Final answer:
Moderate-complexity laboratories must be directed by medical technologists or medical laboratory technicians, who are essential for analyzing body fluids for disease diagnosis and management. Pathologists may also oversee these clinical laboratories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Laboratories that perform moderate-complexity tests must be run by a qualified individual, such as a medical technologist (MT) or a medical laboratory technician (MLT). MTs, also known as clinical laboratory technologists, usually hold at least a bachelor’s degree and certification from an accredited training program. They are responsible for performing a variety of tests on body fluids including blood, which are crucial for primary care providers to diagnose diseases, monitor the course of a disease, and track the response to treatment. On the other hand, MLTs typically have an associate's degree and may perform similar duties to those of an MT under their supervision. Furthermore, a pathologist, who is a medical doctor with specialized training in laboratory detection of disease, may oversee clinical laboratories to evaluate body tissue and blood samples for disease or infection.