Laboratory technician (Laborant)
Information on this skill...
A laboratory technician is a specialized employee who works in a laboratory, such as a hospital laboratory, university laboratory or company laboratory. As a laboratory technician, you research and analyse all kinds of (bio)chemical substances, which can differ per employer. Within a hospital, for example, a lab technician examines urine, feces, blood and other samples. A laboratory technician is generally busy all day examining, testing and analyzing samples. As a laboratory technician, you do not have to work in a hospital because the business community also uses laboratory technicians. Think, for example, of the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the food industry. The profession of laboratory technician generally concerns a profession at least MBO level three. A laboratory technician can therefore work in different fields, which means that the substantive work can also differ per laboratory technician. In all cases, a laboratory technician works within a research laboratory. The work of a laboratory technician can be regarded as important work because institutions and companies depend on the right research results. The profession of laboratory technician has great similarities with the profession of analyst, however, an analyst is generally only responsible for analyzing and interpreting measurement results. It is the laboratory technicians who provide all the measurement results, and it is the analyst who will analyse the measurement results. A laboratory technician is responsible for carrying out examinations in an expert manner, recording measurement results, keeping track of measurement results and operating all devices to be able to carry out measurements. In addition, laboratory technicians are usually responsible for keeping track of stocks and processing all research results. Another name for laboratory technician can also be laboratory assistant, depending on the level of education.
A laboratory technician is therefore a laboratory employee, who can work in different fields. The various activities that a laboratory technician can perform are all aimed at examining samples and are important for hospitals and companies. Universities also make extensive use of research laboratories. As a laboratory technician, there are various outflow directions, such as laboratory technician clinical chemistry, laboratory technician pathology, laboratory technician biotechnology, chemical physical laboratory technician and the outflow direction microbiological laboratory technician. These different outflow directions determine exactly where you work as a laboratory technician. Within the business world, for example, a laboratory technician can work for a food technologist, biotechnologist or pharmacologist. As a laboratory technician, you research and analyse all kinds of (bio)chemical substances on the basis of existing protocols. This usually concerns relatively simple laboratory work, which should be regarded as basic analyses. As described earlier, the profession of laboratory technician occurs in practice in many different ways. Consider, for example, laboratory technicians who are responsible for examining soil samples and water samples.
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN HOSPITAL
Laboratory technicians are important for hospitals because they have a lot to do with samples that need to be examined. In some cases, there will also be a need for urgency to be able to get clarity quickly. Consider, for example, an allergist, who must quickly know exactly what allergic reaction someone has. In addition, you will regularly have to deal with physician-microbiologists and clinical chemists within hospitals. As a lab technician, you generally work under the lead analyst, who directs all lab technicians and analysts working within a laboratory. An analyst is a laboratory technician who will have at least an MBO level four education. In practice, analysts often have the Bachelor's degree in biology and medical laboratory research.
SOME TASKS OF A LABORATORY TECHNICIAN ARE:
- Keeping track of stocks;
- Checking samples;
- Preparing samples for analysis;
- Reporting the findings;
- Recording of data of the samples;
- Testing the samples.
WHAT DOES A LABORATORY TECHNICIAN DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME A LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
To be able to work as a laboratory technician, you will have to follow an MBO training all-round laboratory technician at level three. Training to become a laboratory technician will usually take three years. You will also have to do an internship during the training. During the training laboratory technician, attention is paid to maintaining the working environment and equipment, preparing work, growing and quantifying micro-organisms, identifying samples and analyzing samples. In order to follow the training as a laboratory technician, it is best to have chosen the subjects biology, physics and mathematics as a preliminary education because these come back during the training to become a laboratory technician. A further education can be the MBO training to become an analyst at level four. Accounting is also important as an entrepreneur.
COMPANIES WHERE A LABORATORY TECHNICIAN CAN BE EMPLOYED
As a laboratory technician, you can work for different types of laboratories, depending on the chosen specialization. Think, for example, of hospitals, universities, research institutes, factories, blood banks and paramedical services. Where exactly you work depends on the specialization. There are many institutions, organizations and companies that use laboratories in different ways. Paramedical services relate to professionals who carry out medical treatments, but are not doctors or dentists themselves. Think, for example, of dental hygienists, physiotherapists, anesthesia staff and skin therapists.
COMPETENCES LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
The most important competence of a laboratory technician is the professional knowledge of laboratory work. In addition, a laboratory technician must be able to work independently and accurately. Analyzing measurement results in the right way is very important because errors must be prevented. Because a laboratory technician will in most cases work together with different colleagues, communication can be considered important. Generally important words are planning, checking, stock management, result-oriented, consultation, motivation, details, flexibility, stress resistance and discipline. Finally, it is also important to mention that the subjects biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics must suit you.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
The labour market perspective of a laboratory technician is generally good. Obtaining work as a laboratory technician is usually not difficult because many companies and institutions use laboratories. In other words, a lab technician will usually have no trouble getting work. The career opportunities of a laboratory technician must be seen in following additional training courses. For example, a laboratory technician can grow into an analyst. Without following additional training, it is generally not possible to grow as a laboratory technician.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY OF LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
There are no specific employment conditions for the profession of laboratory technician because you can work for various types of companies. A lab technician will usually earn a salary between 1800 and 2500 euros gross per month, depending on age, education and further responsibilities. As a laboratory technician, it can happen that you also work during the evening hours or on weekends because, for example, blood samples must be analysed quickly.
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