Description

Medical laboratory assistants and workers in related technical occupations perform pre-analysis and pre-testing tasks such as collecting blood and other samples, processing specimens, and preparing special chemicals called reagents for use in testing. They conduct routine medical laboratory tests and set up, clean and maintain medical laboratory equipment. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, clinics, research facilities, post-secondary educational institutions and government research laboratories.

Job Titles

• Medical laboratory aide
• Medical laboratory assistant
• Medical laboratory technician
• Phlebotomist
• Phlebotomy aide

Main Duties

• Collect, label, sort and prepare blood, tissue and other samples from patients
• Log and validate patient samples and prepare them for testing
• Set up medical laboratory equipment
• Prepare chemical reagents to be combined with biological samples for testing
• Conduct routine laboratory tests and sample analyses
• Perform quality assurance of testing techniques and record results
• Clean and maintain medical laboratory and medical laboratory equipment.

Workplaces

• Clinics
• Government research laboratories
• Hospitals
• Medical laboratories
• Post-secondary educational institutions
• Research facilities

Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Instructing
• Learning and Teaching Strategies
• Operation and Control
• Oral Communication: Active Listening

Abilities

• Near Vision
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Categorization Flexibility
• Colour Perception
• Control of Settings

Personal Attributes

• Attention to Detail
• Active Learning
• Analytical Thinking
• Concern for Others
• Independence

Similar Occupations

• Chemical technologists and technicians (22100)
• Biological technologists and technicians (22110)
• Medical laboratory technologists (32120)

Source: OaSIS