Saint Louis University's Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree prepares graduates to take a national certification exam to become a certified laboratory professional for a career as a health care professional in laboratory medicine. Medical laboratory science professionals save lives by performing and assuring the reliability of tests that provide objective information used in the early detection, diagnosis, monitoring and effective treatment of disease. Up to 80% of all clinical decisions are impacted by clinical laboratory testing. The knowledge and skills required of medical laboratory professionals are diverse, involving both scientific detective work and managerial competence. Each day offers a challenge, and the opportunities to learn are endless.<br><br>Medical laboratory scientists are vital members of health care teams. As highly skilled bio-analysts, graduates contribute data critical to disease diagnosis and to patient treatment. In a typical laboratory setting, the medical laboratory scientist performs a full range of laboratory tests from blood smears for the detection of anemia to highly complex procedures used to diagnose and monitor the status of patients suffering from various forms of cancer. SLU's medical laboratory science program facilitates the attendance of its students at state professional meetings. In addition, clinical affiliates in the St. Louis area frequently request that students seek part-time employment to garner clinical experience and are often retained as full-time employees upon graduation. The benefits of SLU's medical laboratory science program include several career opportunities. Medical laboratory scientists are qualified to work in five major areas of the laboratory: blood bank, chemistry, hematology, immunology and microbiology. Throughout the course of a typical workday, graduates from this program might examine specimens under the microscope, operate complex computerized instrumentation, use immunologic methods to prepare units of blood for transfusion and/or identify disease-causing microorganisms.