What does a technical laboratory specialist do?
A Technical Laboratory Specialist is a skilled worker who performs technical diagnostic or mechanical tests in scientific or medical laboratories. Technical laboratory specialists sample, test, measure, record, and analyze results as part of the scientific team. Their job involves technical support so that laboratories can operate effectively according to the right health and safety guidelines and procedures. For this job, one should develop administrative skills, knowledge in mathematics, use initiative, and focus on details.
Technical laboratory specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real technical laboratory specialist resumes:
- Manage daily laboratory operations including personnel, client consulting, analyses and adherence to GLP protocols.
- Experience in strapping and converting tanks, ASTM procedures, and OSHA requirements.
- Provide FDA reportable incident reports and recalls.
- Train in OSHA for handling biological exposure of samples.
- Maintain and troubleshoot programs in collaboration with help desk personnel.
- Process lab reports for delivery for clients under FDA regulations.
- Aid in training new employees, help troubleshoot eyewear fitting problems, resolve customer complaints and bill 3rd party programs.
- Conduct initial interviews with arriving patients to assess medical needs and priority.
- Operate medical testing equipment to measure and determine patients' physical condition.
- Company purchase - microbiology laboratory division eliminate.
- Maintain three labs of Macintosh G4 computers running OS 9.2 and OSX.
- Assist users with various software packages using IBM PC's, IBM VM/CMS, and Macintosh computers.
- Evaluate and troubleshot student assignments.
- Company purchase - microbiology laboratory division eliminate.
Technical laboratory specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Technical Laboratory Specialists are proficient in Clinical Laboratory, Patients, and Chemistry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Technical Laboratory Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Clinical Laboratory, 18%
Evaluated and enhanced international clinical laboratory infrastructure.
- Patients, 14%
Recorded patients' medical information and Laboratory testing request and results into medical records.
- Chemistry, 11%
Led and collaborated with Histology, Microbiology, Chemistry technologists and supervisors to create a Lab Vision Statement.
- Patient Care, 9%
Develop methods for ensuring consistency in patient care policies and practices across departments and divisions.
- Proficiency Testing, 7%
Perform proficiency testing for assigned tests/equipment and record and maintain records of performance and outcomes according to standard operating procedures.
- Microbiology, 5%
Worked in microbiology lab: Prepared different culture media: a ).
"clinical laboratory," "patients," and "chemistry" are among the most common skills that technical laboratory specialists use at work. You can find even more technical laboratory specialist responsibilities below, including:
Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a technical laboratory specialist to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Technical laboratory specialists often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided excellent customer satisfaction for testing and specification of products, certificate of analysis, and technical support. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling technical laboratory specialist duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." According to a technical laboratory specialist resume, here's how technical laboratory specialists can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated effectively with physicians and ancillary departments to coordinate quality patient care. "
Problem-solving skills. technical laboratory specialists are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to technical laboratory specialist responsibilities, because "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." A technical laboratory specialist resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "resolved technical issues surrounding windows xp and document the results. "
Speaking skills. For certain technical laboratory specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "speaking skills." The day-to-day duties of a technical laboratory specialist rely on this skill, as "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what technical laboratory specialists do: "assisted in fda audit preparations for test and development team and represented this team for the capa process where applicable. "
Writing skills. Another common skill required for technical laboratory specialist responsibilities is "writing skills." This skill comes up in the duties of technical laboratory specialists all the time, as "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." An excerpt from a real technical laboratory specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what a technical laboratory specialist does: "assist in writing and creating visual work instructions to maintain iso [ ] certification. "
The three companies that hire the most technical laboratory specialists are:
- Ortho Clinical Diagnostics8 technical laboratory specialists jobs
- Care New England Health System6 technical laboratory specialists jobs
- Nationwide Children's Hospital5 technical laboratory specialists jobs
Compare different technical laboratory specialists
Technical laboratory specialist vs. Specialist
Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a technical laboratory specialist are more likely to require skills like "clinical laboratory," "chemistry," "proficiency testing," and "microbiology." On the other hand, a job as a specialist requires skills like "customer service," "work ethic," "exceptional client," and "product knowledge." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that specialists earn slightly differ from technical laboratory specialists. In particular, specialists are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a technical laboratory specialist. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Technical laboratory specialist vs. Laboratory manager
Laboratory managers provide accurate laboratory diagnosis through evaluating specimen procedures and coordinating with pathologists to validate laboratory findings. They are responsible for maintaining laboratory tools and equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of instruments before and after use, organizing equipment based on its function, and immediately repairing or replacing defective items. A laboratory manager also secures the confidentiality of laboratory systems, keeping records of results, and releasing information to the appropriate personnel. Laboratory managers must have a broad knowledge of the scientific industry, as well as excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real technical laboratory specialist resumes. While technical laboratory specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "microbiology," "technical procedures," "technical support," and "test methods," laboratory managers use skills like "customer service," "lab safety," "clia," and "laboratory services."
In general, laboratory managers achieve similar levels of education than technical laboratory specialists. They're 4.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for technical laboratory specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.
Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
Technical laboratory specialist vs. Systems specialist
Systems specialists are professionals who maintain, troubleshoot, and install information and computer systems. They identify the software, data, and hardware needs of companies. Generally, they work in physically demanding indoor environments installing complicated networks. They manage, lead, and coordinate technical support for new software, upgrades, and products. Also, they configure systems for the users and assess data from different sources to make a decision.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from technical laboratory specialist resumes include skills like "clinical laboratory," "chemistry," "patient care," and "proficiency testing," whereas a systems specialist is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "veterans," "project management," and "hvac. "
When it comes to education, systems specialists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to technical laboratory specialists. In fact, they're 1.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Technical laboratory specialist vs. Technical advisor
Technical advisors are experts in a specific field of knowledge, offering information and advice to those in the field. They develop applications, coordinate the activities of technicians, and provide technical expertise. They offer advice and suggestions to specialists. The skills they need to possess include multitasking abilities, attention to detail, and exceptional customer service. They are also required to be savvy in terms of information technology, business practices, and have significant experience in this field.
Types of technical laboratory specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
