OKECHUKWU OJE UGWU

As a Microbiology Laboratory Technician at Pathology First, a SYNLAB pathology partnership, I work within a fast-paced, high-throughput laboratory environment supporting diagnostic services for hospitals, clinics, and community healthcare providers. I play a key role in processing and analysing a wide range of patient samples, including blood, urine, swabs, feaces and other bodily fluids, to help detect and identify infectious agents. My daily responsibilities include preparing specimens, operating advanced laboratory equipment, performing culture techniques, and carrying out sensitivity testing to guide effective treatment. I ensure that each test is performed accurately and efficiently, contributing directly to the diagnosis and management of infections for a diverse patient population from routine health screenings to urgent clinical cases. I also uphold strict quality control procedures and follow established protocols to maintain compliance with laboratory standards, always ensuring the safety, reliability, and timely delivery of results that healthcare professionals rely on to make informed decisions about patient care.

• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to establish and deliver a therapeutic care program for our patients.
• Carry out caregiving tasks for patients on the ward.
• Inform qualified staff about the condition of patients.
• Record the delivery of care in patient notes.
• Implement personalized patient care plans.

• I've gained hands-on experience in diagnostic identification techniques, using both manual methods and automated systems commonly found in NHS laboratories.
• My training involved following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure accurate and reliable diagnostics.
• I've also mastered and competent in microscopy and staining techniques like Gram staining as well as biochemical test to identify pathogens.
• Additionally, I've become proficient in interpreting diagnostic results and using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to efficiently manage patient data for accurate tracking and reporting.
• Specimen Reception: I am competent in sorting out specimen and checking for discrepancies on specimens against request form before processing for analysis by Biomedical Scientist.
• Culture and Sensitivity: I am proficient in carrying out culture of micro organisms and sensitivity following complex standard operating procedures (SOP).

• As a laboratory technician, I play a key role in collecting and analyzing biological samples, keeping laboratory equipment in better condition, and making sure health and safety protocols are strictly followed.
• I also focus on quality control to ensure accurate and reliable results, which I interpret and share with healthcare teams or researchers.
• Working closely with my colleagues, I help support clinical diagnoses and research.
• I take patient confidentiality and data integrity seriously, always following ethical guidelines.
• Committed to continuous learning, I stay up to date with the latest laboratory techniques and technology to provide the best possible expertise in my work.