Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in Liverpool is seeking candidates for roles focusing on the operation and maintenance of critical laboratory equipment within Immunocytochemistry or Histology Services. Responsibilities include troubleshooting digital scanning instruments, ensuring correct patient identification, and preparing solutions. Ideal candidates have experience in a lab environment and possess good communication skills. Commitment to patient confidentiality and an understanding of health & safety standards is essential.

Qualifications

• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic IT skills required.
• Demonstrable experience in a laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

• Operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Preparation of staining solutions and reagents.
• Assisting pathologists and BMS staff at cut-up.

Skills

Verbal communication skills

Written communication skills

Basic IT skills

Experience in a laboratory environment

Understanding of health & safety

Education

Science GCSEs or equivalent

Job description

Overview

The successful candidates will play roles in the operation and maintenance of key equipment within either the Immunocytochemistry or Histology Services and will also be responsible for the operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of digital scanning instruments and IMS databases. The successful candidates will also undertake other routine tasks within each laboratory such as maintaining reagent stock levels and preparing simple solutions, archiving and retrieval of microscopic slides, tissue blocks and relevant paperwork and ensuring the safe disposal of various groups of laboratory waste. The role in Histology also involves receiving specimens into the department ensuring correct patient identification and assisting pathologists and BMS staff at cut up. Both posts are essential for the day to day running of these services and the successful candidates will work closely with all other staff within the directorate to deliver the highest quality standard of patient care.

Responsibilities

• Operation and maintenance of equipment such as tissue processors, embedding centers, coverslippers and slide stainers.
• Operation and maintenance of digital scanners and automated staining platforms.
• Preparation of staining solutions and reagents and basic quality control activities.
• Safe disposal of hazardous and non‑hazardous laboratory waste.
• Monitoring, receipt and filing of consumables, reagents and relevant paperwork.
• Archival retrieval of tissue blocks, microscope slides and other materials.
• Receipt of specimens ensuring correct patient identification.
• Storing samples safely and appropriately prior to and after processing.
• Keeping working areas clean and tidy.
• Assisting pathologists and BMS staff at cut‑up and embedding processed material.
• Performing IHC and in situ hybridisation staining and routine HE‑staining procedures.
• Completing appropriate quality documentation.
• Providing cover for absent colleagues as required.
• Following all organisational policies and procedures, including health & safety.

Qualifications

• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic IT skills.
• Science GCSEs or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience in a laboratory environment.
• General understanding of health & safety within a clinical laboratory setting.
• Ability to use departmental computer systems and participate in meetings as required.
• Commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality at all times.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under‑represented in our workforce: black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16‑24.