Final answer:
To function efficiently in a POL, medical assistants must master phlebotomy, specimen handling, and microscopy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medical assistants in a POL (physician office laboratory) must master several areas of laboratory medicine to function efficiently. Some of these areas include:
- Phlebotomy: Medical assistants must be skilled in collecting blood samples from patients using various techniques such as venipuncture, capillary sticks, and arterial sticks.
- Specimen handling: They need to know how to properly prepare and handle different types of specimens for examination, such as blood samples, body fluids, and cultures.
- Microscopy: Medical assistants should be able to prepare and view specimens using microscopy techniques like bright field and phase contrast microscopy.