DRUGTESTING 101: What to do when there's no Collector or Head of Laboratory shown in Specimen Collection or Initial screening

Can't see the ASC or Head of Lab's name when you reach the specimen collection or initial screening part? This is usually the case when IDTOMIS is reset or when it has a new accreditation number.

Here are the steps to resolve the matter:

1. Make sure you are connected ONLINE. Kindly log in authorized specimen collector's (ASC) account by inputting his username and password to IDTOMIS. Include accreditation number if asked.
2. Once logged in, the account is renewed. The IDTOMIS can recognize the ASC account.
3. Log out.
4. Go back to Analyst acct.and check if the ASC's name is already in the specimen collection details part.

If the problem persists, ask the IDTOMIS Helpdesk representative.

Part-time drug analyst

When you realize that you need an extra money to get through each passing day, one job isn't enough. Much more you got bills to pay, you need to have an extra source of income. Just when I lost hope and nearly quit my job as a medical technologist at a hospital I suddenly found hope and got an opportunity to maximize being a drug analyst. So here I am, getting myself another part-time job being a drug analyst!

I left my previous part-time job because of many reasons: one is it cuts my budget. Going to and fro costs me 100 pesos so it's like that a considerable portion of my daily wage just went to fare. Also, it is a distance away from home. I need to get on a habal-habal, tricycle, and jeep to the clinic which is stressful. And one more thing, I'm just an on-call medtech. Meaning, I just get to work there when the medical technologist decides to take her day off.

I got this drug analyst opportunity when I and my friend went to LTO office to get a student permit. To obtain such, one must secure a medical certificate so we went to the nearest LTO-accredited medical/drug testing laboratory to get ours.

The process went smoothly, we easily got our medical certificate without a hassle. And just as we were about to leave, I asked one of the staff if they are still in need of a drug analyst when they said they do1

And that's when my drug analyst career started. 

I get paid hourly. My work schedule in the drug testing facility starts from 8AM till 12NOON so I work additional 4 hours in complement with my regular 2PM-10PM in the hospital laboratory. Sounds pretty stressful? Well, I just handled it for almost 7 months already and still coping up.

BENEFITS

Having a part time job helped me to stay on my budget for a month. With my regular job paying on a 15th-30th scheme, my part time  pays on the 5th and 20th so I get to allocate what needs to be paid first. Not to brag but I can really say I don't feel much of the 'tingbits' times (that's when you're running out of money but you're trying to make ends meet). It somehow helped me to save money in various saving vehicles and treat my family to dinners as well.

DISADVANTAGES

As mentioned, I get to work 12 hours a day so usually I get home around 11 pm and wake up at 5AM to get ready on things. I got only few hours of sleep. True, it's stressing me out but I have no choice so I get sick sometimes. Because of this, I never forget taking multivitamins to boost my immune system and invest on affordable beauty regimens for me not to look haggard.

For me, being a part-time drug analyst is somehow a blessing. I got the opportunity to make use of my certification at the same time I'm well-compensated. I thank the management for considering me to work even just half a day. Also, I'm grateful to have such outgoing workmates in the place as well. Truly, a worthy experience!

Thank you, dear interns! (CDU-MT batch 18-19)

First and foremost, thank you! 

Even though I'm not sure if you would take notice of this post but I'm honestly grateful of the company you've given us especially during the toxic and busy shifts. I could see that those are a part of the learning process but that was a great help there. You were there when we needed a hand. When I was releasing your drug test results from the start, I wonder if I can call all of you by your names. It was even hard for me to recognize all your faces but at the end of the internship, it was satisfying to get to know each one of you. 

I may not be the funny and outgoing medtech you used to know but I appreciate your thoughtfulness and initiative to help what needs to be done. I've seen your burning passion and undying ambition to finish what you've started and that is to pass and to graduate. I do recall when some of you worrying about their research, then came case studies, then moving exams to compre exams. In there, as I listened to every woes, it struck me that I was there also. I was once an intern doubting myself if would I be able to graduate on time or not.

When I knew all of you would graduate, I was so impressed. You were the biggest batch of the entire CDU-MT history yet you guys are also exceptional! I discovered many talents (singers, artists, dancers) in your batch that I was glad some obliged to showcase to us. 

True, there were times you were giving us headaches and sometimes being upset because of the 'issues' but for me, it already happened and I hope you realized your mistakes.. 

I would never forget the KPOP songs during your time (special mention to Love Scenario) when some could dance gracefully, when some could crack jokes  and those childish games you play when boredom strikes you. Not to mention the salo-salo and termi times as well!

It might be that good things come to an end. The lab now is already quiet and each sections not crowded anymore. I felt like something was wrong until I realized that the internship is over.

Seeing your graduation photos one by one makes me say that you deserve it. To the interns who are dear to me, thanks for the friendship. I hope that as we meet somewhere, you'll still wave your hand even though I might fail to recognize you.

Well, your seven months of being an intern is over. You're one step closer to your dream. I can't wait to call some of you guys a colleague in the future. I'm so proud of you! Kudos triple one! I believe all of you could make to the boards.  I congratulate all of you! 

It's LOVE through the microscope

monocyte

Sometimes, when life in the lab is pretty stressful, I see these simple things as some kind of the fun part of being a medical technologist. I vividly remember when I was quickly doing my differential count before I take my lunch break, I saw this cute cell. Even though I was in a hurry, I took a quick break and borrowed my colleagues phone and captured this monocyte as beautifully as I could. Then I said to myself, it's the simple things that make it more fun and exciting!

When Hematoma happens...

This is what happens when you don't hit the vein of your patient. This is the first time I've got my arms swollen as I donated platelets via apheresis.

I applied cold compress on the swollen area for 2 days and hot compress for the succeeding days.

I should have requested to have the needle transferred to the other arm but I chose to tolerate the pain instead. It's excruciating by the time the machine returned my red cells. Well, this may be a lesson for our fellow phlebotomists out there to do aftercare for their donors to avoid these mishaps.

Achievement Unlocked! I passed the IELTS exam!

Thank God! My struggles were worth it! At last, I'll never have to take IELTS again!

I am immensely grateful that God didn't leave me on my IELTS journey. I would say that it was a roller coaster of emotions full of uncertainty and inspiration.

Although I love reading books and writing blogs in English but the preparation made me realize that I still need to polish my English speaking skills. It was the time that I came to tell myself how I detest reading and most of all felt lazy in writing. 

IELTS is a must-take for us Filipino healthcare professionals as it is a requirement for our CGFNS Visascreen processing. I spent eight months in preparing for the test because the fee was no joke. It costs P10,250.00 and I have no choice but to earn that considerable amount of money. Take note, I was not born to an affluent family so I need to work hard first.

To pass IELTS, the test taker should meet the band required by each country. The perfect band is 9.0.  In my case, since I'm bound for US, I need to have a band of at least 7.0 in speaking with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Also, I was waiting for a perfect timing. In my months of practice, I was still not convinced with my progress so I did not haste and answer all the Cambridge listening and reading subtests that I could find and did essays of all kinds of questions weekly.

DURING MY SPEAKING TEST.

It happened two days before my chosen date so I was apprehensive at first. I took a long breath in going to the venue to keep my composure. It was not long till the interviewer called my name and I kept telling myself that it would be just like a normal conversation with a friend.

The Part one was fine as I was able to practice these kinds of questions during my review when Part two came. The moment I saw my cue card, my thoughts went blank and suddenly panic overcome me. I was given a topic that was so unfamiliar. It took me half a minute to write what I should say.

Even though the odds were not in my favor, I still answered it with enthusiasm and as cohesive as possible. But I didn’t deny that I committed some fillers, hesitations and repetitions.

Much more in Part three where I seem to think that the interviewer was processing my answers. I was not sure where do I stand but I explained it to her with support and cited some examples. I was not certain with my answer as well. I thought that was the end of the world and I just screwed my IELTS score.

DURING MY WRITTEN EXAM..

With what happened during the speaking, I was in the middle of losing hope and moving on so I decided not to do last-minute preps a day before. It was worth mentioning that the exam venue for the remaining tests is so fascinating. It was indeed an international campus where the facilities are unparalled and students just line up in the cafeteria to take their food as they please. Listening was bearable but I left to the heavens my reading and writing because the time was really short and I just had to put finishing touches before time is up.

Waiting for the results was so agonizing but I didn’t think much about it because I went with my colleagues for a vacation for 4 days. It diverted my attention somehow. I tend to forget the horrors of failing until the remaining days.

Well, I couldn’t imagine myself if I fail the test. On February 22, 2019 at around 10 in the morning, I received a text message coming from the IDP and I saw my scores. How I love to shout for joy as I knew I passed! I was in the lab when the result came out and all I could do at that moment was to thank God. I felt like I won a lottery. After I attended a mass, I reached home and there I cried my heart out. Tears of joy really is as I hugged my parents right away.

It was like a thorn was taken out from my body.  I dedicate this achievement for my family as they are witnesses how I sacrificed my time for them to IELTS. The triumph was more than what I felt than passing ASCP. Truly IELTS is a life-changing exam and I realize that this platform is just a one-step to improve my English learning skills. After passing the exam, I gathered all the books that I want to finish. At last, I can do all the things that I want to do. There’s nothing holding me back anymore! It was a one hell of experience with IELTS. Thank you, next!

Preparing for an exam: Review Center or Self study?

While it is true that review centers can help you what to study for an exam but self study can help you save money big time.

Choose...

Review Center:

• if you can afford the expensive review fee
• if you have limited or no resources such as recalls, review materials, questionnaires
• if you need proper guidance and in-depth discussion from distinguished lecturers 
• if you're eager to attend each lectures, compre and mock exams for assessment
• if you can't manage time for studying

OR

Self-study:

• if you're out of budget for review centers
• if you can control your time and have discipline to stick to your schedule 
• if you have the essential recalls, books, and review materials 
• if most of your colleagues passed the test by doing the same thing 

In every exam that you're going to take, both of them have pros and cons so you have to weigh it for yourself but it all goes down to your effort while reviewing. Review center questions can be nerve-wrecking at times and they don't come out in the exams making it somewhat useless. On the other hand, self-study can have so many distractions so you feel like you're not productive on your study time.

Assess if you can make it by yourself or with the help of review centers. These exams should be taken once only. It's hard to fail so make the most of it count as you prepare for the exam. Listen to your gut feeling.