Laboratory Assistant

Key Responsibilities

Specimen Collection & Handling

• Receive patients and correctly identify and label specimens (blood, urine, stool, sputum, and other body fluids) in line with laboratory protocols.

• Collect blood samples through venipuncture and capillary puncture using proper aseptic technique.

• Ensure proper handling, transportation, and storage of specimens to maintain sample integrity prior to testing or referral.

• Prepare and process specimens for referral to higher-level laboratories when tests are beyond the facility’s testing capacity.

• Reject and appropriately manage improperly collected, labeled, or compromised specimens in line with quality standards.

Laboratory Testing & Diagnostics

• Perform routine laboratory investigations, including malaria microscopy/RDTs, HIV rapid testing, hemoglobin estimation, urinalysis, stool microscopy, and pregnancy tests, in line with MoH standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Conduct basic hematology, parasitology, microbiology, and clinical chemistry tests within the scope of the facility’s equipment and capacity.

• Support screening and diagnostic testing for TB (e.g., sputum smear microscopy where applicable), sexually transmitted infections, and other communicable diseases.

• Perform blood grouping and cross-matching procedures where applicable and within scope of practice.

• Accurately record, interpret at a basic level, and promptly report test results to the requesting clinician.

• Ensure timely turnaround of results, prioritizing urgent and emergency laboratory requests.

Quality Assurance & Safety

• Adhere to standard laboratory quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures for all tests performed.

• Participate in External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes and internal quality control checks as coordinated by the District Health Office or MoH.

• Observe strict infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), during specimen collection and testing.

• Ensure safe handling, decontamination, and disposal of laboratory waste and sharps in line with biosafety and biomedical waste management guidelines.

• Report any laboratory errors, discrepancies, or incidents promptly to the Clinic Administrator or Clinical Officer/In-Charge.

Equipment, Reagents & Supplies Management

• Operate, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment (microscopes, centrifuges, hemoglobinometers, refrigerators, etc.) in good working condition.

• Monitor reagent and laboratory consumable stock levels, and coordinate timely reordering with the Clinic Administrator to avoid stock-outs.

• Ensure proper storage of reagents, test kits, and specimens (including cold chain maintenance where required).

• Maintain an inventory of laboratory equipment and supplies, and report faults or maintenance needs promptly.

• Monitor expiry dates of reagents and test kits, ensuring proper stock rotation and disposal of expired items.

Records, Reporting & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date laboratory registers, request forms, and results records in line with MoH Health Management Information System (HMIS) requirements.

• Compile and submit routine laboratory reports (e.g., malaria, HIV testing, TB) to the Clinic Administrator and relevant District Health Office channels as required.

• Support disease surveillance by promptly flagging and reporting notifiable diseases or unusual test result patterns.

• Maintain patient confidentiality and data protection standards in all laboratory record-keeping and reporting.

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with the Clinic Administrator, Clinical Officer/In-Charge, nurses, and midwives to support timely and coordinated patient care.