Medical Laboratory Assistants play a very important role in patient health. They are responsible for collecting blood, tissue and other samples from patients, and preparing samples for testing and analysis. Lab Assistants are also hands-on health workers, working directly with patients, often during sensitive times, and may accompany patients through difficult processes. Medical Lab Assistants typically work in inpatient or outpatient medical facilities, however, are often employed in private and public labs or research institutions. Some choose to specialize in biochemistry, cytology, hematology, histopathology, immunology, or microbiology.