Task scales performed and testing for scale differences among phlebotomy technicians, medical laboratory technicians, and medical technologists

A large-scale practice analysis was undertaken by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry to help maintain the validity of its certification examinations. The complete data sample of 1,152 practicing phlebotomy technicians, medical laboratory technicians, and medical technologists was found to be demographically representative of the overall sample of 3,097 respondents. The first study goal was to identify reliable task scales performed by phlebotomy technicians, medical laboratory technicians, and medical technologists. Thirty-eight task scales were initially found. Second, discriminant analysis was used to predict membership in one of these certification groups based on a more parsimonious combination of task scales. Task scale distinctions among phlebotomy technicians, medical laboratory technicians, and medical technologists were found. Study implications and limitations are discussed.