Job overview
The Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) provides essential support to Biomedical Scientists and Pathologists within the Cellular Pathology Department. The role contributes to the delivery of a high-quality diagnostic service across Histopathology, Cytology and associated molecular pathways.
Main duties of the job
- Receiving, checking, booking and tracking pathology specimens.
- Entering and maintaining accurate patient and specimen data on the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
- Handling specimens, including formalin-fixed tissue, in accordance with health and safety and infection control requirements.
- Retrieving, preparing and dispatching slides, reports and tissue blocks for MDT meetings, molecular testing and second opinions.
- Filing and archiving laboratory records, slides and tissue blocks.
- Responding to telephone and email enquiries from healthcare professionals and service users.
- Supporting laboratory workflows through stock control, reagent preparation, routine equipment checks and maintenance.
- Assisting with the preparation of cases for cancer MDT meetings.
- Contributing to quality management systems, incident reporting and continuous service improvement.
- Working collaboratively with scientific, medical and administrative colleagues to ensure efficient service delivery.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to attached job description/personal specification to view the full range of duties and responsibilities
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as part of a team.
- Experience of entering and maintaining accurate information on computer systems.
Desirable
- Previous experience in a healthcare setting.
- Previous laboratory experience.
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4 or equivalent).
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Good IT skills and experience using computer systems.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
Desirable
- Willingness to learn and develop new skills.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Medical Laboratory Assistant with Wye Valley NHS Trust in Histopathology. It is listed as a Band 2 Health science services role. The advertised salary is £25,272 pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 26 Aug 2026.
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