Medical Laboratory Science Program

What They Do

Medical laboratory scientists are skilled professionals qualified by education to perform laboratory tests to assist in the detection, monitoring, and treatment of medical conditions.

Using a variety of methods, they acquire data on blood, tissue, and body fluids in the areas of hematology, microbiology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis. They work in conjunction with pathologists and other physicians and specialists. Medical laboratory scientists may work in hospitals, private laboratories and clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and governmental health agencies.

Duration of Program

• Prerequisite courses: 3 years of specific college courses with an affiliated university or possess a bachelor's degree
• Medical laboratory science courses: 11 months; full-time days

After meeting the prerequisites, students apply for a full-time internship at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital Medical Laboratory Science Program. The program runs for 11 months, full-time days and is divided into two phases.

Phase I: Student Laboratory Phase/Didactic Instruction

The first seven months cover course work in the principles, theory, practices and pathophysiology of all aspects of medical laboratory science. This extends from August through February.

Phase II: Clinical Instruction/Rotations

The second phase involves rotation through hospital clinical laboratories so that students can gain proficiency, competence and confidence with applying skills and knowledge in analytical practice. This phase starts in March and runs for 17 weeks.

Key Dates

Application Deadline

December 1

Program Start Date

Mid-August (date varies from year to year)

Cost

• If degree-pending, tuition is paid to the university (1)
• Already possess bachelor's degree: $5,000 tuition. (2)
• Other costs, all students: textbook and service fees (approx. $750), scrubs and appropriate footwear.
• Students must provide for their own housing, transportation and living expenses.

Refunds:

1. For those students who pay tuition to their college/university, refunds will be based on the policies of the college/university the student is attending.

2. For those students who are already degreed and paying IU Health tuition, the refund deadline is three weeks from the date of admission. In case of official withdrawal from the program prior to the refund deadline, a student will be refunded 100% of the tuition paid. No fees will be refunded. No refund will be issued after the refund deadline.

Prerequisites and Interview Eligibility

The applicant must meet the academic prerequisites of this program and must complete pre-clinical bachelor's degree requirements with an affiliated institution or possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution prior to admission. Prerequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C- in each class. The course requirements are:

• At least 16 semester hours of college-level biological sciences, including microbiology (with laboratory) and immunology
• At least 16 semester hours of college-level chemistry, including organic chemistry or biochemistry
• One college math course, but not a remedial or survey course
• A minimum cumulative and science grade point average of 2.7 on a scale of 4.0

Program officials evaluate the submitted application materials and overall academic performance to determine interview eligibility. Transcripts are evaluated for not only required GPAs, but also the quality of coursework and number of retakes. Applicants who meet the minimum prerequisites seven or more years prior to application must update their coursework (after consultation with the Program Director). Students whose academic work was completed at colleges and universities outside of the United States or Canada must have the transcript(s) evaluated by an agency to verify U.S. degree equivalency. (See ascp.org for a list of acceptable agencies.)

In addition, to be eligible for consideration for entrance into the program, the applicant must document that they meet one of the following:

1. United States citizenship;
2. Possess a permanent resident visa in the United States;
3. Attend one of our affiliated universities and possess a student visa that does not expire prior to the anticipated completion date of the program.

Consistent with the mission of the program to provide bachelor degree-prepared Medical Laboratory Scientists to meet the employment needs of IU Health and the healthcare delivery systems in Indiana, preference in admission will be given to applicants who are residents of the State of Indiana.

Admission to the professional program is competitive. Twelve students are accepted each year. All students admitted to the program will receive copies of the program's policies. They are available to prospective students upon request.

Curriculum/Course Descriptions (and credit hours)

• Clinical Chemistry (8)
  • Covers the basic principles of analytical chemistry in a broad area of investigation including biochemistry, normal and abnormal physiology, laboratory procedures and instrumental analyses. Includes supervised clinical experience which provides practical applications.
• Clinical Hematology (7)
  • A study of the function, maturation and morphology of the formed elements of the blood and the coagulation mechanism, as well as the principles and procedures of analysis. Includes supervised clinical experience in hematology, coagulation and phlebotomy techniques.
• Clinical Immunohematology (4)
  • Covers the principles and procedures of analyses in blood banking. Includes supervised clinical experience in the techniques of the area to provide practical application of theory.
• Serology/Virology (2)
  • Covers the principles and procedures of analyses in serology and virology. Includes supervised clinical experience in the techniques required in these areas.
• Clinical Microbiology (8)
  • A study of the principles and procedures for the isolation and identification of medically important bacteria, parasites and fungi. Includes supervised clinical experience which provides practical application.
• Laboratory Topics: Education/Management/Research (2)
  • A study of the principles and techniques of clinical instruction, in-service and continuing education, as well as administration and supervision. Includes a study of scientific investigation as applied in methods evaluation, problem solving and research.
• Urinalysis (1)
  • Covers the principles and procedures of both chemical and microscopic analysis of urine.

Accreditation and Certification

The IU Health Methodist Hospital Medical Laboratory Science Program is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018. Phone: 773.714.8880.

The program has had continued accreditation since 1936 for being in compliance with the Standards of Accredited Educational Programs for the Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Program graduates are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC). Upon successful passing of the BOC, the laboratory professional will become certified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist MLS(ASCP)^CM.

Technical Standards

• Adequate sight to perform macroscopic and microscopic procedures and discern color changes in test solutions.
• Adequate hearing to be able to communicate with patients and personnel, discern audible instrument alert signals and timing devices.
• Sufficient manual dexterity to perform procedures safely with accuracy and precision.
• Ability to use a computer (for instrument calibrations, data entry, etc.)

Note: A health assessment is required after acceptance into the program to confirm compliance with these standards. Additionally, students must meet current requirements as established by IU Health for immunizations, background checks and drug screening.

Graduate Outcome Measures

• 2023-2024
  • Graduation Rate: 100%
  • Pass Rate: 100%
  • Placement Rate: 100%
• 2022-2023
  • Graduation Rate: 100%
  • Pass Rate: 100%
  • Placement Rate: 100%
• 2021-2022
  • Graduation Rate: 100%
  • Pass Rate: 100%
  • Placement Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: Percentage of students who graduate for those students entering the final half of the clinical program.

Pass Rate: Percentage of students who pass the National Board of Certification Exam.

Placement Rate: Percentage of students employed in the MLS field or pursuit of further education within 2 months for those seeking employment.

Application/Contact Information

Email: learning@iuhealth.org / Phone: 317.962.5470

IU Health Methodist Hospital
Wile Hall, Room 629
PO Box 1367
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1367

Medical Laboratory Science Program Director
Kristi Janson, MS, MT(ASCP)
Email: kjanson2@iuhealth.org
Phone: 317.491.6217

Please contact the Medical Laboratory Science Program Director at the email above to request a copy of the program's mission statement, goals and competencies, rules and regulations governing acceptable personal and academic conduct, a list of current clinical sites, or the academic calendar. If interested in applying, please email the Program Director or click the link below to download the program application.

• 2024 MLS Program Application Packet