Scope of Practice

The NSCMLT scope of practice promotes a high quality of care in the field of medical laboratory technology. It reflects the extensive duties for which medical laboratory technologists are responsible and accountable.

A Medical Laboratory Technologists 

Medical laboratory technology” means the collection and handling of laboratory specimens, analysis of specimens and the interpretation of quality-control data to verify the accuracy and precision of test results for use by health-care practitioners in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. - Nova Scotia Medical Laboratory Technology Act 2000

    A Medical Laboratory Assistant may, under the direction of a medical laboratory technologist and in accordance with practice standards approved by the Board, engage in all of the following activities within the practice of medical laboratory technology:

                   (a)      collecting and preparing specimens;

                   (b)     performing low-complexity or moderate-complexity tests on biological specimens and recording the results;

                   (c)      performing quality-control testing;

                   (d)     identifying results that are outside of expected ranges and notifying a medical laboratory technologist for further investigation of the results.

        electrocardiogram procedures:

                   (a)      performing electrocardiogram procedures;

                   (b)     performing quality-control testing and recording the results;

                   (c)      evaluating the accuracy and reliability of the activities described in clauses (a) and (b).

A Combined Laboratory and X-ray Technologist may, in accordance with practice standards approved by the Board, engage in all of the following activities:

                   (a)      practising medical laboratory technology;

                   (b)     performing electrocardiogram procedures;

                   (c)      applying ionizing radiation to produce diagnostic images;

                   (d)     performing quality-control testing to verify the accuracy and precision of test results obtained within the areas of practice described in clauses (a), (b) and (c);

                   (e)      evaluating the accuracy and reliability of patient test results obtained within the areas of practice described in clauses (a), (b) and (c).

All medical laboratory professionals must be licensed with the Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists and must abide by the NSCMLT Act and Regulations of the college.