MLPAO | Molecular Diagnostics Course

MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS LABORATORY FUNDAMENTALS

Medical laboratory professionals are at the center of healthcare, conducting approximately 270M lab tests annually. COVID-19 testing has added 19M PCR tests. With 70% of labs entering the pandemic short-staffed, medical laboratory professionals are exhausted.

Bringing people into the field takes time and 41% of practicing MLTs are eligible to retire in 2-4 years.

This new Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Fundamentals Course supported by the Skills Development Fund builds capacity within the existing workforce while we work towards long-term solutions.

Description – Made by MLTs for MLTs and MLA/Ts, this course connects theoretical knowledge to pre-analytical and post-analytical tasks performed in the laboratory, including COVID-19 PCR testing.

Module 1 – Introduction to Molecular Biology, Instrumentation, and Pipetting
Module 2 – Nucleic Acid Extraction and Automation
Module 3 – Laboratory Workflow and Amplification Technologies
Module 4 – Contamination Control in a Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory

Credits – This self-paced online course should take about 6 hours to complete. At the end of each module, there is a quiz to evaluate comprehension. Learners are provided with correct answers and an explanation to reinforce concepts. This course is P.A.C.E. ® accredited.* A certificate will be provided on completion, and members will earn an additional designation on our Certification Registry.

What next? – Knowledge of molecular diagnostics is for way more than COVID-19. These skills can be applied to oncology, prenatal genetic testing, and more, as well as any future pathogens we may face.

With the MLPAO Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Fundamentals Course, your education helps you support your team to support your patients: now and in the future.

Due to the overwhelming demand for this course, we have made it easier to register larger groups with a group registration form. Submit completed forms to mlpao@mlpao.org.

* The MLPAO is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.

This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.