Qualified Blood Bank Technician / Technologist (Pretoria) at South African National Blood Service (SANBS)

Job description
Qualified Blood Bank Technician

KPA 1 Operational Objectives

• Perform all operational functions (manual and automated) according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and within the required timeframes:
• Check blood and blood product stock levels. Report expired units.
• Receive reagents and proficiency tests and store them in designated areas at the correct temperature.
• Dispose of waste according to SOP:
• Prepare documentation for waste traceability:
• 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 2 Instrument and Laboratory Maintenance

• Perform daily cleaning of work area, cold rooms, fridges, freezers and all blood banking equipment according to SOP and record the information.
• Check that all equipment and instrumentation is in working order. Report any defects to the Supervisor.
• Monitor the temperature of all equipment used to store blood and blood products and record the information. Report any problems to the Supervisor.

KPA 3 Quality and Risk Objectives

• Ensure that all policies, documentation and SOPs are read, understood and maintain competency.
• Comply with Standard of practice, SHEQ and accreditation requirements.
• Contribute to and participate in continuous safety and quality improvement.
• Perform processes to ensure that the number of minor and major deficiencies amount to less than the agreed amount per site.

KPA 4 Customer Relations

• Document customer complaints / Compliments / queries and forward documentation to the Supervisor.
• Interact professionally and courteously with internal and external customers.

Blood Bank Technologist
KPA 1 Operational Objectives

• Perform all operational functions (manual and automated) according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and within the required timeframes:
• Report situations where the critical and non-critical consumables are not available after hours to the Blood Bank (BB) Supervisor.
• Deputise for Shift Supervisor/BB Supervisor when absent or unavailable.
• Receive reagents and proficiency tests and store them in designated areas at the correct temperature.
• Dispose of waste according to SOP:
• Prepare documentation for waste traceability:
• 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 2 Specialist Technical functions

• Check and verify test results performed by registered technicians, registered trainee technicians and registered student technologists.
• Assist BB Supervisor with training and competency assessments.
• Perform secondary testing, including but not limited to, problem cross matches, postnatal, antibody investigations and preliminary transfusion reaction investigations within required timeframes and according to SOP specifications.

KPA 3 Quality and Risk Objectives

• Check equipment to ensure that all instrumentation and equipment is in working order according to SOP criteria.
• Check blood and blood product stock levels, including identifying and reporting of expired units.
• Ensure that all policies, documents and relevant SOP’s are read and understood and maintain competency for the stipulated standard operating procedures.
• Comply with standards of practice, accreditation, QC testing, proficiency testing and safety requirements and contribute to and participate in continuous quality improvement.
• Strive to remain well informed of current developments to promote knowledge sharing as well as to ensure acquisition of required CPD points according to IPA specifications.
• Assist the BB Supervisor with Risk tasks allocated within the agreed timeframes.

KPA 4 Instrument and Laboratory Maintenance

• Perform daily cleaning of work area, cold rooms, fridges, freezers and all blood banking equipment according to SOP and record the information.
• Check that all equipment and instrumentation is in working order. Report any defects to the Supervisor.
• Monitor the temperature of all equipment used to store blood and blood products and record the information. Report any problems to the Supervisor.

KPA 5 Customer relations

• Document customer complaints / compliments / queries and forward documentation to the BB Supervisor.
• Interact professionally with medical staff and ensure an adequate and efficient response to routine queries.

KPA 6 General Functions

• Perform Shift Supervisor functions and other related duties when required so as to facilitate the efficient running of the laboratory.
• Perform miscellaneous routine laboratory tasks and other job-related duties when required by the supervisors and other senior staff so as to facilitate efficient running of the laboratory.
• Attend meetings to ensure that relevant information is acquired.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES (E.G. TRAVEL, WORKING AFTER HOURS ETC.)

• Overtime as and when required.
• Shift work and weekend duties as scheduled.
• Occasional local and national travel.
• Call out system.
• General physical health and reasonable endurance and mobility.
• Detail conscious.
• Proficient eye-sight.

Minimum requirements
Education

• HPCSA Registered Biomedical Technician / Technologist (Blood Transfusion).
• Experience and knowledge requirements
• As per HPCSA registration requirement as Medical Technician / Technologist (Blood Transfusion).
• Other (knowledge and skills), e.g. understanding of relevant legislation; knowledge of relevant company procedures.
• Computer Literacy in MS Word, Excel and Outlook.