General Laboratory Assistant (Blood Bank) at South African National Blood Service (SANBS)

Introduction

• The incumbent is responsible for the preparation, delivery and collection of the blood bank’s hampers, routine bio-hazardous waste disposal and cleaning duties according to relevant SOPs.

Job description

KPA 1 BRB/Blood Hamper Preparation, Collection, Packing Received Stock and Stock Count

Prepare and collect hampers according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and schedule:·

• Prepare BRB hampers.
• Collect unused BRB hampers within the specified timeframes.
• Collect empty blood hampers from the wards and designated collection/drop-off points.
• Check hampers for unused products:
• Hand over all sealed hampers to the Supervisor/Shift Supervisor.
• Check hamper for broken seals.
• Open hamper.
• Report any open hampers containing units to the Supervisor/Shift Supervisor.
• Pack blood and blood product stocks received into fridge, freezer and/or platelet agitator according to expiry date.
• Check, count and arrange (in expiry date order) blood stocks daily.

KPA 2 Waste Disposal

• Dispose of waste according to SOP:
• Order and Receive all stock required from Waste Disposal Service Providers and Stores.
• Attach traceability labels and scan containers into stock using CS Tracker system.
• Place bin liners into correct colour coded medical waste containers.
• Collect and discard outdated samples daily.
• Seal and package plastic liners in medical waste containers daily.
• Capture waste information on the computer system.
• Prepare documentation for waste traceability:
• Record full containers on Waste tracking document.
• Prepare Dangerous Goods Transportation document.
• Receive the waste manifest and file for future linking and reference.
• Receive waste disposal document and link with original manifest.
• Collect and place medical waste containers in the designated area daily for removal and disposal by the approved waste removal company.
• Check weighing of waste by the Waste Disposal Company.

KPA 3 Daily Laboratory Duties

• Prepare disinfectant solutions for laboratory use, when necessary.
• Replenish test tubes in the laboratories daily, and examine for suitability for use.
• Clean the laboratory and equipment according to SOP:
• Decontaminate, clean and dry items including BRB / blood hampers, miscellaneous racks, wash-out trays and recycle boxes.
• Assist with the clean-up of blood spills.
• Clean and decontaminate water-baths according to schedule.
• Clean and disinfect centrifuge buckets, when necessary.
• Clean and refill detergent containers, ensuring that freshly prepared disinfectant is available for decontamination purposes, at all times.
• Disinfect sinks, basins and sluice areas daily.
• Defrost and clean refrigerators and freezers, according to schedule.

KPA 4 SHEQ Compliance

• Assist with gathering information to resolve non-conformances, to resolve errors, deviations from SOPs and customer complaints when necessary e.g. retrieve destruction records for discarded materials.
• Comply with SOPs.
• Comply with Standards of Practice and Safety, Health & Environmental requirements and participate in continuous SHE Legislative compliance.

KPA 5 General Functions

• Perform other job-related duties within the laboratory as and when required by the section supervisors and other senior staff.
• Complete the Laboratory Assistants course with the specified time.

Minimum requirements

Education

• Grade 12 with Maths and one Science subject

Experience and knowledge requirements

• None

Other (knowledge and skills), e.g. understanding of relevant legislation; knowledge of relevant company procedures.

• Computer Literacy in MS Word, Excel and outlook.

Apply by: 18 February 2026