Laboratory Technician Responsibilities

Laboratory technicians are very important people at any laboratory, but especially in the medical field. These technicians act as laboratory support, and it's their job to conduct basic tests, prepare and maintain lab equipment, as well as a number of other important responsibilities. They may be low on the totem pole in any lab, but that doesn't make laboratory technicians any less important in the scheme of things.

Lab Maintenance

One of the primary duties of any laboratory technician is laboratory maintenance. The technicians are supposed to set up and clean laboratory equipment, and check for any damages that will need to be reported and repaired. In keeping with these duties, laboratory technicians should also monitor the amounts of supplies in the lab and order new ones when supplies are running low. This is especially important because if a laboratory runs out of basic supplies such as slides, chemicals and other necessities, it could very well make it impossible to run tests.

Testing

Laboratories, especially those of a medical nature, have dozens if not hundreds of routine tests that have to be performed every day. While these tests could be performed by doctors or other medical experts, only some of these tests require that level of expertise. Common, non-technical tests can be (and usually are) performed by laboratory technicians. By performing these routine tests (usually with more experienced, medical personnel present in the lab), laboratory technicians free up time for experts to conduct more technical tests.

Record Keeping

While it's a responsibility of all laboratory personnel to keep records of their activities in the laboratory, it's the technicians who often keep records of many of the lab's activities. The specimens have to be kept track of, numbered and labeled properly, which is a job that usually falls to the technicians. The same applies with taking inventory of the lab. Not only does the technician have to keep the lab stocked as mentioned above, but they have to keep records of what was ordered, when and in what amounts, so there is a comprehensive list come time for the annual budget.

References

• Ok.gov: Laboratory Technician, X13