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic with entry-level allied health staff trained in the profession of medical laboratory science
• Prepare medical laboratory science graduates for entry into the workforce in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic's campuses in both Rochester, Minnesota, and Jacksonville, Florida
• Ensure that entry-level practitioners of medical laboratory science are adequately trained in the following areas of laboratory medicine: clinical microbiology, hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, renal analysis, clinical immunology, molecular diagnostics, phlebotomy, quality control, quality assurance and laboratory management
• Ensure that entry-level practitioners of medical laboratory science are properly prepared to withstand the pressures of the job, including the ability to multitask, maintain stability under pressure, and work accurately and efficiently
• Ensure that our graduates enter the workforce with a strong understanding of professionalism as demonstrated by their ability to work with a diverse group of individuals, participate as team members toward the overall goals of the system, maintain competency in their field of study through board examination certification and maintenance, and participate in professional societies and regularly attend continuing education programs
• Provide an educational clinical laboratory rotation experience that builds upon their academic education
• Provide instruction and evaluation based on identified competencies and content of the medical laboratory science discipline
• Provide students with adequate knowledge and background experience to qualify for national certification examinations appropriate to their level of training

Program competencies

• Professional knowledge
  • Explain the principles underlying clinical laboratory testing, including the pathological indications for performing specific laboratory tests
  • Understand quality system planning, including quality control and method validation, as applied to the laboratory setting
  • Interpret a wide array of patient laboratory values and note when values are abnormal or erroneous
  • Interpret and understand new protocols, technologies and advances in the field in order to practice and respond to evidence-based changes in medical laboratory science
• Professional skills
  • Perform a wide variety of laboratory tests from low to high complexity
  • Troubleshoot laboratory assays, identifying and correcting potential problems
  • Correlate clinical laboratory results with differential diagnoses
  • Demonstrate safe working practices and recognize patient samples as valuable extensions of the patient, placing the needs of the patient first
  • Perform quality control of patient laboratory tests and apply quality-assurance methodology to assure accuracy of laboratory testing
  • Communicate patient test results clearly and accurately to clinicians
  • Perform work efficiently and accurately under the pressure of time constraints and be able to multitask
• Professional attitudes, behaviors, and cultural competencies
  • Adhere to the student policies of the Medical Laboratory Science Program and Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences
  • Display professionalism in communication and dress and show respect for colleagues and superiors
  • Demonstrate tolerance and establish effective working relationships with others from diverse backgrounds, including age, race and gender
  • Work effectively as a team member or independently as required to accomplish the goals of the work unit (laboratory)
  • Demonstrate advocacy in the field of laboratory medicine, seeking to engage in activities that help to increase the awareness, status and quality of the medical laboratory science profession
  • Value self-directed learning, maintain board certification, and participate in ongoing continuing education to increase and update knowledge of laboratory medicine

Florida state licensure 

The state of Florida requires licensure for employment in a clinical laboratory. Licenses are issued by the Florida Department of Health Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel.

The Medical Laboratory Science program at Mayo Clinic is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

NAACLS
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: 773-714-8880
Email: info@naacls.org

For further details, see the accreditation information for Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.

The following program outcome measures are tracked and monitored as part of continuous program assessment and accreditation:

*Rate established by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) as a quality measure of its accredited programs

ASCP: American Society for Clinical Pathology
MLS: Medical Laboratory Science

Learn more about the program outcomes for the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Mayo Clinic.