What does a sample prep technician do?
Sample Prep Technicians are responsible for carrying out sample preparation and laboratory testings. Their duties include client samples sorting and logging, conducting preliminary sample preparation, monitoring temperatures of freezers and refrigerators, cleaning of N-Evap, water baths refrigerators, and foreheads, and making sure proper procedures for sample returning, disposal, and archiving. They calibrate equipment such as pipettes, syringes, and balances, wash glassware, dispose of waste solvents, salinize liners and glass wools and sustain standard inventory. Sample Prep Technicians also perform equipment repair, assist laboratory technician, and ensure work adhere to organizations environmental, quality, health, and safety policies.
Sample prep technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real sample prep technician resumes:
- Assist in managing technical and regulatory site visits to the laboratory and interface with QA and RA on all vendor/regulatory audits.
- Maintain cleanliness of car wash.
- Certify weights of shipments of grain and shipping containers according to USDA regulations.
- Perform quality control (QC) testing of environmental samples within assign sample batches.
- Perform calibration checks on pipettes monthly, on microwaves weekly, on scales daily.
- Experience utilizing proper PPE for task, and ensuring a safe work area through housekeeping.
- Calculate API requirements and volume for compound preparation, which at times involve ordering API and excipients.
- Serve as an agent user, challenge and calibrate minicams then document and annotate these shots in LIMS.
- Certify in air purifying respirators.
- Expedite sanitation requirements according to USDA guidelines.
- Study separation using chromatography, crystallization, and distillation.
- Make arrangements with customers and/or logistics companies for expedite materials.
- Used chromatography analysis software to analyze the chemical structure and concentration of various compounds.
- Design and modify standard operation protocols for vary methods and safety procedures regarding blood borne pathogens.
- Validate results of classical bacteriological tests with molecular biological tests such as PCR and molecular sequencing.
Sample prep technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Sample Prep Technicians are proficient in QC, Lab Equipment, and AA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Sample Prep Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- QC, 12%
Performed prep and QC equipment for customer orders* Preformed check in and QC equipment returning from customers* Performed repairs as necessary
- Lab Equipment, 10%
Operated and maintained all histology area lab equipment in proper state of readiness, cleanliness.
- AA, 10%
Utilize ICP, UV/Visible, AA for cold vapor mercury analysis testing methods, and various other wet chemistry techniques.
- Safety Regulations, 7%
Clean and maintain supplies, tools, equipment, and storage areas in order to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
- Sample Prep, 6%
Sample preparations in accordance to the appropriate test methods as well as following SOP.
- Lims, 6%
Served as an agent user, challenged and calibrate minicams then documented and annotated these shots in LIMS.
"qc," "lab equipment," and "aa" are among the most common skills that sample prep technicians use at work. You can find even more sample prep technician responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a sample prep technician to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "geological and petroleum technicians examine data and samples, using a variety of complex techniques, including laboratory experimentation and computer modeling." Additionally, a sample prep technician resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "sample shipping and receiving, data entry, ph and temperature readings, administrative assistant"
Interpersonal skills. Many sample prep technician duties rely on interpersonal skills. "geological and petroleum technicians need to be able to work well with others and as part of a team.," so a sample prep technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways sample prep technician responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "demonstrate positive interpersonal skills while working with patients, families, physician, co-workers, and other departments. "
Communication skills. sample prep technicians are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to sample prep technician responsibilities, because "geological and petroleum technicians explain their methods and findings through oral and written reports to scientists, engineers, managers, and other technicians." A sample prep technician resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "increased teaching and communication skills while helping students master math and science concepts in calculus, physics and chemistry classes. "
The three companies that hire the most sample prep technicians are:
- ALS, LLC8 sample prep technicians jobs
- Eurofins6 sample prep technicians jobs
- Curtiss-Wright4 sample prep technicians jobs
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Compare different sample prep technicians
Sample prep technician vs. Mud logger
A mudlogger works at oil and gas companies where they are primarily in charge of supervising drilling operations to gather data from various procedures. They are responsible for maintaining accurate records of drilling activities and other processes, writing down descriptions, and producing detailed reports that companies can utilize when making decisions. Moreover, in some companies, a mudlogger may also take photos and videos, gather and analyze samples through various laboratory procedures, conduct inspections, perform risk assessments, coordinate with geologists, and implement safety policies and standards to maintain a safe and efficient workflow.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, sample prep technician responsibilities require skills like "qc," "lab equipment," "aa," and "safety regulations." Meanwhile a typical mud logger has skills in areas such as "enhance safety," "mechanical equipment," "data acquisition systems," and "laboratory techniques." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, mud loggers reach higher levels of education than sample prep technicians. Mud loggers are 7.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Sample prep technician vs. Microbiologist
Microbiologists are responsible for studying the microscopic organisms causing infections and environmental damage, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their work focuses on the identification and growth of these microbes to better understand their characteristics that may help in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious and bacterial diseases. They use sophisticated technologies and machinery to study microbes and perform their tasks. These scientists are also responsible for developing best practices and techniques for routine sampling and research. Microbiologists may work in various settings, including laboratories, research institutes, and hospitals.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real sample prep technician resumes. While sample prep technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "qc," "aa," "safety regulations," and "good communication," microbiologists use skills like "microbiology lab," "test methods," "laboratory procedures," and "usp."
On average, microbiologists earn a higher salary than sample prep technicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, microbiologists earn the most pay in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $57,911. Whereas sample prep technicians have higher pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $46,314.In general, microbiologists achieve higher levels of education than sample prep technicians. They're 10.7% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for sample prep technicians 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.
Sample prep technician vs. Oil tester
A laboratory research assistant is an individual who performs lab experiments and carries out projects designed by senior lab staff members. Laboratory research assistants design and conduct experiments using biohazards and other dangerous materials to gain information and test scientific processes. They must write detailed reports of their research and experiments and then deliver these reports in written and verbal forms. Laboratory research assistants may also work in different settings such as medical facilities and pharmaceutical companies.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a sample prep technician is likely to be skilled in "qc," "lab equipment," "aa," and "safety regulations," while a typical oil tester is skilled in "rig," "dot," "twic," and "h2s."
When it comes to education, oil testers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to sample prep technicians. In fact, they're 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Sample prep technician vs. Laboratory research assistant
Even though a few skill sets overlap between sample prep technicians and laboratory research assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a sample prep technician might have more use for skills like "qc," "aa," "safety regulations," and "good communication." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of laboratory research assistants require skills like "data collection," "patients," "laboratory equipment," and "lab procedures. "
In general, laboratory research assistants earn the most working in the education industry, with an average salary of $41,436. The highest-paying industry for a sample prep technician is the automotive industry.The average resume of laboratory research assistants showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to sample prep technicians. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 9.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.8%.Types of sample prep technician
Updated January 8, 2025
