Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and reliable person to join our friendly and highly motivated Histology team at Kettering General Hospital.

You will work as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Cellular Pathology Department and report to the Cellular Pathology Manager. The position is full-time (37.5hrs per week). The department operates Monday to Friday (9:00-17:30)

Main duties of the job

The department receives over 30,000 specimens per year and undertakes all routine histological procedures including specimen dissection, microtomy, frozen sections, special stains and immunocytochemistry. We are UKAS accredited and registered with the IBMS as a pre and post registration training laboratory.

• Be comfortable working within a team but also have the skills and confidence to work independently.
• Undertake computer data entry.
• You should be able to work accurately and efficiently
• Have the ability to concentre for protracted periods of time
• Excellent communication skills
• General administrative tasks
• Undertake numerical filing of specimen blocks and slides.
• Good organisational and data entry skills are essential.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Technical and Operational:

The preparation of GP and surgical specimens for histological examination including:

• Reception and organisation of patient samples
• Assisting pathologists/Biomedical staff at specimen dissection
• Assisting with preparation of tissue for processing and embedding
• Organisation and preparation of slides for digital scanning

• Carry out a range of routine work procedures and practices according to the SOPs provided.
• Perform manual procedures such as measurement of volumes and making up solutions.
• Prepare samples for diagnostic testing and process them to the point of reporting.
• Prepare slides for digital and scanning and loading/unbloading of slides onto the scanner
• Monitor laboratory stock levels.
• Work to policies and processes within your working area and propose changes when required.
• Be able to prioritise work and make informed judgements on daily processes.
• Enter data manually into the laboratory computer system ready for reporting.
• Maintain concentration required for the processing of samples for prolonged periods.

Communication:

• Provide and receive routine information in written, electronic or verbal form for your own use but also to inform members of your team or users of the laboratory service.
• Attend laboratory briefings when required and any other meetings deemed necessary by your manager.
• Attend relevant training sessions when required.
• You may be expected to demonstrate your own duties to other MLAs and where necessary provide them with basic training.

Supervision:

• Be able to assist in the supervision of inexperienced MLAs within your area once trained and competent.
• Work on your own initiative but with supervision available, using the guidance of SOPs and good practice policies.

Working Environment:

• There will be frequent exposure to chemicals and possibly to micro-organisms which can cause disease.
• Regular use of chemicals both hazardous and non-hazardous.
• You will be expected to bend and lift boxes of reagents on a regular basis.