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Biomedical Scientist

Do you want to become a Biomedical Scientist? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Biomedical scientists do laboratory tests to assist doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. NHS biomedical scientists work in:

• Chemical pathology: analysing blood and other biological materials to diagnose disease.
• Transfusion science: identifying and testing blood groups of donor and recipient blood.
• Haematology: studying the structures and functions of the different types of blood cells.
• Cellular pathology: preparing and investigating tissue samples.
• Medical microbiology: isolating and identifying micro-organisms.
• Virology: identifying infections such as hepatitis, AIDS and rubella.
• Cytology: preparing and studying samples of cellular material collected from patients.
• Immunology: investigating a patient's immune system.

Outside the NHS biomedical scientists do routine tests on food, water, animal or forensic samples. Biomedical scientists may also do research work.

Biochemical scientists work a 37 hour week. Some jobs include shift work, evenings, weekends and on-call work. Clean, and sometimes sterile, working conditions are a requirement, and they use specialist equipment and computers.

Salaries range from around 11,000 to £37,500 a year.

A biomedical scientist needs to be:

• able to contribute to patient care and treatment
• responsible, with a mature approach
• interested in the sciences
• interested in the well-being of others.

Most biomedical scientists work in the NHS. Other employers include private hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, independent laboratories, university and research institutes, and government agencies such as the Health Protection Agency.

Most new entrants are graduates. Some enter with A levels/H grades and study for a degree part time. There are no age limits for entry to biomedical scientist posts, but people still need a degree.

Progression depends on experience, responsibilities, and qualifications.

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