Medical Laboratory Assistant - Microbiology | Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant to support the Microbiology department. Candidates must have clinical laboratory experience and be proficient in sample processing and data entry. This role is crucial for ensuring accurate test results and patient care. The position is based in Liverpool. Applications close on 18 Sep 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience in a clinical laboratory environment is essential.
• Familiarity with automated detection systems is preferred.
• Ability to work with potentially hazardous biological materials.

Responsibilities

• Receive and prepare patient samples for analysis.
• Perform accurate data entry into laboratory systems.
• Process hazardous and non-hazardous clinical samples.
• Carry out staining procedures for microorganism detection.

Skills

Clinical laboratory experience

Data entry skills

Staining procedures knowledge

Use of specialized laboratory equipment

Sample preparation

Job description

Overview

The Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) role will be based in the department of Microbiology. We are looking for applicants with clinical laboratory experience to participate in the activities of the department.

Responsibilities

• Receive and collate patient sample when they first arrive in the laboratory and prepare samples received by the laboratory for analysis.
• Accurate computer entry of data onto specialized laboratory computer system.
• Primary processing of swabs, sputa, faeces, urines and other body fluids.
• Loading and unloading of specialist automated detection system e.g. blood culture system, as well as the processing of potentially infectious positive blood cultures.
• Preparation of antibiotic susceptibility tests.
• Examination of clinical samples for the purpose of selecting appropriate culture media.
• Processing of hazardous category 3 (high Risk) samples, e.g. processing of tissue samples, pleural fluids, sputum and bronchial lavages.
• Carrying out staining procedures both manually and with the use of specialist staining machinery for detection of micro-organisms (e.g. Gram Stains).
• Usage of anaerobic cabinets.
• Refer to job description and person specification.
• Accurate computer entry of data onto specialized laboratory computer system. Use of QPulse document management system to access SOPs, record NCs and submit quality improvements.
• Specialist bacterial culture media production, requiring accurate weighing of the powders and supplements. Use of autoclaves, pressure cookers and water baths to sterilize and prepare media.
• Preparation of potentially hazardous biological fluids requiring accurate balancing for the purpose of centrifugation to achieve correct concentration for bacterial culture.

Additional Context

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital. We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients. UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women’s Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK’s largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services. For roles at Liverpool Women’s, visit their careers page.

Advert Details

This advert closes on Thursday 18 Sep 2025