SPC Expands Hands-On Training With New Medical Laboratory Technology

St. Philip’s College (SPC) has expanded hands-on learning opportunities for students in its Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program with the purchase of two new clinical chemistry analyzers from Randox, a global diagnostics company specializing in health and toxicology.

The RX Misano is a high-performance semi-automated clinical chemistry analyzer that supports SPC student training by providing access to industry-standard laboratory technology.

The MLT program prepares health science professionals to perform laboratory analysis on blood and body fluids, enabling physicians to diagnose disease and monitor the treatment. Graduates of the program earn an associate of applied science degree and develop marketable skills for entry-level positions in clinical laboratories while building a foundation for career advancement. The program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

“The RX Misano is a small countertop chemistry analyzer that brings automated testing capabilities to educational laboratory programs like SPC,” said Dr. James Williams. “In our program, we teach how testing correlates to diseases and how doctors use this information to diagnose and treat patients. We need to offer students the ability to perform the testing they would use in real-world laboratories.”

The analyzers perform blood chemistry testing that measures glucose levels and electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, chloride, and carbon dioxide, which help monitor body water balance. The instruments also assess kidney health by measuring blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, along with additional tests used to evaluate overall metabolic health.

Students learn the full laboratory testing process, beginning with collecting a blood sample, separating plasma from blood cells, and analyzing the plasma for specific chemical markers.

“Without this new equipment, we relied on older techniques that took days to perform analyses that this equipment can complete in under an hour,” Dr. Williams said. “Our students’ knowledge connects directly to application and gives them the skill set they need to succeed. The medical laboratory industry is rapidly advancing, and it’s important for our students to have the knowledge to adapt to an ever-changing landscape.”

To learn more about the Medical Laboratory Technician program, visit alamo.edu/spc/mlab.