Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant
The closing date is 28 April 2026
We are looking for a full time Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant to support enhanced access to NHS healthcare to work over a 7 day shift pattern within the hours of 08:00 - 22:00, including weekends and bank holidays on a rota.
Quick and accurate test result from the laboratory play a vital role in diagnosis and treatment of patients. Not just here at the RUH but also for medical centres and GP surgeries in the local area. The MLA's play an important practical role in this service.
Day‑to‑day tasks
* Receiving and unpacking, labelling, sorting and centrifugation of blood tube samples ready for analysis.
* Checking, cleaning and maintaining equipment, such as a Benson viscometer and Cepheid rapid PCR.
* Communicating with Biomedical Scientist staff and supporting the Blood Sciences service.
* Entering data onto laboratory system—both paper and digital.
* Participating in the Covid testing process running analytical methods on multiple platforms.
Main duties of the job
* All pre‑analytical sample preparation (including unpacking, sorting, booking‑in, preparation of aliquots, storage of samples and making decisions on sample quality and labelling).
* Decision making on ambiguous requests, as defined by standard operating procedures.
* Entry of Patient Identification Data (PID) and test details into the laboratory computer system. A high degree of concentration is required as errors at this stage may not be corrected before results are released to the requesting clinician.
* Resolving PID problems e.g. mislabelling, mislaid specimens and incorrectly requested specimens.
* Participation in distribution and receipt of stores goods and stock control.
* Sending of samples via the post, following the Postal regulation policy.
* Filing of samples, blocks and request forms using either manual or electronic systems.
* Cleaning & disinfecting of work area including associated equipment.
* Dealing with telephone enquiries in a polite, sensitive and professional manner.
* Telephoning results to GP surgeries.
Qualifications
* Grade C/4 GCSE Maths and English or equivalent A Level/NVQ level 3/IBMS Support staff Certificate of achievement part 1 or equivalent level in a Science subject.
* GRADES C/5 2 A levels/NVQ level 3 or equivalent one in human biology or related to the medical laboratory field.
* 12 months non‑NHS laboratory experience.
Experience
* Previous NHS laboratory experience of at least 6 months full‑time or equivalent with a broad knowledge of sample requirements and pre‑analytical processes.
* 12 months non‑NHS laboratory experience. Experience of working with scientific instruments and analysers both manual and automated.
Supervision
* Experience of supervising other staff.
Skills
* Able to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
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