Medical Laboratory Assistant - Microbiology

A Vacancy at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our Microbiology Pathology Team.

Medical Laboratory Assistants are important members of a scientific team who will always ensure that the workflow and turnaround of specimens is adequately maintained.

Main Duties:

1. Reception of samples, pre and post analytical processes, data entry and checking correctness of data, telephone enquiries and assisting qualified staff as required.
2. Rotate through all sections within the Microbiology Department.
3. Participate in any out of hours service agreed by the Trust.
4. Under the supervision of a trained Biomedical Scientist, carry out microbiological work on specimens from patients with known or suspected infections.
5. Maintain appropriate stock levels within the section following appropriate policies and procedures under the direction of the section leader.
6. Ensure that equipment is used in accordance with departmental policies and suppliers' instructions and is maintained correctly.
7. Notify equipment/general building fitting failures to the appropriate senior person.
8. Participate in training and development and supply suggestions for new techniques and technology.
9. Provide and sustain a high-quality service and be involved in the maintenance of quality goals.

1. Receive, sort, identify and label specimens as per Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs).
2. Identify to Senior/Qualified staff any specimens and/or requests which may cause problems.
3. Prepare specimens for dispatch to other laboratories.
4. Assist on benches as assigned to process clinical specimens under supervision.
5. Unpack and process media orders, maintaining records and stock rotation.
6. Report to a senior BMS any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure.
7. Undertake routine operative maintenance on laboratory instruments.
8. Monitor and record fridge and incubator temperatures daily.
9. Undertake stock take and log details.
10. Ensure all clinical material is stored and disposed of according to departmental policies.
11. Assist in clinical and non-clinical audits, trials and research projects as directed by department management.

1. Receive telephone calls and action where appropriate.
2. Contact service users in case of any problems with received samples.
3. Communicate any relevant information to laboratory colleagues within the section.
4. Actively participate in team meetings and inform effectively at handover.

The job will involve frequent exposure to unpleasant body fluids and tissue including sputum, faeces, blood, urine and samples that are potentially infective. There is a need for the ability to multi-task both physically and mentally. Transport of chemicals, reagents and solutions together with disposal of clinical waste requires some physical effort.

1. Keep the workplace and work benches clean and tidy.
2. Maintain good working relations with all members of staff and promote effective teamwork.
3. Maintain and promote the professional image of the Pathology.

1. Ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely.
2. Comply with good laboratory practices.
3. Organise the workload to ensure timely reporting of results.
4. Advise the Senior Biomedical Scientists when stocks are low.
5. Enter details from request forms into the pathology computer.
6. Comply with local and national policies for processing and storage of patient information.

Participate in departmental clinical trials, audit, research and development programmes.

This advert closes on Thursday 3 Apr 2025.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.