Medical Laboratory Technologist — Interview Preparation
Prepared for: Kashif Rasheed
Overview
This pack collects commonly asked interview questions for Medical Laboratory Technologists
(MLTs), organized by department, plus answer-writing tips and recommended textbooks and
references to study. Questions were compiled from professional interview guides and laboratory
medicine resources. Use this PDF to practice answers aloud, tailor examples to your experience,
and memorize key facts for technical questions.
How to use this pack
1. Read each question and write short bullet answers (30–90 seconds per question). 2. For
technical questions, include the following structure: (a) short definition, (b) stepwise procedure or
principle, (c) important quality control (QC) or safety points, (d) an example from your experience
if possible. 3. Practice with a friend or in front of a mirror; record and refine.
General Interview Questions (common for all MLT roles)
• Tell me about yourself and why you chose laboratory medicine.
• Which laboratory information systems (LIS) have you used? Describe daily use and data entry
practices.
• Describe how you ensure accuracy and precision in your test results (QC and calibrations).
• Explain a time you found an unexpected result — what steps did you take?
• How do you prioritize multiple STAT and routine requests?
• Describe your experience with equipment maintenance and troubleshooting.
• How do you stay current with new lab techniques and regulations?
• How do you handle biohazard exposure or an occupational safety incident?
• Describe experience working in a multidisciplinary team and communicating results to
clinicians.
Department-specific Technical Questions
Hematology
• Explain CBC components and how an automated hematology analyzer works (principles of
impedance vs optical).
• Describe peripheral blood smear review: what to look for and when to reflex to manual review.
• How do you perform and interpret reticulocyte counts and peripheral smear reticulocyte
assessment?
• Explain causes and lab patterns for microcytic, macrocytic, and normocytic anemias.
• Describe coagulation tests (PT, aPTT, INR) — sample requirements and preanalytical
variables.
• How do you perform and QC manual differentials and platelet estimations?
Microbiology
• Describe specimen collection, transport, and how pre-analytical errors affect culture results.
• Explain Gram stain steps and interpretation (morphology, Gram reaction).
• Describe isolation and identification workflow for common pathogens (urine, blood, wound).
• How do you perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing (disc diffusion / MIC basics)?
• Describe infection control measures and handling of BSL2 vs BSL3 organisms.
Clinical Chemistry / Chemical Pathology
• Explain spectrophotometry principles and common interferences in clinical chemistry assays.
• Describe how to perform sample centrifugation, lipemic/hemolyzed sample handling, and when
to reject a sample.
• Explain enzyme assays (ALT/AST) and methods for calibration and controls.
• Describe principles of immunoassays and common sources of false positives/negatives.
• How do you manage instrument QC failures and document corrective actions?
Histology / Histochemistry
• Explain tissue processing steps (fixation, dehydration, clearing, embedding) and importance of
fixation time.
• Describe routine H&E; staining steps and common artifacts.
• Explain principles of immunohistochemistry (antigen retrieval, controls, interpretation).
• How do you handle decalcified specimens or bone biopsies?
Blood Bank / Transfusion Services
• Describe ABO and Rh typing procedure and compatibility testing (crossmatch basics).
• Explain pretransfusion testing and how to investigate a transfusion reaction.
• Describe antibody screening and identification workflow.
Immunology / Serology
• Explain ELISA principles and how to perform/result an ELISA run.
• Describe serologic markers used in hepatitis and HIV testing and window period implications.
• Explain quality controls used in serology and how to handle discrepant controls.
Behavioral / HR Questions & Tips
Use the STAR method for behavioural answers: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Be concise —
focus on your role, the action you took, and measurable outcomes (reduced errors, improved
turnaround time, corrected QC). Examples to prepare: conflict with a coworker, a time you
improved a process, handling workload under pressure, and an ethical dilemma (e.g., reporting a
critical value).
Sample Technical Answer Structure (example)
Question: How do you ensure accuracy when running a new lot of reagent on an analyzer?
Answer structure: 1) Say that you verify lot compatibility and expiry. 2) Run manufacturer
recommended calibration and run two levels of QC. 3) Compare results to previous
lot/acceptance criteria and document. 4) If out-of-range, troubleshoot (re-run controls, check
calibrator, instrument maintenance) and escalate per SOP.
Recommended Textbooks & References (prioritize for interviews)
• Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics — Comprehensive
reference for clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics. Excellent for deepening
understanding of assay principles and clinical interpretation.
• Dacie and Lewis Practical Haematology — Gold-standard text for hematology practical
techniques and interpretation.
• Manual of Clinical Microbiology (ASM) — Authoritative reference for microbiology testing,
identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility.
• Linne & Ringsrud's Clinical Laboratory Science: The Basics and Routine Techniques
(Turgeon) — Accessible textbook covering core MLT practical skills across departments.
• Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques (Bancroft & Gamble) — Standard text for
histology processing and staining techniques.
Quick Study Plan (4 weeks)
Week 1: Review General QC, safety, LIS, and common procedures. Practice general and
behavioural questions. Week 2: Focus Hematology + Blood bank (smears, coagulation, typing).
Do practice smear interpretation. Week 3: Focus Microbiology + Immunology (staining, culture
workflow, AST, ELISA principles). Week 4: Clinical Chemistry + Histology + mock interviews.
Memorize key references and review troubleshooting cases.
References & sources used to compile this pack
• Interview question guides and sample questions — Indeed / job boards / professional
career pages — Indeed, FinalRoundAI, jobs boards.
• Clinical laboratory reference textbooks — Tietz, Dacie & Lewis, Manual of Clinical
Microbiology — Standard authoritative references recommended by clinical lab libraries and
exam guides.
• Medical laboratory review book lists and study guides — Lists of common MLT review
books and exam prep materials.
Appendix: Quick sample answers (short)
Tell me about yourself (30–45 sec)
I am a Medical Lab Technologist with X years' experience in hematology and microbiology,
skilled in analyzer operation, QC, and reporting. I enjoy problem-solving and improving lab
workflows; most recently I reduced sample rejection rates by X% through staff training.
How do you handle a critical result?
I confirm the result (repeat if indicated), ensure proper identification of patient/sample, follow the
institution's critical value policy, and communicate immediately to the clinician while documenting
the call per policy.
Describe a time you improved a process
In my previous role I standardized daily QC logging which reduced QC errors by X% and
improved TAT by Y minutes per shift.
