Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job overview

The Cellular Pathology laboratory at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton is looking for a enthusiastic and self motivated person with good interpersonal skills to join our busy Histopathology Medical Laboratory Assistant team.

UHSx East Cellular pathology receives approximately 34,000 Histology requests and 5,000 Cytology requests per annum, with all the routine technical work being performed at RSCH.

The department provides a service for a wide variety of specialities, which include Renal Medicine, Oncology, Breast Pathology, and Paediatrics as well as to the Brighton & Sussex Medical School.

The successful applicant must be conscientious and enthusiastic and able to work well as part of a team and under pressure. Good hand eye coordination and attention to detail are essential requirements.

The successful applicant must also have good communication and IT skills and will be expected to participate fully in the accreditation activities of the department.

Relevant experience would be an advantage but full training will be provided.

Candidates looking for  a Trainee Biomedical Scientist position or a progressional need not apply.

Main duties of the job

The post will involve supporting the department in providing diagnostic Cellular Pathology services and includes  specimen data entry, specimen preparation, assisting the medical and scientific team during specimen dissection, matching completed cases for final quality control check, machine operation and maintenance, dealing with telephone enquiries;  stock control; and laboratory waste disposal.

This position will be based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, working and the post-holder will be held accountable to the HR policies and procedures of UHSx.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Scientific & analytical

• Follows standard operating procedures at all times
• Participates in data entry for cellular pathology samples.
• Understand the urgency of requests; prioritising work according to SOP’s.
• Checks samples before processing for identification, status and suitability for diagnostic investigations, referring to a BMS when necessary.
• Prepare specimens, making decisions from a range of options on the type of process to be used e.g. fixation, wet preparations, referral to another area of Pathology if appropriate.
• Assist the Consultant Pathologist, Registrar or BMS at the specimen dissection bench, recording details and check specimen details.
• Undertake routine maintenance and troubleshooting on complex equipment to ensure correct functioning
• Load slide scanners as and when directed
• Matchs completed cases for final quality control check
• Prepare reagents, stock solutions and laboratory disinfectants as directed.
• Cleans and disinfects equipment and work areas as appropriate
• Report anomalies to senior staff according to SOP’s.
• Help maintain the filing system of slides and blocks.
• To be aware of and work within own technical competence
• Suggests changes to protocols/ Policies where appropriate.

Information management & technology

• Works within SOPs and policies to ensure high quality data, thus maintaining the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases. Recognises data quality problems and brings to the attention of senior staff.
• Attends training on the use of display screen equipment and ensures that working practices comply.
• Reports any non-functional hardware to senior staff.
• Uses the laboratory information management system according to authorised protocols. Uses quality management system for read only access
• Complies with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
• Uses the laboratory information management systems and Open Exeter to access results as required.