68K Medical Laboratory Specialist

Army MOS 68K is the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for a Medical Laboratory Specialist. These specialists work in a hospital laboratory with other medical technicians to test blood, tissue, and bodily fluids. Their work helps diagnose and treat Army personnel.

The duties of a Medical Laboratory Specialist include: Performing blood banking procedures Examining biological and environmental specimens Collecting blood specimens by venipuncture and capillary puncture Performing clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, serology, bacteriology, virology, mycology, toxicology, parasitology, and urinalysis

To become a Medical Laboratory Specialist, you must: Meet minimum education requirements in biology, chemistry, and algebra Have manual dexterity Not be averse to the sight of blood or needles Be able to precisely follow detailed procedures Graduate basic training Travel to Fort Sam Houston for approximately 26 weeks to learn in the classroom and in a lab

The career field requires patience and the ability to work through problems presented by patients.