Medical laboratory assistants work under supervision of the biomedical scientist and carry out basic laboratory procedures. They work in the pre-analytical handling of samples such as checking the details of specimens received for analysis, maintaining analysers, loading reagents, and packaging specimens. They also perform clerical tasks such as monitoring the stock levels of reagents used in analysis.

Tasks

Tasks include -
(a) Conducting chemical analysis of body fluids, including blood, urine and spinal fluid, to determine presence of normal and abnormal components;
(b) Operating, calibrating and maintaining equipment used in quantitative and qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers and computer-controlled analysers;
(c) Entering data from analysis of laboratory tests and clinical results into records-keeping systems and reporting results to medical practitioners and other health professionals;
(d) Analysing samples of biological material for chemical content or reaction;
(e) Setting up, cleaning and maintaining laboratory equipment;
(f) Analysing laboratory findings to check the accuracy of the results;
(g) Establishing and monitoring programmes to ensure the accuracy of laboratory results and developing, standardizing, evaluating, and modifying procedures, techniques and tests used in the analysis of specimens;
(h) Obtaining specimens, cultivating, isolating and identifying microorganisms for analysis;
(i) Examining cells stained with dye to locate abnormalities;
(j) Inoculating fertilized eggs, broths or other bacteriological media with organisms.