Press Releases
Tri County Technical College

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This release prepared by the Office of Public Relations and Marketing.
Rebecca Eidson, Director, 646-1507, reidson@tctc.edu
Lisa Garrett, Public Relations Associate, 646-1506, lgarrett@tctc.edu
 

Tri-County’s MLT Grads Report a 100% Passing Score on National Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/12/2008

CONTACT: POLLY KAY, 646-1349
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College’s recent Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) graduates report a 100 percent passing score on the National Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP). 

This is the second time in the last three years that the department has reported a perfect score.  Students scored a 92 percent pass rate in 2007.

The exam is a computerized, competency-based exam. Students are tested on five areas: chemistry, microbiology, hematology, immunohematology and body fluids.  There are 100 multiple-choice questions to cover these five major areas of science.

“This exam is a report card for the program,” said Polly Kay, MLT program coordinator.  “It gauges how well we’ve prepared our students.”

Mrs. Kay says she wasn’t surprised when she heard that all eight graduates passed the rigorous exam.  “They are a group of dedicated students who worked well together.  Our clinical site liaisons were always commenting on how impressed they were with their skills.  Those clinical experiences are like a year-long job interview and are the pathways to jobs after graduation.”

During the students’ first year of study, they attend classes and labs on campus.  During their senior year, they spend 24 hours a week, or eight hours three days a week, in a hospital clinical setting and two days on campus for classwork.  “The hospitals partner with us to help our students to be successful,” said Mrs. Kay.

Tri-County’s four hospital affiliates are AnMed Health, Palmetto Health Baptist Easley, Self Regional Health Care and Oconee Medical Center.

“Although not required by the State of South Carolina, we promote taking the certification exam because it maintains the standards of the program and the profession,” said MLT instructor Deborah Brock. 

“This was an excellent class who worked well together in the classroom and in community service projects,” Mrs. Brock said.  Students coordinated four blood drives on campus for the AnMed Blood Center and conducted a fundraising campaign for individuals to be tested and placed on the national bone marrow donor registry.  They also collected expired lab supplies to send to Haiti.

Over the last two years, two students were awarded the “Keys to the Future” award by the S.C. Society of Clinical Laboratory Science in recognition of their scholastic achievements, hard work, dedication and service to SCSCLS.  Each year this honor is awarded to one college or university student in the State.  Karen Pearson, of Easley, received the award in 2007, and Jessica Smith of Walhalla, was honored in 2008.

 “They will be responsible MLTs who will contribute to their profession,” said Mrs. Brock.

The Medical Laboratory Technology department is accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education Accreditation in cooperation with the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

 
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