MLS ASCP Medical Laboratory Scientist Questions Practice

Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), also known as Medical Technologist (MT), is a healthcare professional who performs laboratory tests and analysis on bodily fluids, tissues, and other specimens. MLSs play a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease by analyzing laboratory results and communicating their findings to healthcare providers. MLSs typically work in hospital and clinical laboratory settings, including blood banks, microbiology labs, and clinical chemistry labs.

They are responsible for operating and maintaining laboratory equipment, performing quality control procedures, and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of laboratory test results. They may also perform laboratory procedures, such as blood counts, urinalysis, and cultures, and use complex instrumentation, such as chromatography and microscopy, to analyze specimens. To become a Medical Laboratory Scientist, you typically need to earn a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science or a related field, complete a clinical training program, and pass a certification exam.

In the United States, certification is offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification and other organizations. In Canada, certification is offered by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). The job outlook for MLSs is generally positive, with the BLS projecting employment of medical and clinical laboratory technologists to grow 11% from 2019 to 2029.

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for medical and clinical laboratory technologists was $53,120 in May 2025. Medical laboratory scientist (MLS) certification examination offered by the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) is composed of 100 examination questions given in a 2 hour 30 minute time frame. All examination questions are multiple-choice with one best answer.