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Microbiology laboratory assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Rainer Glaser,

Monika Oli Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical microbiology laboratory assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for microbiology laboratory assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.4% of microbiology laboratory assistant resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a microbiology laboratory assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 microbiology laboratory assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use patients:

Included handling specimens from patients, including tissue, blood, urine, body fluids, stool, and wounds.
Performed antibiotic tests on specific bacteria to better determine which were more effective and could then be prescribed to patients.

2. Lab Equipment

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use lab equipment:

Demonstrated essential lab techniques, prepared and maintained necessary reagents, operated various lab equipment
Organized laboratory stations with the appropriate lab equipment needed for each experiment.

3. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use data entry:

Scan documents and perform data entry of information into the laboratory database.
Perform data entry of patient information and laboratory orders.

4. Specimen Processing

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use specimen processing:

Trained in Biological Safety Level 3 specimen processing.
Applied quality control skills in specimen processing to ensure accuracy of test results.

5. Microbiology Lab

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use microbiology lab:

Worked independently in Microbiology lab to prepare various medias for the designated lab, including the necessary calculations.
Assisted in the Microbiology Lab by culturing specimens from medical offices and testing antibiotic sensitivity and resistance.

6. Specimen Handling

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use specimen handling:

Served as a resource for physicians, consultants, and other laboratory personnel regarding specimen handling and processing.
Decreased errors in specimen handling by effectively operating as an interoffice liaison between providers, reference labs and clinics.

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7. Lab Procedures

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use lab procedures:

Altered lab procedures to trouble-shoot experimental failures.
Learned and kept familiar with lab procedures and location of stored specimens, and pulled from various departments as requested.

8. Computer System

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use computer system:

Work efficiently in multiple hospital and laboratory computer systems, maintain Excel documents and intranet pages.
Used computer system to retrieve data, records, clerical ordering and other system task.

9. Aseptic Technique

Aseptic technique is a routine measure or series of actions used to prevent or minimize the risk of harmful microorganisms being introduced into a sterile area of the body during procedures that violate the body's natural defenses. The primary aim of the aseptic technique is to eliminate germs, that is, pathogenic microorganisms, to avoid contamination of a wound and other sensitive parts of the body, as this can lead to infection.

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use aseptic technique:

Selected and prepare specimens and media for cell cultures, using aseptic technique and knowledge of medium components and cell requirements.
Maintained a clean and sanitary work area in accordance with standard laboratory practice and procedures (aseptic techniques).

10. OSHA

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use osha:

Disposed of biological and chemical hazards under OSHA regulations.
Coordinated and prepared all documentation required by JCAHO and OSHA regulatory agencies.

11. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use safety procedures:

General safety procedures regarding the setup of chemical apparatuses for heating, mixing, and synthesizing both organic and inorganic chemicals.
Followed and ensure safety procedures.

12. Body Fluids

Body fluid can be described as any fluid produced by a living organism e.g. human body. In the human body, the fluid can be classified into two major types according to their location: the intracellular fluid and the extracellular fluid. The extracellular fluid is located outside the cell(s) while the intracellular fluid is located within the cell(s).

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use body fluids:

Processed patient blood and body fluid collections delivered to the laboratory.
Process clinical samples-urine, sputum, & body fluids.

13. QC

Quality control is a set of instructions or procedures to ensure a manufactured product or a service is up to the highest quality standards. This set of quality control criteria are either defined by the clients or the company itself.

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use qc:

Processed microbiology specimens and set-up specimens for testing; QC set-up and inventory control
Manipulated Blood culture instrument: Unload negatives, daily QC, print reports, back-up system disk.

14. Gram Stains

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use gram stains:

Performed daily gram staining for microbiologist.
Prepared smears and stained the bacterial cells by using gram staining procedure and analyzed, interpreted the results from microscopy.

15. Test Results

Here's how microbiology laboratory assistants use test results:

Communicate with medical doctors and clients regarding proper specimen collection and expectations for test results.
Coordinated lab operations: recorded test results, analysis, and record maintenance.LEADERSHIP

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What skills help Microbiology Laboratory Assistants find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on microbiology laboratory assistant resumes?

Dr. Rainer Glaser

Professor and Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Chemistry competence is key, of course. As a close second, chemists need to demonstrate effective team player competence. Communication skills are essential, in conversation and in writing. Effective collaboration requires highly developed skills to work with team members, peers, and leadership.

What soft skills should all microbiology laboratory assistants possess?

Monika Oli Ph.D.

Master Lecturer and Undergraduate Coordinator, University of Florida

-Teamwork - people skills
-Keeping a proper (electronic) lab notebookCuriosity
-Willingness to learn and improve
-Communication skills
-Reliable
-Hard-working - go the extra mile

What hard/technical skills are most important for microbiology laboratory assistants?

Monika Oli Ph.D.

Master Lecturer and Undergraduate Coordinator, University of Florida

-Good lab skills from pipetting to cloning
-Excellent computer skills are a must
-Data analysis, Excel and or R
-Programming
-Data management
-Bioinformatic programs, use, and application
-More and more experience with next-generation sequencing and associated data analysis is really important

What type of skills will young microbiology laboratory assistants need?

John Cooper Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Old Dominion University

Although many skill sets are required of our successful graduates, most of these skills take a second seat to communication. The ability to communicate your skills, ideas, work product, and your vision for your area of responsibility to others are paramount to success. During the pandemic, these skills were brought into sharp focus as written communication took precedence over face-to-face discussions, and online verbal communications between large groups demanded a new set of skills for replacing the polite in-person human ques that we have taken for granted but which were developed from early childhood.

Equally as important as the ability to communicate is the ability to think analytically. As both knowledge and data has become democratized over the past decade, success requires that our graduates not only assimilate knowledge, but have the ability to use that knowledge to analyze problems and extrapolate their knowledge in new and useful ways. In the sciences this is encapsulated within the framework of The Scientific Method and is the cornerstone of the research which both our undergraduate and graduate students participate in.

Do you want to know more?

List of microbiology laboratory assistant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a microbiology laboratory assistant resume and required skills for a microbiology laboratory assistant to have include:

Patients
Lab Equipment
Data Entry
Specimen Processing
Microbiology Lab
Specimen Handling
Lab Procedures
Computer System
Aseptic Technique
OSHA
Safety Procedures
Body Fluids
QC
Gram Stains
Test Results
Chemistry
Patient Specimens

Centrifugation
Microorganisms
Media Preparation
Laboratory Tests
Patient Samples
PCR
Test Tubes
Lims
DNA
Lab Experiments
Blood Cultures
Bacterial Cultures
Strep
Water Samples
Agar Plates
Hazardous Waste
Equipment Maintenance

Centrifuges
HIPAA
Coats
Petri
Lab Materials
Blood Samples
FDA
Electrophoresis
GEL Electrophoresis
Immunology
Research Projects
Microbes
Immunoassay
Environmental Monitoring
RAN
GLP

Updated January 8, 2025

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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Microbiology Laboratory Assistant Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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