Five students graduated from Beaufort County Community College’s medical laboratory technology program on May 9. Ric Balanay, Mercedes Brinn, Adam Howell, Laura Nichols and Amber Pope were honored at the ceremony.

The MLT program is a two-year associate of arts and science program in which students learn to work in a clinical laboratory setting. Students study topics such as blood typing and transfusions, how to identify and count red and white blood cells and how to measure chemicals within the blood. Not only do they deal with blood work, they also learn how to identify infectious bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Often when a patient visits a doctor’s office or hospital, from routine check-ups to serious illnesses, there is lab work involved. Blood and urine samples are used to diagnose and monitor diabetes, as well as heart, liver and kidney diseases. Without the work of lab technicians, doctors would have little to talk about with their patients besides their symptoms and outward appearance. Lab work helps narrow down the diagnosis.

“The MLT Class of 2017 has a bright future ahead of them,” said Erica Caracoglia, director of the MLT program and dean of allied health. “They are entering a career field full of possibilities, with jobs readily available. Based on their performances in class, lab, and clinical settings over the last two years, each will have a long and successful career. They have been a great group to work with and I am excited to follow them as they begin their careers.”

Graduates of the MLT program may work in a hospital or physician’s office laboratory, public health agencies, veterinarians’ offices, and industrial, research and pharmaceutical laboratories. To complete the program, students must take four semesters of coursework on campus and complete one semester of clinical rotations at local hospital affiliates.

For more information about the MLT program, contact Erica Caracoglia at 252-940-6425.