MT POST study guide
MT POST · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
MT POST refers to a professional certification pathway for medical technologists (clinical laboratory scientists) seeking to demonstrate entry-level or practicing competence across the laboratory. It is intended for graduates of accredited medical laboratory science or medical technology programs, as well as laboratory professionals preparing to validate their knowledge for hiring, licensure, or career advancement. The MT POST study guide has 6 sections and about 2,035 words.
01Medical Terminology and Basic Sciences
Medical language is assembled from a root (organ or tissue), a prefix (location, number, direction), and a suffix (condition, procedure, or test). Learn combining forms in families: hepat/o liver, nephr/o kidney, cyt/o cell, cyst/o bladder or sac, lith/o stone, lip/o fat.
390 words, about 2 min02Laboratory Operations and Specimen Handling
CLSI GP41 sets the order to limit additive carryover: blood culture bottles first, then sodium citrate (light blue), serum with or without clot activator or gel (red/gold), heparin (green), EDTA (lavender), and sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate (gray). Invert tubes gently the recommended number of times; never shake, because hemolysis releases potassium, LDH, and hemoglobin.
343 words, about 2 min03Clinical Laboratory Testing and Analysis
Most chemistry assays use spectrophotometry, ion-selective electrodes, or immunoassay; hematology uses impedance, light scatter, and flow cytometry; microbiology uses culture, staining, and molecular amplification. A reference interval is usually the central 95% of a healthy population, not a treatment threshold.
330 words, about 2 min04Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance
CLIA ’88 classifies tests as waived, moderate, or high complexity and sets requirements for certification, personnel, proficiency testing (PT), and inspections. CAP and The Joint Commission add accreditation standards.
330 words, about 2 min05Safety and Infection Control
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 requires an exposure control plan, hepatitis B vaccination offered at no cost, PPE, engineering controls, and post-exposure evaluation. Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious.
334 words, about 2 min06Professional Ethics and Communication
HIPAA permits disclosure for treatment, payment, and health care operations, but the minimum necessary standard applies, and the caller’s identity and authority must be verified. HIV, substance use, and genetic information may have stricter state or federal protections.
308 words, about 2 min