Medical Laboratory Assistants
Medical Laboratory Assistants work in departments of pathology and laboratory medicine. As an MLA you will be trained first in how to work safely in the laboratory and to understand how your job is part of the hospital’s day-to-day work. Then you will be given more specialized individual training. The work may include preparing test materials, such as making up solutions of chemicals or growth media in microbiology; or may involve clerical work or using computers to analyse data. As an MLA, you can work on receiving, sorting and labelling tissue samples; recording laboratory data; sterilization and disinfection of equipment; disposal of chemical or biological waste; making up solutions of chemicals; maintaining stocks of reagents and consumable items; phlebotomy; separation of blood serum and plasma.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal educational or age requirements, although you may need to pass four (or more) Standard Grades to qualify for some more advanced work. A mature approach is essential.
Training
Medical Laboratory Assistants receive on-the-job training that can lead to an SVQ level 2 qualification.
Career Prospects
There is a single career grade for all Medical Laboratory Assistants. An MLA post is not a route to qualifying as a Biomedical Scientist, but those with suitable motivation will be encouraged to obtain the academic qualifications needed to become a trainee Biomedical Scientist.
How to apply
Click here to search for NHS Scotland vacancies for Medical Laboratory Assistants.
Vacancies are advertised in the local press, trade journals and Job Centres.
Further Information
For further information on a career as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, please contact the
Institute of Biomedical Science.
