About this career
Medical laboratory assistants work under supervision of the biomedical scientist and carry out basic laboratory procedures. They work in the pre-analytical handling of samples such as checking the details of specimens received for analysis, maintaining analysers, loading reagents, and packaging specimens. They also perform clerical tasks such as monitoring the stock levels of reagents used in analysis.
Essential skills
apply safety procedures in laboratory
archive healthcare users' records
calibrate laboratory equipment
check the received biological samples
communicate in healthcare
conduct routine blood testing
examine cell specimens microscopically
identify patients' medical records
label blood samples
maintain laboratory equipment
maintain medical laboratory equipment
mix chemicals
operate scientific measuring equipment
perform cerebrospinal fluid analysis
perform laboratory tests
perform sample testing
prepare samples for testing
record test data
send samples to laboratory
test chemical samples
transport blood samples
use chemical analysis equipment
wear appropriate protective gear
work safely with chemicals
Required knowledge
automated analysers in the medical laboratory
blood type classification
laboratory techniques
microbiology-bacteriology
techniques of blood-sampling
Additional skills
analyse blood samples
analyse cell cultures
assist in the production of laboratory documentation
carry out flow cytometry
carry out quality control in microbiology laboratories
collect biological samples from patients
conduct cancer screening tests
dispose medical waste
examine samples in dermatology
explain the molecular basis of a disease to patients
interpret hematological test results
interpret medical results
interpret urology diagnostic tests
maintain healthcare user data confidentiality
monitor stock level
order supplies
perform bone marrow transplant
perform fertility laboratory procedures
perform PCR covid test
perform reconstructive microsurgery
perform stem cell transplantation
sterilise medical equipment
work with chemicals
biological chemistry
blood collection on babies
blood donation
blood transfusion
clinical biochemistry
clinical cytology
cryopreservation
data protection
densiometry
dermapathology
electroencephalography
fine-needle aspiration
histopathology
immunology
microscopic techniques
paediatric phlebotomy procedures
stem cells
tissue cytogenetics
urolithiasis in the urinary tract
virology
Also known as
biomedical laboratory assistant
assistant clinical researcher
assistant in medical laboratory
medical lab assistant
clinical research assistant
medical laboratory research assistant
assistant in biomedical laboratory
biomedical laboratory research assistant
