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Medical laboratory science students compete in 2022 Cell Bowl

by Jordana Newman  |   

Medical laboratory science students standing together in lab
UAA Medical Laboratory Science students compete in national 2022 Cell Bowl. (Photo by Karen Kurtz/University of Alaska Anchorage)

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) program participated in the national 2022 American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Cell Bowl and was featured on the official website during the competition. According to MLS associate professor Karen Kurtz, the seven-week competition gave students the chance to show off their Hematology cell identification skills and compete with programs across the nation.

“I am proud of the students for competing in the Cell Bowl,” says Kurtz. “It provides an opportunity for the students to increase their understanding and identification skills of abnormal cells in the blood.” 

According to ASCP, students used an app on their phones called "CellAtlas,” to play the "Cell Quiz" which showed them 30 digital images of normal and abnormal blood cells. They identified as many as they could in one minute before scores were submitted. The students competed for four weeks in the regional championships and the winner of each region went on to the playoffs and then semifinals to compete for the top 3 teams in the nation. 

UAA was one of seven teams representing the western region and 85 schools across the nation competed in the event.