Depending on the type of lab and the employer, the duties of a lab technician vary. Although this is true, in most cases the tasks are limited to purchasing medical lab supplies, performing various tests, processing samples and keeping the equipment clean and in good working condition. As many labs there is a variety of different materials, many of which can be considered toxic, the lab technician is responsible for seeing that these materials are stored safely and disposed of in accordance with best practice.
Most lab technicians perform their work in the confines of an indoor lab; however, there are some, especially in the oil and gas industry who are called upon to do field work. A lab technician does not necessarily stay with the vocation all through his or her professional career; there are many other areas in which the skills of the technician can be put to good use. You often find individuals that go from purchasing medical lab supplies to working in the field of education or in pharmaceutical research.
As samples are received by the lab, the technician checks them in and tags them prior to the beginning of the test that has been specified by the doctor or other medical professional. Once the test has been conducted, the technician is responsible for recording the results, passing the results to the requester, filing the lab copy and then disposing of the sample if it has been indicated that once tested, it is of no further use. While conducting the tests it is important that the samples are not contaminated so the technician must maintain a high degree of hygiene in the lab and on all surfaces where the work is conducted.
In many labs, the technician will take on the added responsibility of maintaining the equipment and seeing to it that machines that need it are periodically calibrated. Weigh scales in particular must be calibrated frequently so that the specimen weight is accurate.
The educational demands for a lab technician vary but most employers are looking for an individual with at least an associate’s degree in a field related to the specific lab. There are unique courses available that offer the candidate hands on training and classroom work on his way to gaining employment. For more information, visit the website
