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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Lab Aide

💰 $28,000 - $45,000

HealthcareLaboratoryResearchClinicalBiotechnology

🎯 Role Definition

A Lab Aide (also known as Laboratory Assistant or Technician Assistant) provides essential operational support to research, clinical, or industrial laboratories. The role focuses on specimen collection and processing, routine laboratory testing support, equipment maintenance, strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards (GLP, CLIA, OSHA), and accurate documentation. Lab Aides ensure workflow continuity by preparing reagents, cleaning and calibrating equipment, maintaining inventory, and assisting scientists and technicians with experiments and data logging. This position is ideal for candidates who are detail-oriented, safety-conscious, and capable of following protocols while supporting high-throughput or research-driven environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • High school graduates with laboratory coursework or vocational certificates
  • Internship or volunteer experience in research labs, clinical settings, or biotech facilities
  • Medical assistant, phlebotomy tech, or laboratory courier transitioning into lab support

Advancement To:

  • Laboratory Technician
  • Research Assistant
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist (with additional education/certification)
  • Quality Control Technician

Lateral Moves:

  • Sample Processing Technician
  • Inventory/Supply Coordinator (Lab)
  • Sterile Processing Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Collect, label, and log clinical and research specimens following established chain-of-custody and specimen identification protocols to ensure traceability and compliance with CLIA and institutional policies.
  • Prepare reagents, buffers, culture media, and solutions to precise concentrations using standard operating procedures (SOPs) and chemical safety data sheets (SDS) to support daily laboratory operations.
  • Perform routine sample processing tasks such as centrifugation, aliquoting, decanting, and cryopreservation with meticulous attention to volume, timing, and temperature to maintain sample integrity.
  • Operate and perform basic maintenance on common laboratory equipment (centrifuges, autoclaves, microscopes, pH meters, incubators, microplate readers) and report malfunctions to supervisory staff in accordance with equipment maintenance schedules.
  • Assist with basic molecular biology techniques as directed, including pipetting, gel preparation, sample loading, and PCR setup under supervision while adhering to contamination control procedures.
  • Maintain accurate, legible laboratory records, logbooks, and electronic laboratory information management systems (LIMS) entries, ensuring documentation supports traceability for audits and quality control.
  • Implement and maintain aseptic technique and biosafety practices when handling biological specimens and cell cultures to minimize contamination and occupational exposure risk.
  • Conduct routine cleaning, sterilization, and decontamination of workspaces and instruments using approved disinfectants and following chemical and biological safety protocols.
  • Prepare and stage samples and materials for analytical testing, including labeling, barcoding, and packaging for internal assays or shipment to external testing facilities under cold-chain requirements when necessary.
  • Monitor inventory levels of consumables, reagents, and personal protective equipment (PPE), replenish stock, and coordinate procurement requests to prevent workflow interruptions.
  • Support laboratory quality assurance by performing regular control checks, documenting deviations, assisting with internal audits, and participating in corrective action implementation.
  • Assist senior staff with the execution of experiments and assays by following experimental protocols, timing steps precisely, and recording observations to support reproducible results.
  • Perform specimen accessioning and sample triage, verifying requisition forms, patient or sample metadata, and communicating discrepancies or urgent requests to supervisors immediately.
  • Operate specimen transport and internal couriering tasks, ensuring timely and compliant movement of samples between departments and external partners.
  • Dispose of hazardous and biological waste in compliance with institutional and regulatory hazardous waste procedures, maintaining proper segregation, labeling, and documentation.
  • Support preparation and maintenance of laboratory documentation packages for regulatory inspections, grant reporting, and study audits by compiling logs, calibration records, and SOP acknowledgment forms.
  • Participate in specialized sample preparation workflows, such as histology tissue embedding and sectioning support, blood smear preparation, or microbiology streaking, as required by the department.
  • Conduct basic environmental monitoring tasks—surface swabs, incubator checks, and cleanroom gowning audits—and document results to support contamination control programs.
  • Assist in training new lab aides or interns on routine techniques, safety procedures, and documentation expectations to foster consistent performance and compliance.
  • Support data entry and simple data quality checks, including transferring assay results from instruments to LIMS and flagging outliers or instrument errors for review.
  • Coordinate with facilities and safety officers to report and respond to spills, equipment failures, and safety incidents, following emergency response procedures and incident reporting workflows.
  • Aid in sample preparation and logistics for clinical trials or research studies, including de-identification, chain-of-custody maintenance, and sample shipment coordination under protocol constraints.

Secondary Functions

  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting workflow optimizations and efficiency improvements for routine laboratory tasks.
  • Support ad-hoc laboratory and administrative tasks such as photocopying, filing, and preparing training materials or reagent kits.
  • Contribute to inventory audits and vendor comparisons to improve cost-effectiveness and ensure timely availability of key lab supplies.
  • Assist the quality team in compiling metric reports on turnaround times, sample rejection rates, and equipment uptime for operational dashboards.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (clinical staff, researchers, quality assurance) to prioritize sample processing based on clinical urgency or project timelines.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient pipetting technique across a range of volumes with consistent accuracy and precision.
  • Experience with specimen accessioning and laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or electronic sample tracking tools.
  • Familiarity with routine laboratory equipment operation: centrifuges, autoclaves, incubators, microscopes, microplate readers, and PCR thermocyclers (basic operation).
  • Competence in preparing reagents, buffers, culture media, and sterile solutions following SOPs and SDS guidance.
  • Knowledge of aseptic technique, biosafety level procedures, and contamination control methods.
  • Experience with basic molecular biology support tasks: PCR setup assistance, gel electrophoresis preparation, and nucleic acid handling under supervision.
  • Understanding of CLIA, GLP, OSHA, and institutional biosafety requirements relevant to specimen handling and laboratory safety.
  • Ability to perform basic instrument cleaning, preventative maintenance, calibration checks, and to complete equipment maintenance logs.
  • Skilled in handling and packaging of biological specimens for refrigerated, frozen, or ambient shipment while adhering to UN3373 and IATA guidelines where applicable.
  • Proficiency in basic data entry, recordkeeping, and transferring instrument outputs into LIMS or Excel with attention to data integrity.
  • Experience with histology or microbiology preparative techniques (e.g., paraffin embedding, slide staining, streak plating) — desirable in many openings.
  • Familiarity with cold-chain management and cryogenic storage procedures, including LN2 handling or -80°C freezer management.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and methodical approach to following protocols and documenting results to minimize errors.
  • Excellent communication skills for coordinating with supervisors, clinical staff, and vendors, and for describing sample status and issues clearly.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to triage samples and balance routine tasks with urgent requests in fast-paced labs.
  • Team player with willingness to support cross-functional tasks and collaborate with researchers and clinical staff.
  • Problem-solving mindset for identifying deviations, flagging issues, and proposing practical corrective actions to supervisors.
  • Dependability and professionalism, with consistent adherence to attendance, shift schedules, and safety protocols.
  • Adaptability to learn new techniques, protocols, and laboratory technologies as workflows evolve.
  • Ethical handling of confidential clinical or research data with respect for privacy and regulatory requirements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with coursework in biology, chemistry, or laboratory science.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or certificate in Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Technician program, Biotechnology, or related life sciences field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Biotechnology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Environmental Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0–3 years entry-level experience; many roles accept recent graduates or candidates with internship/vocational lab training.

Preferred:

  • 1–2 years of hands-on laboratory support experience in clinical, research, or industrial labs; experience with LIMS and adherence to regulatory standards preferred.
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