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What does a laboratory support technician do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted expert
Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.

A laboratory support technician is responsible for assisting scientists and medical professionals in conducting experiments and laboratory examinations. Laboratory support technicians organize samples, label them accurately, and record the results timely on the system. They also ensure that all the laboratory tools and equipment are sterilized and well-maintained, avoiding possible contaminations that may affect the accuracy of deliverables. A laboratory support technician coordinates with the patients for appointments, releasing of medical results, and applying scientific methods on evaluating data. They may also perform administrative and clerical duties as needed under the supervision of a head laboratory technician.

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Laboratory support technician responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real laboratory support technician resumes:

  • Manage company LIMS database system of test results and implement new and improve testing procedures.
  • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
  • Improve preparation technique of media and reagents utilizing QC and GMP experience.
  • Run, QC, and report PCR and EIA testing.
  • Take QC and temperatures, decontamination.
  • Used various centrifuges to spin the specimens.
  • Transport hazardous waste; OSHA and HAZMAT certify.
  • Participate in basic chemistry classes given by the company.
  • Commit to compassion and quality care of every patient.
  • Ensure good documentation practices in line with GLP and GMP requirements.
  • Used PPE to work with acid, bases and other chemicals.
  • Maintain the EKG machine and records, sanitizing labs and stock supplies.
  • Maintain high standards in the lab to ensure all CLIA inspections pass.
  • Determine the MIC's of approximately 250 compounds using 18 human bacterial pathogens.
  • Conduct polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to amplify DNA segments for detail analysis.

Laboratory support technician skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Laboratory Support Technicians are proficient in Patients, Phlebotomy, and Customer Service.

We break down the percentage of Laboratory Support Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 16%

    Greeted and assisted laboratory visitors and clinic patients.

  • Phlebotomy, 13%

    Performed urinalysis, phlebotomy, microscopic hematological / fecal analysis, general patient interview and assessment.

  • Customer Service, 11%

    Ordered laboratory tests for clients and reported discrepancies and specimen-related errors to customer service.

  • Laboratory Procedures, 6%

    Performed basic laboratory tasks such as mixing solutions and obtained basic knowledge of laboratory procedures.

  • Patient Care, 6%

    Demonstrate behavioral skills that contribute to a productive work environment and provided excellent patient care.

  • Specimen Collection, 5%

    Explained specimen collection procedure and specimen requirements to other laboratories from incoming phone calls to the laboratory.

Common skills that a laboratory support technician uses to do their job include "patients," "phlebotomy," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important laboratory support technician responsibilities below.

All laboratory support technician skills

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Compare different laboratory support technicians

Laboratory support technician vs. Support

A support employee is responsible for assisting the business operations and responding to customers' inquiries and concerns regarding its goods and services. Support logs all customers' interaction and escalates potential complaints to the appropriate department. They also help with implementing strategic procedures to improve operations and reach maximum productivity. A support employee must have excellent communication and customer service skills, ensuring clients' satisfaction with the services and maintain good feedback to boost the company's brand, attract more clients, and increase revenues.

The annual salary of supports is $572 lower than the average salary of laboratory support technicians.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between laboratory support technicians and supports are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like patients, customer service, and data entry.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, laboratory support technician responsibilities require skills like "phlebotomy," "laboratory procedures," "patient care," and "specimen collection." Meanwhile a typical support has skills in areas such as "cash management," "customer satisfaction," "hr," and "inventory control." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Supports earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $50,563. On the other hand, laboratory support technicians are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $41,002.On average, supports reach similar levels of education than laboratory support technicians. Supports are 1.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Laboratory support technician vs. Clinical laboratory assistant

A clinical laboratory assistant specializes in performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar setting using their in-depth knowledge. They are primarily responsible for assisting researchers, preparing samples and apparatus, conducting experiments and analysis, maintaining extensive documentation of all processes and results, and reporting to management. Moreover, a clinical laboratory assistant is also responsible for gathering necessary information before beginning studies and maintaining the laboratory's cleanliness and sanitation. It is vital to implement all the safety rules and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment.

On average, clinical laboratory assistants earn a $4,120 lower salary than laboratory support technicians a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both laboratory support technicians and clinical laboratory assistants have skills such as "patients," "phlebotomy," and "customer service. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, laboratory support technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "order entry," "data entry," "osha," and "lis." Meanwhile, a clinical laboratory assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "clinical lab," "medical terminology," "capillary puncture," and "microbiology." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Clinical laboratory assistants may earn a lower salary than laboratory support technicians, but clinical laboratory assistants earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $34,141. On the other hand, laboratory support technicians receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $41,002.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Clinical laboratory assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than laboratory support technicians. In fact, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for laboratory support technicians in the next 3-5 years?

Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor of Biological Sciences (Emeritus) & Teaching & Learning Consultant, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

-In any STEM field, predicting, recognizing, and fighting climate change looms large. In the life sciences, detecting the effects of environmental change at the species, individual, cellular, and molecular level will be increasingly necessary.
-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 support technician vs. Clinical technician

A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.

On average scale, clinical technicians bring in lower salaries than laboratory support technicians. In fact, they earn a $1,039 lower salary per year.laboratory support technicians and clinical technicians both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "patients," "phlebotomy," and "customer service," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from laboratory support technician resumes include skills like "laboratory procedures," "patient care," "order entry," and "chemistry," whereas a clinical technician is more likely to list skills in "vital signs," "direct patient care," "patient rooms," and "direct supervision. "

Clinical technicians make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $40,404. On the other hand, laboratory support technicians are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $41,002.When it comes to education, clinical technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to laboratory support technicians. In fact, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Laboratory support technician vs. Hemodialysis technician

Hemodialysis technicians average a higher salary than the annual salary of laboratory support technicians. The difference is about $2,924 per year.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between laboratory support technicians and hemodialysis technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a laboratory support technician might have more use for skills like "phlebotomy," "customer service," "laboratory procedures," and "patient care." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of hemodialysis technicians require skills like "vital signs," "cpr," "direct patient care," and "infection control. "

Hemodialysis technicians enjoy the best pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $41,070. For comparison, laboratory support technicians earn the highest salary in the technology industry.hemodialysis technicians reach similar levels of education compared to laboratory support technicians, in general. The difference is that they're 1.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of laboratory support technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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