More than meets the eye

Test ordered. Sample collected. Result delivered.

It sounds straightforward, but behind every lab report is a process far more complex than most realise. Medical Technologists (med techs) play a critical role in ensuring accurate, reliable results, from analysing data to troubleshooting anomalies. Yet, misconceptions about their work persist, shaping how their expertise is viewed, even by those who rely on it every day.

Let’s break down the biggest myths about life in the lab.

Myth 1: Lab work is 100% automated, computers do all the work

Step into any modern laboratory, and you’ll see high-tech analysers, robotic arms, and automated systems humming away. Automation has transformed laboratory medicine, making high-volume testing faster and reducing human error. But the idea that labs run themselves? Pure fiction.

At the end of the day, a human determines the outcome. If it were as simple as pressing a button, we wouldn’t need years of training.

Automation may handle routine tasks – like processing thousands of blood samples over a twenty-four period, but it can’t think, analyse, or troubleshoot the way a trained professional does.

For example, a blood gas analyser might report an implausibly low sodium level. A med tech trained in error detection would immediately investigate whether the sample was contaminated or if it indicated a rare condition like pseudohyponatremia.

We don’t just load samples and wait for machines to spit out results. We analyse trends, spot inconsistencies, and validate findings before they ever reach a doctor’s desk. The machine helps – but we make the final call.

Automation is a powerful tool, but every flagged result, every inconclusive test, and every sample mix-up still requires human expertise.

Many labs use autoverification systems, where software automatically approves results that fall within expected ranges. But anything even slightly questionable gets kicked out for manual review. That’s where med techs step in, applying their judgment to determine whether an abnormality is real or a testing artefact.

In addition, the global demand for skilled laboratory personnel is skyrocketing, and automation is being introduced to support overwhelmed staff, not eliminate them.

85% of medical labs expect staffing shortages in the coming years. There is just one licensed medical technologist in the Philippines per ~33,200 people.

Far from making human expertise obsolete, automation responds to the shortage of qualified professionals. It helps technologists process more samples efficiently, but skilled humans remain essential for interpretation, troubleshooting, and quality control.

Fact: Machines assist, but humans make the final call.

Myth 2: All tests are created equal – a lab result is a lab result

Clinicians often rely on laboratory values as definitive indicators of patient health, but test results are not absolute values independent of context. A glucose result from one lab may differ slightly from another, even when performed on the same patient sample. These variations are not errors; they reflect fundamental differences in laboratory methodologies and quality control processes.

There’s a misconception that lab values are static across institutions. But the reality is that every lab operates under different analytical conditions – equipment models, reagent formulations, and calibration protocols – which can lead to minor, but clinically relevant, differences in results.

Several factors contribute to variability between labs, even in well-regulated settings. A trained technologist recognises and explains why a result might appear inconsistent across labs. These professionals understand exactly which variables can influence values, from pre-analytical factors like anticoagulant choice, storage conditions, sample transport, and hemolysis to analytical ones such as assay type, reagent lot variations, or instrument calibration drift.

What might seem like a discrepancy to a clinician is often entirely explainable within context. A lab expert will immediately know what to look for, ensuring results are interpreted correctly, not just reported.

We strive for standardisation, but complete uniformity is not always feasible. That’s why interpreting trends and clinical context is more informative than relying on isolated values.

Fact: A lab result is the product of an entire analytical system with inherent variability.

Myth 3: Lab professionals don’t interact with patients

A common misconception is that laboratory professionals work in isolation, detached from the human aspect of medicine. In reality, every sample represents a life, and Med Techs play a direct role in ensuring timely, life-saving interventions.
“I may never meet the patient, but I know their story through their results,” says Yingli Huang, a former lab technologist at one of Singapore’s largest public hospitals . “When I see a dangerously low platelet count, elevated white cells concentrate or an alarming drop in hemoglobin, I don’t simply process the data – I act fast. We verify, re-run if needed, and immediately escalate urgent findings to clinicians because minutes matter.”

Lab managers emphasise the same ethos. Our responsibility goes beyond numbers. Every drop of blood, every biopsy slide – these are not just specimens; they are people relying on us to get it right. We instill in our teams the importance of accuracy, urgency, and patient-first thinking.

Fact: While they may not be at the bedside, med techs are integral to patient care.

Myth 4: Lab professionals work alone and don’t collaborate with doctors

Diagnostics influence up to 70% of clinical decision-making, highlighting its crucial role in healthcare. Diagnostic medicine is a team effort, and laboratory personnel frequently liaise with clinicians to ensure accurate test selection, interpretation, and follow-up.

“Doctors call us all the time – sometimes in the middle of the night – to confirm results, discuss critical values, or decide on additional testing,” says former lab technologist Yingli Huang. “We help ensure the right tests are ordered, processed correctly, and clinically correlated before they guide treatment.”

From infection control to oncology, lab managers actively collaborate across specialities.

We routinely work with physicians on antibiotic stewardship programs, transfusion decisions, and cancer diagnostics. A single test result can change a treatment plan, so consistency, transparency, and open communication with the clinical team are non-negotiable.

Fact: Far from working in the shadows, lab professionals are critical partners in patient management.

Myth 5: Lab techs don’t need to be critical thinkers

A sodium result that seems impossibly low? It could be a true electrolyte imbalance, or a falsely low value due to sample dilution. A prolonged clotting time in a stable patient? It might be a medication effect, an undiagnosed disorder, or even a simple pre-analytical error. Machines don’t catch these nuances – trained professionals do.

Beyond troubleshooting single cases, med techs track systemic trends – from antibiotic resistance patterns to biomarker shifts signalling emerging public health threats.

Fact: Laboratory techs don’t just generate numbers; they interpret them, investigate discrepancies, and prevent diagnostic errors before they reach a physician’s desk.

Myth 6: If a test result is off, the lab’s at fault

When a test result doesn’t make sense, the assumption is often that the lab got it wrong. But in reality, 46-68% of laboratory errors often originate before a sample reaches the analyser – in the pre-analytical phase. These errors include mislabeling, improper collection, and patient preparation issues. Without expert review, these errors could lead to misdiagnoses, unnecessary treatments, or even life-threatening interventions.

Yet, med techs often bear the brunt of these errors. The best-trained technologist cannot fix a contaminated or mislabeled sample – the only option is rejection, delaying diagnosis and treatment.

To mitigate this, laboratory teams routinely engage and educate nurses and physicians on the importance of proper sample collection and handling.

Fact: A lab’s accuracy doesn’t start at the bench – it starts at the bedside.

Myth 7: The work of a lab professional ends once the results are sent

A test result doesn’t exist in isolation. Numbers on a report don’t diagnose disease – they require context, correlation, and clinical expertise to drive the right decisions.

When a physician receives an unexpected or borderline result, they call the lab to confirm- is this a true abnormality or a possible artefact? Could medications, sample integrity, or a rare interfering substance be at play? Med techs provide crucial insight, guiding clinicians on ordering additional confirmatory testing, adjusting reference values for patient-specific factors, or reconsidering an initial diagnosis altogether.

Take haematology: A flagged platelet count might indicate thrombocytopenia, or simply platelet clumping in the sample. A med tech will know the difference. Or in endocrinology: An unusual thyroid panel might be due to biotin interference from a patient’s supplements rather than a true hormonal disorder.

Without lab experts contextualising results, misinterpretation can lead to unnecessary treatments, missed diagnoses, or even harmful interventions.

Fact: Lab medicine doesn’t stop at producing data – it ensures the right data leads to the right clinical action.

Myth 8: Faster test results equals more lab staff needed

When results take longer than expected, the most common assumption is that the lab is short-staffed. But adding more personnel doesn’t necessarily speed up testing—efficiency depends on workflow design, automation, and sample prioritisation.

Medical technologists don’t face the same workload every day. Sample volume, test complexity, and urgency shift throughout the day. It takes skill and experience to manage this variability while maintaining turnaround time and quality.

Even the best-staffed lab can struggle without the right workflow. Emergency samples must bypass routine queues, and instruments need to be allocated efficiently. Adding more hands won’t help if the underlying triage and routing systems aren’t optimised.

Delays often stem from issues before the sample enters the lab, such as transport hiccups, mislabeling, or inadequate volume.

Fact: Faster results are driven by smarter workflows and skilled professionals who can adapt in real time, not simply by increasing headcount.

The bottom line

Med techs may not be at the bedside, but their impact is undeniable. Next time when you receive a lab result, remember: Behind every number, every test, and every diagnosis, there’s a team of professionals working tirelessly to get it right.