• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2023

The path to becoming a cytotechnologist (also known as a cytologist) in the United States of America (USA) requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree and the completion of a training program certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Aspirants are recognized as cytologists after passing a test administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification on completion of a recognized cytotechnology training program. Cytotechnology training programs are currently provided by 18 universities and hospitals. Six of them provide master's level education, unifying existing programs to the master's level, which is necessitated due to a shortage of pathologists and the rapid development of the health care system. The improvement and unification of the curriculum, qualification renewal system, and the effort to change the title of qualified personnel from cytotechnologist to cytologist are seen as measures that would strengthen the capabilities of cytotechnologists as well as assist in keeping pace with the rapidly changing medical system. Knowledge about the educational courses available for cytotechnologists and the efforts to strengthen their expertise in the USA would be helpful to professors who guide students preparing for overseas employment and seeking professional improvement in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

The names of medical technologist in Korea, Japan, and the United State of America vary depending on the medical system, educational system, and work areas. Conventionally, jobs equal or similar to medical technologist (commonly known as clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory scientist, and medical laboratory scientist), histotechnologist, cytotechnologist, and genetic technologist. Jobs, such as extracorporeal technologist, medical electrophysiology technologist, and medical sonographer, allow other allied health professionals including medical technologists, to obtain their qualification. The work areas of medical technologists are classified into clinical pathologic technology, pathologic technology, clinical genetics technology, nuclear medicine in vitro technology, and clinical physiologic technology. New titles of Korean specialized medical technologists refer to certification systems, such as CLMJ, CMAJ, ASCP, IAC, ABRET, and ARMDS. Currently, there are eight types of specialized medical technologists under the cooperation of specialized academic societies. They are hematology, transfusionology, chemistry, immunology, microbiology, histology, cytology, nuclear medicine. It can be further divided into 20 categories according to the work areas such as mass spectrometry, infection control, Pathologists' Assistant, flow cytometry, HLA, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, cardiopulmonary physiology, neurophysiology (EEG/EMG/PSG/etc.), cardiac sonography, neurosonography (TCD/carotid), and medical device quality manager.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.174-187
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• 2021

Cytotechnologists evaluate and analyze disorders of cells that constitute the human body, and are involved in the primary assessment of diverse diseases, including cancer. However, the employment conditions and workload of cytotechnologists are poorly understood. This study was undertaken to provide basic data for establishing the criteria for quality control certification factors based on the scope of effective task performance of cytotechnologists, and to provide results of their workload analysis according to the type of medical institution. The study was conducted by enrolling certified cytotechnologists working at various nationwide medical institutions. Our analysis revealed that 178 personnel (72.7%) were involved in primary screening of samples. On an average, the daily number of primary screening of samples performed per cytotechnologist (76 respondents) was determined to be 75.4 chapters (16.8 chapters/hours) at the university hospital level, 72.4 chapters (18.6 chapters/hours) at the general hospital level, and 231 chapters (32.6 chapters/hours) at professional trust institutions. Our results indicate the necessity to establish a consultant with the Korean Cell Pathology Association, to enable finding solutions to solve existing issues by establishing accurate standard guidelines for assessing cell screening.