Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job overview

Are you looking for a role where your work has a direct impact on patient care and outcomes? The Christie Pathology Partnership (CPP) is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our Histopathology team. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a world-class diagnostic service supporting The Christie, Europe's largest single-site cancer centre.

As a Medical Laboratory Assistant, you will play a key role in the patient pathway by receiving, preparing and processing clinical specimens for testing; ensuring all work is accurately and efficiently carried out in line with established procedures and quality standards. Working within a supportive laboratory environment, you will help maintain the high standards of service that clinicians and patients rely on every day.

CPP is a unique partnership between The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and SYNLAB, a global leader in pathology and diagnostic services. Together, we combine clinical excellence, innovation and expertise to deliver high-quality diagnostic services that support the care of more than 60,000 patients each year.

We are looking for someone who is organised, detail-focused and eager to learn, with strong communication and teamwork skills. Whether you have laboratory experience, or are looking to develop your career in pathology, you will receive support, training and opportunities to build your knowledge and skills within a friendly and professional team.

If you are passionate about delivering quality, committed to making a difference and excited by the opportunity to contribute to exceptional cancer care, we would be delighted to hear from you and welcome you to our team.

Main duties of the job

As a Medical Laboratory Assistant within the Histopathology team, you will play an important role in supporting the delivery of high-quality diagnostic services that contribute directly to patient care. Every specimen you handle represents a patient awaiting an answer, making accuracy, attention to detail and professionalism essential to everything you do.

Working as part of a dedicated and supportive team, you will be responsible for receiving, checking and processing a wide range of clinical specimens, ensuring they are correctly prepared for laboratory testing and handled in line with established protocols and quality standards. You will undertake a variety of duties including specimen registration, data entry and the safe management of samples, helping to ensure an efficient and reliable service for both patients and clinical colleagues.

The role requires a methodical approach, excellent organisational skills and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and confidentiality. You will work closely with Biomedical Scientists and other laboratory professionals, contributing to the smooth running of a busy Histopathology service while supporting the delivery of timely and accurate diagnostic results.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Launched in 2014, the Christie Pathology Partnership (CPP) is a joint venture between SYNLAB and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. We operate from within on-site pathology laboratories and serve a population of more than 3.2 million.

The Christie Pathology Partnership delivers a high quality, responsive pathology diagnostic service to The Christie and other healthcare providers regionally and nationally. An international leader in research, The Christie is the largest single-site specialist cancer centre in Europe.

Our laboratories also provide testing; screening and assay development to support The Christie’s early phase clinical trials, with around 200 trials underway at any one time

As a Medical Laboratory Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality patient care by ensuring clinical specimens are received, prepared and processed with accuracy and efficiency. Working within Pathology Reception and under the guidance of senior laboratory professionals, you will contribute to a safe, responsive, and quality-focused service, meeting established standards and turnaround times. The role requires a strong commitment to accuracy, professionalism, and adherence to health and safety procedures, while maintaining a patient-centred approach behind the scenes. You will also be encouraged to continuously develop your knowledge and skills through ongoing learning and practical experience, helping to build expertise and contribute positively to the laboratory team and wider healthcare service.

You will support the efficient running of the laboratory by receiving, preparing and processing samples for diagnostic testing, providing advice to service users, and assisting with clinical trials. You will use laboratory IT systems, maintain accurate records, manage stock and equipment, and help ensure quality and safety standards are met. The role requires effective communication, the ability to prioritise routine and urgent work, participation in service improvements, and a commitment to ongoing training, competency development, and supporting positive change within the laboratory

Success in this role will be measured by the accurate and timely preparation of samples for biomedical investigations, consistently meeting laboratory turnaround times and quality standards. You will be expected to achieve and maintain all role-specific competency requirements and national performance targets, demonstrate effective teamwork and positive working relationships with colleagues, and provide a high standard of service that results in no customer complaints. A commitment to quality, professionalism, and continuous improvement will be essential in achieving these objectives.