Chapter2
The job of a laboratory technician
Laboratory technician provides information for patient diagnosis and treatment by performing laboratory tests in clinical biochemistry, histology, toxicology, chemistry, haematology, immunology, and microbiology and medicinal genetics laboratories receiving, typing, testing, attending laboratory apparatuses and recording blood bank inventories.
Job duties of a laboratory technician are following:
- Conducting chemical analyses of body fluids, such as blood and urine, using microscope or automatic analyser to detect abnormalities or diseases, and enter findings into computer.
- Setting up, adjusting, maintaining and cleaning medical laboratory equipment.
- Analysing the results of tests and experiments to ensure conformity to specifications, using special mechanical and electrical devices.
- Analysing and recording test data to issue reports that use charts, graphs and narratives.
- Performing medical research to further control and cure disease.
- Conducting blood tests for transfusion purposes and performing blood counts.
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Source: Author Bobjgalindo, Complete blood count performed by an Automated analyser. Differentials missing., license Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0.
Fig. 1. Blood count test.
- Obtaining specimens, cultivating, isolating and identifying micro-organisms for analysis.
- Examining cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities.
- Collecting blood or tissue samples from patients, observing principles of asepsis to obtain blood sample.
- Consulting with a pathologist to determine a final diagnosis when abnormal cells are found.
- Inoculating fertilized eggs, broths, or other bacteriological media with organisms.
- Cutting, staining and mounting tissue samples for histological examination.
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Source: Author Nephron, Kidney cd10 ihc, license Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0.
Fig. 2. Staining of a kidney.
- Supervising and instructing other technicians and laboratory assistants.
- Preparing standard volumetric solutions and reagents to be combined with samples, following standardized formulas or experimental procedures.
- Preparing vaccines and serums by standard laboratory methods, testing for virus inactivity and sterility.
- Testing raw materials, processes and finished products to determine quality and quantity of materials or characteristics of a substance.
The job of a laboratory technician also requires documentation skills, analysing information, chemistry techniques, informing others, creating a safe, effective environment, infection control clinical lab testing, and thoroughness.
Video 1. What Will I Learn: Medical Laboratory Technician