[College education for medical technologists of the next generation]

Medical Technologists (MTs) of the next generation will be expected to: 1) perform clinical tests in clinical laboratories as so-called Clinical Laboratory Scientists(CLS), 2)research and develop highly advanced reagents, devices, or procedures for clinical laboratories, and 3) educate MTs and research in the college or university. CLS are required to develop and maintain highly advanced medical skills as follows: (1) explaining medical tests and those results to patients, (2) evaluating and explaining test results to medical doctors, (3) advising medical doctors of laboratory diagnoses, (4) analyzing the patients' pathophysiology based on samples with aberrant results, (5) evaluating newly developed reagents, devices, or procedures, and (6) promoting the total medical cure of patients with specialized skills. In the MT course at Shinshu University, to develop the skills necessary to become a CLS before graduation, students participate in a number of programs, i.e., freshman seminars, observing the clinical laboratory, and basic training for medical tests (first grade), special lectures from MTs working in the clinical laboratory (second and third grades), examination for clinical practice, 12-week clinical practice, and 15-week laboratory research (fourth grade). Several academic members working in a clinical laboratory and collaboration with the Department of Clinical Laboratory at Shinshu University Hospital are essential to realize the above-mentioned course.