About Us

Laboratory professionals, including medical laboratory scientists and histotechnologists, serve as a critical part of the healthcare enterprise. The WVU School of Medicine's Division of Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics offers multiple programs that prepare students to pursue fulfilling medical careers.

Although they are not often personally involved with patients, medical laboratory scientists and histotechnologists play a crucial role in the process of providing personalized care by generating vitally important data for identifying and treating cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and many other health conditions.

Medical Laboratory Science

Medical laboratory scientists are highly skilled professionals who discover the presence or absence of disease in blood and other bodily fluids, and provide data that helps healthcare providers determine the best treatment for the patient.

The School of Medicine offers two medical laboratory science degrees, a specialized track in the Bachelor of Science (BS) program and an entry-level Master of Science (MS) for college graduates with a baccalaureate degree in another discipline. Both programs prepare graduates for immediate employment or continued postgraduate study.

Histotechnology

Histotechnologists are highly skilled professionals who detect the presence or absence of disease in tissue specimens, and provide data that aid pathologists in determining the diagnosis, prognosis, and best treatment for the patient.

The School of Medicine offers a specialized track in histotechnology in the Bachelor of Science (BS) program, which prepares graduates for immediate employment or continued postgraduate study.

Pathways

Graduates of either the medical laboratory science or histotechnology divisions find work in laboratory settings, including in hospitals, clinics, the state, veterinary clinics, forensic laboratories, and pharmaceutical and other laboratory environments. They may also find employment in reference or research laboratories, and are well-prepared for graduate school in the medical or dental professions, the basic sciences, or specialized areas of study, such as WVU's Pathologists' Assistant program.