What does a laboratory assistant do?
Laboratory assistants work for researchers, scientists, or professors in the laboratory setting. They are expected to have a solid background in the field of study of the laboratory they are assigned to. They do a variety of tasks in the laboratory, such as setting up equipment, observing experiments, analyzing results, creating reports, and recommending improvements to the testing. They may also be assigned to clean and sanitize laboratory equipment as needed. Laboratory assistants should have good research skills, analytical skills, and organizational skills.
Laboratory assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real laboratory assistant resumes:
- Comfort frighten patients and maintain an exceptionally bright professional demeanor to accomplish a procedure that makes most people very uncomfortable.
- Maintain and QC check laboratory equipment.
- Preform laboratory duties using microscopes, centrifuges and a host of other laboratory equipment.
- Provide excellent customer service to patients while accurately updating patient demographics, insurance and billing information in LabCorp LCM program.
- Provide continuing education in the form of periodic in-services relating the phlebotomy procedures, tests and proper specimen collection requirements.
- Process eyewear to meet national ANSII and OSHA standards.
- Prepare patient reports for CLS to review and approve.
- Follow GLP, GMP and HACCP guidelines and validate standard operating procedures.
- Learned mechanics and science of gas and liquid chromatography as well as HPLC.
- Design and manufacture watertight lids for the lab's equipment using SOLIDWORKS and a lathe.
- Participate in TUV and FDA audits by obtaining, previewing documents prior to auditor review.
- Train to handle chemicals for printing machine and disposing of waste materials while keeping OSHA compliant.
- Perform a number of laboratory test such as strep throat, flu, urine, feces.
- Perform rapid tests such as wet preps, rapid strep, occult blood and positive bloods.
- Experience in using butterflies, finger sticks, heel sticks, blood culture bottles, and EKG.
Laboratory assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Laboratory Assistants are proficient in Patients, Phlebotomy, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Observational skills.
We break down the percentage of Laboratory Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 15%
Provided excellent customer service to patients while accurately updating patient demographics, insurance and billing information in LabCorp LCM program.
- Phlebotomy, 12%
Provided continuing education in the form of periodic in-services relating the phlebotomy procedures, tests and proper specimen collection requirements.
- Customer Service, 6%
Communicated with Technologists to ensure that testing for Emergency Department and critical hospital patients were performed within customer service guidelines.
- Lab Procedures, 5%
Achieve lab procedures listed above productively and efficiently with no supervision to complete DNA library construction successfully by provided deadlines.
- Specimen Collection, 5%
Maintain required records and documentation; perform clinical specimen collection in all departments and processing duties following established practices and procedures.
- Patient Care, 5%
Perform a variety of laboratory procedures with minimum supervision following standard operating procedures while maintaining high quality patient care and confidentiality.
Most laboratory assistants use their skills in "patients," "phlebotomy," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential laboratory assistant responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a laboratory assistant to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what laboratory assistants do because "biological technicians need to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision." Additionally, a laboratory assistant resume shows how laboratory assistants use analytical skills: "prepared, processed, labeled and stored patient specimens and samples according to departmental procedures for subsequent analysis by clinical laboratory staff"
Communication skills. Many laboratory assistant duties rely on communication skills. "biological technicians must understand and follow the instructions of their managing scientists," so a laboratory assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways laboratory assistant responsibilities rely on communication skills: "provide accurate communication to physicians and hospital staff regarding the proper ordering and requirements of lab tests. "
Observational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of laboratory assistants is observational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday laboratory assistant duties, as "biological technicians must constantly monitor their experiments." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "set up computer lab systems construct low lighting device for astronomy observational deck"
Technical skills. For certain laboratory assistant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "technical skills." The day-to-day duties of a laboratory assistant rely on this skill, as "biological technicians need to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what laboratory assistants do: "organize lab tests, exams and assist lab coordinator for various technical tasks. "
The three companies that hire the most laboratory assistants are:
- Ogden Clinic181 laboratory assistants jobs
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings97 laboratory assistants jobs
- Quest Diagnostics79 laboratory assistants jobs
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Compare different laboratory assistants
Laboratory assistant vs. Medical laboratory technologist internship
A medical laboratory technologist intern is responsible for assisting laboratory technologists in performing examinations and medical procedures. Medical laboratory technologist interns perform administrative duties under the supervision of a medical professional such as collecting laboratory samples, sending out reports, responding to patients' inquiries and concerns, and ensuring the adequacy of laboratory inventories. They also maintain the cleanliness of the facility, including the sterilization of equipment and segregation of disposable materials to avoid contamination and potential hazards that may affect medical results and processes.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technologist internship. For instance, laboratory assistant responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "lab procedures," "specimen collection," and "data entry." Whereas a medical laboratory technologist internship is skilled in "microbiology," "urinalysis," "medical laboratory," and "immunology." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that medical laboratory technologist interns earn slightly differ from laboratory assistants. In particular, medical laboratory technologist interns are 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a laboratory assistant. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory assistant vs. Assistant laboratory technician
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that laboratory assistant responsibilities requires skills like "phlebotomy," "customer service," "lab procedures," and "specimen collection." But an assistant laboratory technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "ladders," "cpr," "nondestructive testing," and "blood products."
Assistant laboratory technicians earn similar levels of education than laboratory assistants in general. They're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for laboratory assistants in the next 3-5 years?
Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.
Professor of Biological Sciences (Emeritus) & Teaching & Learning Consultant, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
-Medical science will need to respond to new challenges arising out of climate change and the aging population. Supported (as always) by basic sciences, medical science will focus on big-picture biology, represented by the ever-growing number of "...omics". These include genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics... and the enabling technologies that let us look at a lot of genes, gene products, and biochemical reactions at the same time. Finally, the ever-improving gene-editing technologies can lead to the treatment of disease, leading to a greater understanding of the disease and biological process in general.
Laboratory assistant vs. Clinical laboratory technician
A clinical laboratory technician typically works under the direction of a physician or medical technologist to perform tests that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and illnesses. You will perform various duties, including preparing samples for analysis, monitoring tests and procedures, and matching blood for transfusion. Additionally, you are expected to participate in staff training and educational opportunities and contribute to a secure and safe environment for patients, physicians, co-workers, and visitors. This role will also require ensuring that laboratory information remains confidential.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a laboratory assistant is likely to be skilled in "lab procedures," "laboratory equipment," "phlebotomy training," and "process specimens," while a typical clinical laboratory technician is skilled in "clinical laboratory technologist," "lis," "blood bank," and "instrument maintenance."
Clinical laboratory technicians earn the best pay in the media industry, where they command an average salary of $56,548. Laboratory assistants earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $35,997.clinical laboratory technicians typically earn similar educational levels compared to laboratory assistants. Specifically, they're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory assistant vs. Research laboratory technician
Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members. In addition, they are expected to support the development and advancement of science and modern medicine. Other typical duties of research laboratory technicians include preparing samples and specimens, keeping abreast with current technical developments, and ensuring strict compliance with safety procedures.
Types of laboratory assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
