Required Qualifications:

·         Successful completion of a Phlebotomy Technician course

Preferred Qualifications:

·         Graduate of Medical Science/Technology Program or Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technician (Assistant)

KEY FUNCTION:

Laboratory assistants shall only perform laboratory duties that do not require results interpretation, assessment or judgment associated with patient testing. Laboratory assistants work under the direct supervision of the Charge Technologist.

DUTIES:

The duties of a laboratory assistant/technician shall include performance of laboratory examinations that require limited technical skill and responsibilities and shall be performed under the direct supervision of an appropriately qualified laboratory technologist, laboratory supervisor or laboratory director. The examinations performed shall not require interpretation, assessment or the exercise of independent judgment.

·         Examples of appropriate tasks include:

o   blood sample procurement;

o   sample preparation for analysis (e.g., separation);

o   numbering (including referral specimens);

o   reagent preparation, media preparation, smear preparation (e.g., blood films);

o   staining of smears excluding immunohistochemistry, coverslipping of slide preparations;

o   concentration of stool samples for parasitology examinations;

o   planting and streaking of microbiology specimens and controls, including set up of anaerobic and

o   CO2 jars for reading by a technologist;

o   subculturing of stock cultures in bacteriology;

o   titrations using a calibrated pH meter; - urinalysis (excluding microscopic);

o   recording quality control results for interpretation and approval by qualified staff;

o   operation of automated instruments after proper functioning has been established by qualified

o   staff;

o   setup of ESR, set up of micro hematocrits, set up of serology tests (e.g., occult blood, pregnancy); - routine equipment maintenance;

o   temperature monitoring of thermally controlled equipment;

o   transcription of results from worksheets to reports;

o   filing of records and retrieval of files;

o   glassware washing;

o   housekeeping;

o   preparation of kits.

o   Set up medical laboratory equipment

o   Prepare chemical reagents to be combined with biological samples for testing

o   Clean and maintain laboratory and medical laboratory equipment