Practice Guidelines
Practice guidelines are intended to provide guidance for
These guidelines:
- Are intended to support, not replace, the exercise of professional judgment by MLTs.
- Are developed by working groups, which may be composed of members of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) or other stakeholders, to ensure they accurately represent best practices and current information.
- Reflect both public and professional interests.
- Are maintained by the various CMLTO committees.
Webinars:
Guideline for Evaluating Professional Practice Activities : January 2022
NOTICE:
On August 14, 2020, the CMLTO Quality Assurance Committee passed a motion to rescind the Guidelines for Medical Laboratory Technologists Practising in Transfusion Science. The guidelines are no longer available.
If you require any further information or confidential practice advice, please contact the Quality Assurance Program at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 1-800-323-9672, extension 2.
CMLTO held a webinar on February 22, 2018, to address MLTs' questions about why the CMLTO Cytology & Histology Practice Guidelines were rescinded, and how it affects their professional practice. Topics included:
• Overview of MLT Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice and professional obligations
• CMLTO Practice Guideline development and review process.
A recorded version of the webinar can be accessed by clicking here. Please note that to view the webinar, you will be required to provide your name and email address.
An FAQ (PDF) was created as an outcome of the webinar, and can be accessed by clicking here.
Guideline for Evaluating Professional Practice Activities : January 2022
NOTICE:
On August 14, 2020, the CMLTO Quality Assurance Committee passed a motion to rescind the Guidelines for Medical Laboratory Technologists Practising in Transfusion Science. The guidelines are no longer available.
If you require any further information or confidential practice advice, please contact the Quality Assurance Program at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 1-800-323-9672, extension 2.
CMLTO held a webinar on February 22, 2018, to address MLTs' questions about why the CMLTO Cytology & Histology Practice Guidelines were rescinded, and how it affects their professional practice. Topics included:
• Overview of MLT Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice and professional obligations
• CMLTO Practice Guideline development and review process.
A recorded version of the webinar can be accessed by clicking here. Please note that to view the webinar, you will be required to provide your name and email address.
An FAQ (PDF) was created as an outcome of the webinar, and can be accessed by clicking here.
- NEW! CMLTO Delegation Guidelines (2022) / Directives de délégation pour les technologistes de laboratoire médical (2022)
- MLT Boundaries of Practice Guideline (2022) / Limites éthiques de la pratique des TLM (2022)
- Guidelines for evaluating professional practice activities / Lignes directrices pour évaluer les activités de pratique professionnelle (2021)
- Guidelines for ethical decision-making (2018)
- REVISED! Guidelines for the supervision of medical laboratory science program students in clinical placements (2019)
- Practice Guidelines for Members Regarding the Health Care Consent Act (HCCA)
- UPDATED! Guidelines for Supervision (2019)
- Delegation Guidelines for MLTs (2012)
- REVISED! Guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse (2019)
- REVISED! Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Patients - Instructor's Guide (2019)
- REVISED! Fact sheet for funding for therapy or counselling (For a patient who has been sexually abused by an MLT.) (2019)
- Collaboration Guidelines for Medical Laboratory Technologists (2018)
- REVISED! Retraining Guidelines for medical laboratory technologists (2019)
- MLT Boundaries of Practice Guidebook (2001)
Professional practice resources
NEW! CMLTO Guidance for members - Impact of Bill C-46 on professional practice, 2019 (PDF)
2016 Professional practice bulletin (PDF)
NEW! CMLTO Guidance for members - Impact of Bill C-46 on professional practice, 2019 (PDF)
2016 Professional practice bulletin (PDF)