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What is a MLA?
Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA (also known variously as Clinical Support Workers and Assistant Technical Officers) work in healthcare science in a support role with doctors and scientists to diagnose and treat disease.
They may work with in the Pathology Laboratories, in wards or clinics, or in a mixture of these locations.
Within Pathology Laboratories, the Medical Laboratory Assistant’s primary role is as support to Biomedical Scientists (BMS). Which can involve the need for a variety of laboratory skills. They may be involved in:
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Making up chemical solutions
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Using computers to analyse data
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Responsibility for labelling and sorting of tissue samples
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Disposal of chemical or biological waste
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Maintaining stocks or consumable items
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Phlebotomy.
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The Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA may specialise in one area of work or they may have the opportunity to work in a range of different aspects of pathology and can expand their responsibilities and skills by training and supervising other staff. This could include work in:
- Biochemistry
- Histology
- Immunology
- Haematology
- Transfusion science
- Cytology.
In wards or in clinics, clinical support workers may take blood (phlebotomy) or assist physiological scientists who are investigating the functioning of organ/body systems.
The student Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA primarily has on-the-job training covering such things as:
- The role of the Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA within the pathology department and the hospital as a whole
- The importance of professional standards, codes of practice and local rules.
- The various equipment in use by the Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA
- Health and safety considerations
Certificates of Competence may be awarded for the safe performance of various duties, and the Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA may work towards NVQ level 2.
Where can I obtain further information?
Institute of Biomedical Science
12 Coldbath Square
London
EC1R 5HL
Tel: 020 7713 0214
Fax: 020 7436 4946
Email: mail@ibms.org
Website: http://www.ibms.org/
Related Links
NHS Agreement
Right To Work In The UK
Working through a Limited Company
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