The Inova Fairfax Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science is a division of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. Established in 1963, we pride ourselves in graduating highly qualified medical laboratory scientists who are competent to enter the laboratory profession. Our staff includes dedicated and experienced clinical instructors, laboratory scientists, physicians, and administrators, all of whom participate in the education of our students. The Inova Fairfax Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Science is fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) and is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
The Inova Fairfax Hospital Medical Laboratory Science program is a highly competitive, 11-month-long program consisting of over 1,700 clock hours of instruction. The program is intended to qualify its graduates to take the national certification examination given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology in pursuit of the MLS (ASCP) certification. We enroll 4-6 students each year.
Our program is open to both:
- Current university students enrolled in a qualifying medical technology, medical laboratory science or clinical lab science program who will attend our program full-time to complete the final year of their degree (3+1 option)
- Those who have already earned an approved Bachelor's degree and wish to pursue the MLS certification (4+1 option)
During their clinical year of training, students are trained as generalists and rotate through all sections of the laboratory including immunohematology, chemistry, hemostasis and thrombosis, hematology, immunology, microbiology and urinalysis & body fluids. The rotations include lectures and practical instructions.
The program schedule is Monday through Friday and starts in August of every year. Students attend lectures and clinical rotations daily. Hours vary, but are typically 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students receive days off for holidays and breaks.
Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 18,000 team members serve more than 2 million individuals annually through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes.