A Hospital Laboratory Technician processes patients tests in a hospital lab to check their health and determine what treatment they need
When people come to hospital for treatment, a doctor will often request blood and other samples. These samples go through a series of tests to check the patient’s general level of health, diagnose what’s making them unwell, and determine the treatment they should receive.
The hospital laboratory carries out these tests and reports the results to the clinical team, making sure samples are labelled and stored correctly and patient data is entered onto the computer system accurately. You could be the technician who provides test results, contributing to the life-saving processes of a hospital.
Your technician role will give you skills that are transferrable to many kinds of laboratories. So you could decide to work in a different specialism, perhaps within a university research laboratory or a private pharmaceuticals or life sciences business.
Over time, you will have the experience to manage a team and could become a lab manager.
There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.
But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
Options available after GCSEs:
Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.
As well as looking after patients’ samples and data, you’ll be responsible for checking equipment and material stocks and ordering new supplies. You’ll also print and file reports and make up chemical solutions that are used for tests and for other medical situations.
This role can also be known by some other job titles including:
Analytical Support Chemist
Technical Support Scientist
Microbiology Support Scientist
Process Development Technologist
Laboratory Assistant
Senior Laboratory Technician
Assistant Scientist
Technical Specialist (Scientist)
Quality Control Laboratory Assistant
Laboratory Co-ordinator
Technical Laboratory Assistant
Laboratory Analyst
Laboratory Research Assistant
