Laboratory Technician Microbiology

The main responsibilities of the Laboratory Technician in Microbiology are sample and QC set up running instrumentation for organism identification and sensitivity testing. Also responsible for laboratory housekeeping stock and assisting Medical Scientists performing a variety of tasks. Additional technical/scientific roles for the Laboratory Technician in Microbiology are limited to:

• Preparation and set up of isolates for identification using automated and manual methods including quality control testing.
• Preparation and set up of isolates for antimicrobial susceptibilities using automated and manual methods including quality control testing.
• Preparation and set up of quality control isolates for Vitek comparison equipment testing.
• Preparation and set up of isolates for confirmatory disk testing including quality control testing.
• Preparation of samples for germ tube testing including quality control testing and recording of quality control result.
• Recording of quality control results from automated and manual identification methods.
• Recording of quality control results from automated and manual antimicrobial susceptibility methods.
• Loading and unloading of blood cultures from the blood culture equipment and performing monthly quality control.
• Reporting of results that have been interpreted by a medical scientist (i.e. those which require no clinical or scientific interpretation nor authorisation) for example the reporting of processed H. pylori stool antigen results or processed Urine Chemistry results onto the laboratory information system.
• Referral of isolates to external reference laboratories.
• Assisting in reporting of surveillance results to public health bodies.
• Storage of patient isolates onto long term storage beads.

• Diploma or Bachelor Degree in Biological Science

• Experience in a Microbiology environment desirable

• Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role