Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job overview

Previous Applicants need not apply

The Royal Marsden has a vital role in championing change and improvement in cancer care through research and innovation, education and leading-edge practice. We are incredibly proud of our international reputation for pushing the boundaries and for our ground breaking work ensuring our patients receive the very best and latest in cancer treatment and care.

We are seeking a confident, approachable and resourceful person to join the Cellular Pathology service in Chelsea.

This is a very high profile department working to demanding turnaround times and providing services both to Royal Marsden Clinical teams as well as acting as a reference centre for other hospitals in the UK and offering expert opinions to institutions worldwide.

Applicants must have GCSE’s or O levels including a science subject and have experience working in a relevant laboratory. This is full time post. The Trust encourages and supports continuing professional and personal development and Pathology runs a CPD Club

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will perform a wide variety of support tasks within the Histopathology laboratory under the supervision and direction of the registered biomedical scientist staff which will include archiving of paraffin blocks and stained slides, routine solution rotation on processing and staining machines, specimen reception and disposal, packaging and collection of specimens transported between sites, collection of post.  The post holder will undertake basic technical tasks as directed by the Histopathology Laboratory Manager and senior staff and in line with departmental SOPs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

To be able to work within specific areas of the department, with appropriate training:

2.1     Specimen Dissection

• Receipt and checking of samples against request forms •    Assisting Pathologists in the diagnostic sampling of fresh and formalin fixed tissue •    Ensuring cassettes are appropriately labelled •    Assisting in the preparation of appropriately identified blocks of tissue for diagnostic work •    Understanding and appropriate use of Vacuum Infiltration Processors (VIP’s) •    Assisting in the embedding of processed tissue blocks into paraffin wax •    Use and routine daily/ weekly maintenance of VIP’s