I studied Biochemistry and I have experience with some laboratory techniques during the course of my I.T which I carried out in the lab section of an hospital, I have been going through some online job opportunity and it turns out they mostly require a lab scientist than a biochemist. Am I qualified to apply as a laboratory scientist or what...thanks in advance

Its pity that a "Graduate" is asking such question about his discipline.
While you were in school i guess you didnt make research about what your course entails, your limitations as well as job prospects.
Keep asking bro

#yaaaaaah bro dhou it depends on who is employin U...is d person ready 2 allow u prove ursef...??dnt b discouraged..i studied SLT BUT i have vast clinical experience n das wat am using 2dayy...improve urseff..read vastly dat even if u n any scientist is 2 undergo an interview u can beat him hands down once u r wel prepared..work on clinical chemistry n make it ur weapon as many employers go after ds...dat u shud b hqvin no problem with as a biochemist...best of luck

My dear it depends on who is employing you but most big hospitals and laboratory will rather go for the Medical laboratory scientist
The edge they have over us is the license they possess. Practicing in medical field is almost impossible without a license and that's what Biochemist lack...The license at least keeps the medical practitioners in check..Though some hospitals or lab might employ a Biochemist buh priority is given to a med lab scientist.

Like they have all said it depends on who is employing you. Normally a hospital will consider a Medical laboratory technician over a biochemist let alone employing a biochemist in place of a Medical laboratory scientist (who has vast knowledge of every aspect of the laboratory including Clinical Chemistry and more) . The reason is this, you can do what they do but they have more clinical application to what they do. They can detect errors where traceable which you might be deficient in.

The edge they have over you is this, it takes 7 years (5+1+1) of training to be licensed a Medical laboratory scientist (soon to be 8 years) while you did an I.T of maximum 6 months out of a 4 years. The experience is vast and since life is involved and not just on inanimate objects they are preferred. They can relate the result to the underlying pathology which you are deficient in as that isn't part of your curriculum.

If it were yesteryears I'd said you should do a post graduate diploma but that has been scrapped. That was most biochemist benefitted upon and today they are now medical laboratory scientist. Now the rule is you must have a BMLS degree + licence from MLSCN to practice as a medical lab scientist.

And importantly, no hospital wants a unit to be sealed when the regulatory bodies comes for routine inspection. As a biochemist maybe perceived as a quack in place of a laboratory scientist and the penalty is stiff which will cost the hospital more.

Even in Primary health care facilities, a biochemist can't work as a lab scientist cos they will prefer a technician over you in a Medical laboratory (cos their programme is the same number of years as biochemistry). Even the law forbids it and it's equivalent to a prison sentence for impersonation.

Your question is like asking if an "auxiliary nurse" can work as a doctor or asking if a pharmacologist can work as a pharmacist.

I studied Biochemistry Bro... It's a very useless course with little or no market value in Nigeria.
Majority end up as secondary school teachers, while the Lucky ones get a lecturing Job