Community and Technical College receives equipment donation for Medical Laboratory Technology Department

IMx System automated analyzer improves laboratory capabilities

ANCHORAGE, Alaska The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Community and Technical College (CTC) is proud to announce the addition of new equipment to its Medical Laboratory Technology Department that expands the range of testing abilities for endocrine function, fertility, cancer, hepatitis, transplant, rubella and congenital disease. The equipment, an IMx Analyzer, was awarded to UAA by Abbott Diagnostics' "Labs Are Vital" program. The Instrument Donation Program received 102 application requests and UAA was one of 16 to be awarded use of the equipment. Abbott will remain the owner of the equipment, and will provide training, maintenance and the reagents for the instrument. The new equipment will help raise the visibility of labs and promote laboratory professionals.

The IMx System is an automated analyzer designed to perform micro particle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA), fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) and ion capture technologies. This unique combination allows both high and low molecular weight analytes to be measured, and allows students to perform maintenance, calibrate and run controls and patient samples on an immunoassay analyzer.

Due to the high cost of laboratory instrumentation, UAA's program relies on donations from hospitals. This donation from Abbott will allow students to perform hormone, therapeutic drug, and infectious disease immunoassays in the student lab.

CTC's Medical Laboratory Technology Department offers both an A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology and a B.S. in Medical Technology. The mission of the Medical Laboratory Technology Department is to graduate competent and ethical professionals with the knowledge and the skills necessary to work as entry-level phlebotomists, clinical assistants, medical laboratory technicians or medical technologists.

For more information on UAA's Medical Laboratory Technology program visit www.uaa.alaska.edu/ctc/programs/alliedhealth/medt/