Apprentice Laboratory Technician

Apprenticeship Opportunity

This apprenticeship provides an opportunity to working alongside our experienced laboratory team and learn how a busy veterinary diagnostic laboratory operates.

We are looking for someone genuinely interested in building a career in science to join our team.

What You'll Do at Work

• Receiving and preparing samples for testing
• Preparing blood and other veterinary samples for serology testing
• Processing microbiological samples, including swabs and other routine samples
• Learning the principles and practical techniques behind microbiological testing
• Preparing culture media, solutions and reagents
• Using and maintaining laboratory equipment
• Cleaning and maintaining laboratory work areas
• Entering and checking laboratory data and results
• Learning how laboratory samples are tracked from receipt through to reporting
• Working to documented procedures and quality standards
• Learning about laboratory quality and ISO 17025
• Helping investigate problems when something doesn't go as expected
• Identifying opportunities to improve the way we work

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training Provider

TIRO TRAINING LTD

Training Course

Laboratory Technician (level 3)

What You'll Learn

Course Contents

• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
• Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
• Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
• Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
• Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
• Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
• Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
• Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
• Complete documentation proficiently
• Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
• Contribute to the preparation of reports.
• Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
• Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
• Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
• Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
• Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
• Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
• Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
• Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results