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I also started a second career at age 41. I went to college to become a medical technologist (now known as a clinical laboratory scientist). After I graduated, I had children instead of going into a year-long training program. Later, I took other jobs since I didn't have a clinical laboratory scientist license. I had a lab job in the Quality Assurance Department in the defense industry for about 12 years before being laid off. At that time, I decided to pursue a clinical laboratory science career. I was required to take certain colleges courses - 17 years after graduating - in order to apply for training as a CLS (clinical laboratory scientist). I barely was able to get the classes that I needed. Then came time to apply for the training programs - only about dozen at the time in the state of California. I was accepted and trained at St. Joseph's in Orange. After obtaining my license, I worked for about 2 years at the VA in Loma Linda for the Loma Linda University Mineral Metabolism and Osteoporosis research lab. When we moved to Orange County, I applied for work at Quest. My first position at Quest was a CLS in the Biochemical Genetics, a department formed only one year prior. I became the first QA Coordinator in the department. After 10 years, I became a QA Coordinator in Hematology Oncology, and 7 years later I returned to Biochemical Genetics. Follow-up testing done in Biochemical Genetics for newborn screening is important for improving the quality of life for babies born with genetic disorders. I personally have relied on the results of biochemical genetics testing. In 2022, I retired from a job I had for almost 25 years.

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