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What does a laboratory associate do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted expert
Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.
What does a laboratory associate do

A laboratory associate's responsibilities revolve around preparing test samples and subjecting them into different examination processes for scientific purposes. Aside from performing extensive analysis, they are also responsible for recording data, reviewing findings, collaborating with other scientists, and producing various reports and presentations. A laboratory associate can work for an institution or private company; they may also choose to contribute their studies in different publications and research activities. Furthermore, as a laboratory practitioner, it is essential to adhere to all the laboratory safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.

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Laboratory associate responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real laboratory associate resumes:

  • Manage supply inventory and maintain cleanliness.
  • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
  • Direct patient care, phlebotomy, medical billing, clinical laboratory specimen collection, reference laboratory coordinator, specimen courier.
  • Operate combines to harvest crops for yield-testing field crops.
  • Perform fluorescence in situ hybridization in a CLIA certify lab.
  • Utilize CoPath for receiving specimen and reporting out of test results.
  • Train new hires on performing and working in aseptic conditions in a GMP environment.
  • Maintain cleanliness of equipment, tables, floor (to ensure safety), and sanitation regulations are meet.
  • Conduct microbial base analyses in a pharmaceutical GMP environment.
  • Perform various microbiology techniques and knowledgeable of terminology, equipment and supplies.
  • Perform QC assays and assist in validation, writing and establishing specifications.
  • Educate patients regarding testing information and insurance coverage via phone and office consultations.
  • Follow laboratory policy and procedure in the guidelines of CLIA laboratory good practice.
  • Design and implement patients care protocol strategy and medical records base on GCP requirements.
  • Complete training in topics including plant anatomy, animal anatomy, and human anatomy.

Laboratory associate skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Laboratory Associates are proficient in Patients, Specimen Handling, and Phlebotomy.

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

  • Patients, 10%

    Follow written guidelines for identifying patients and labeling specimens: Use computer to efficiently organize specimen collection by priority.

  • Specimen Handling, 6%

    Follow the laboratory's procedure for specimen handling and processing, test analyses, reporting and maintaining records.

  • Phlebotomy, 6%

    Worked as a laboratory associate performing phlebotomy on infants to children of adolescent ages.

  • Chemistry, 6%

    Performed diagnostic testing on automated chemistry analyzers.

  • Customer Service, 4%

    Provided great customer service in the photo lab operating professional photo processing equipment.

  • Patient Care, 4%

    Facilitate patient care by coordinating with provider, patient, laboratory, and insurance companies LEADERSHIP.

Most laboratory associates use their skills in "patients," "specimen handling," and "phlebotomy" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential laboratory associate responsibilities here:

All laboratory associate skills

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Compare different laboratory associates

Laboratory associate vs. Medical technologist

A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.

The annual salary of medical technologists is $10,493 higher than the average salary of laboratory associates.Even though laboratory associates and medical technologists are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patients, specimen handling, and phlebotomy in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between laboratory associates and medical technologist. For instance, laboratory associate responsibilities require skills such as "chemistry," "specimen collection," "equipment maintenance," and "data integrity." Whereas a medical technologist is skilled in "clinical laboratory," "ascp," "basic math," and "blood pressure." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Medical technologists earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $54,453. On the other hand, laboratory associates are paid more in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $43,992.medical technologists tend to reach similar levels of education than laboratory associates. In fact, medical technologists are 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Laboratory associate vs. Medical technologist, generalist

A Medical Technologist Generalist performs day-to-day operations in the laboratory such as routine testing, quality control, and maintenance of instruments. They also develop, perform, and evaluate the accuracy of laboratory procedures.

Medical technologist, generalist positions earn higher pay than laboratory associate roles. They earn a $15,490 higher salary than laboratory associates per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Laboratory associates and medical technologists, generalist both require similar skills like "patients," "specimen handling," and "phlebotomy" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that laboratory associate responsibilities requires skills like "chemistry," "customer service," "specimen collection," and "data entry." But a medical technologist, generalist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "clinical laboratory," "blood bank," "team-oriented environment," and "body fluids."

On average, medical technologists, generalist earn a higher salary than laboratory associates. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, medical technologists, generalist earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $60,952. Whereas laboratory associates have higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $43,992.In general, medical technologists, generalist achieve similar levels of education than laboratory associates. They're 0.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Laboratory Associates 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 associate vs. Histologic technician

A Histologic Technician prepares tissue specimens for routine and special procedures to confirm a patient diagnosis. They work in hospital laboratories, government agencies, public health departments, and other institutions.

On average, histologic technicians earn higher salaries than laboratory associates, with a $7,206 difference per year.By looking over several laboratory associates and histologic technicians resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "patients," "specimen handling," and "laboratory procedures." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

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 associate is likely to be skilled in "phlebotomy," "chemistry," "customer service," and "patient care," while a typical histologic technician is skilled in "ascp," "tissue specimens," "ihc," and "microtome."

Histologic technicians typically earn similar educational levels compared to laboratory associates. Specifically, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Laboratory associate 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.

Medical laboratory technologist interns typically earn lower pay than laboratory associates. On average, medical laboratory technologist interns earn a $5,668 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, laboratory associates and medical laboratory technologist interns both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "specimen handling," and "phlebotomy. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between laboratory associates and medical laboratory technologist interns, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a laboratory associate might have more use for skills like "chemistry," "customer service," "specimen collection," and "data entry." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of medical laboratory technologist interns require skills like "lab equipment," "urinalysis," "medical laboratory," and "immunology. "

The average resume of medical laboratory technologist interns showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to laboratory associates. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.4%.

Types of laboratory associate

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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