Who are medical laboratory assistants and technicians?
Typically, medical laboratory assistants/technicians perform pre-analytical functions such as collecting blood and other samples, processing specimens, and preparing special chemicals called reagents for use in testing. In recent years, however, the role of medical laboratory assistants and technicians has significantly expanded, with some increasingly taking on more advanced laboratory duties along with duties typically performed by Medical Laboratory Technologists. External surveying and research has demonstrated that medical laboratory assistants and technicians have performed specimen processing/testing and ordering/performing reflex testing.
In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages, increased retirements, and increased testing volumes has expanded the scope of the work performed by medical laboratory assistants and technicians.
These practitioners have a significant and increasing impact on quality patient care due to their expanding roles and broadened responsibilities in the clinical laboratory. Medical laboratory assistants and technicians are the primary source of contact between the laboratory, patients, and other health care professionals in specimen collection centres, point-of-care settings, and long term care facilities.
When patients receive phlebotomy services, most often it is medical laboratory assistants and technicians perform the blood draw (also known as venipuncture) and prepare samples for laboratory diagnostic testing.
Pursuit of Regulation
With public protection at top of mind, pursuing the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and technicians continues to be a strategic priority of the CMLTO Board of Directors.
Regulating these professionals would ensure that they meet a specific level of educational and professional practice criteria prior to holding themselves out as a medical laboratory assistant or technician. If regulated the profession would have its own firmly defined scope of practice, which would assist in health human resource planning in laboratories. Lastly, regulated professionals are required to abide by a set of profession specific standards or standards of practice. Regulation would provide the College with the jurisdiction to ensure these essential professionals are held accountable in a fair and transparent manner.
The CMLTO has been involved in discussions with the Ministry of Health, laboratory employers throughout the entire province (including northern regions of Ontario), and professional associations to provide information on the importance of regulating these individuals.
Informing key Careholder groups about this issue is a significant step in gaining their support and sharing insights into the risks associated with these professionals being unregulated.
This webpage contains information and updates about the pursuit of regulating these professionals. If you have any questions about this matter please contact communications@cmlto.com.
For more information on the pursuit of the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and technicians, please watch the webinar to the left. An English transcript of the webinar is available here.
Resources to drive the regulation of MLA/Ts forward
Since 2020 the College has received almost 200 public complaints about non-MLTs, with 80% being about medical laboratory assistants and technicians.
The CMLTO was unable to investigate any of these concerns as medical laboratory assistants and technicians are unregulated and not included under the College’s jurisdiction.
Public complaints involved gaps in technical competence, unprofessional conduct, and improper specimen collection techniques.
Click here to access the infographic and learn more about non-MLT concerns and complaint trends over the past 5 years.
In June 2024, CMLTO staff issued a letter to the Ministry of Health office requesting support for the regulation initiative. The letter can be accessed here, and contains key information and data supporting the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and technicians.
The CMLTO Voluntary Roster is a list of medical laboratory assistants and technicians who have volunteered to apply and meet a certain level of education and professional practice criteria. For more information about the CMLTO Voluntary Roster initiative, click here.
Individuals who are Voluntary Roster Affiliates have their status displayed within our Public Register, which you can access here.
The CMLTO developed a position paper on the pursuit of the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and technicians, which provides background information as well as CMLTO’s role within the initiative. The Position Paper is currently being updated, but you can access a copy of the original document here.
Support for Regulatory Initiative
Other key leaders in the sector have expressed their support in the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and technicians.
On a National Level
The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) calls for the regulation of medical laboratory assistants in all jurisdictions across Canada to enhance patient safety for all Canadians. The CSMLS believes that regulation would define the scope of practice for these laboratory professionals, adopt a harmonized standard for entry to practice and set standards for continuing professional development. For more information, visit the CSMLS website.
On a Provincial Level
The Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Association of Ontario (MLPAO) supports the regulation of all health care professionals who directly impact patient care, and therefore supports the regulation of medical laboratory assistants/technicians (MLA/Ts) in the province of Ontario to ensure patient safety. For more information, please consult the MLPAO position statement on the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and technicians.
Updates on the Regulation of MLA/Ts Across Canada
The Nova Scotia College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (NCSMLT) was the first province in Canada to regulate medical laboratory assistants and technicians under the Nova Scotia Medical Laboratory Technology Act.
This initiative was an important step in enhancing public safety, improving healthcare standards, and ensuring that these essential professionals are able to work within their full scope of practice.
The development was effective starting on May 3, 2025. For more information, click here.
