Qualified Blood Bank Technician / Technologist- Ladysmith

In brief

**Overview** The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is seeking a Qualified Blood Bank Technician or Technologist to join their team in Ladysmith. This role involves performing routine, and for Technologists, more specialized, testing functions within blood banks. Both positions are crucial for ensuring blood compatibility, investigating post-natal and preliminary transfusion reactions, and strictly adhering to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the Standards of Practice for Blood Transfusion in South Africa. The Technologist also holds the responsibility of checking and verifying test results performed by other registered staff. **What you will do** The successful candidate will perform a range of operational and technical duties, which vary slightly depending on whether the role is for a Blood Bank Technician or Technologist. **For a Qualified Blood Bank Technician:** * Perform routine manual and automated testing functions in blood banks, including compatibility, post-natal, and preliminary transfusion reaction investigations, in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the Standards of Practice for Blood Transfusion in South Africa. * Monitor blood and blood product stock levels, identifying and reporting expired units. * Receive and store reagents and proficiency tests in designated areas at correct temperatures. * Dispose of waste according to SOPs, including preparing documentation for waste traceability and managing medical waste collection. * Perform daily cleaning of the work area, cold rooms, fridges, freezers, and all blood banking equipment according to SOPs, and accurately record this information. * Check that all equipment and instrumentation are in working order and report any defects to the Supervisor. * Monitor and record the temperature of all equipment used to store blood and blood products, reporting any problems to the Supervisor. * Ensure all policies, documentation, and SOPs are read, understood, and maintain competency. * Comply with Standards of Practice, SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment, Quality) and accreditation requirements. * Contribute to and participate in continuous safety and quality improvement initiatives. * Perform processes to ensure that the number of minor and major deficiencies remains below the agreed amount per site. * Document customer complaints, compliments, and queries, and forward documentation to the Supervisor. * Interact professionally and courteously with internal and external customers. **For a Qualified Blood Bank Technologist (including all applicable Technician duties, plus additional responsibilities):** * Perform all operational functions, including reporting situations where critical and non-critical consumables are unavailable after hours to the Blood Bank Supervisor. * Deputize for the Shift Supervisor or Blood Bank Supervisor when absent or unavailable. * Check and verify test results performed by registered technicians, registered trainee technicians, and registered student technologists. * Assist the Blood Bank Supervisor with training and competency assessments. * Perform secondary testing functions, including but not limited to problem cross matches, postnatal investigations, antibody investigations, and preliminary transfusion reaction investigations within required timeframes and according to SOP specifications. * 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 expired units. * Ensure that all policies, documents, and relevant SOPs 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 Blood Bank Supervisor with Risk tasks allocated within the agreed timeframes. * 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 and report any defects to the Supervisor. * Monitor the temperature of all equipment used to store blood and blood products and record the information, reporting any problems to the Supervisor. * Document customer complaints, compliments, and queries, and forward documentation to the Blood Bank Supervisor. * Interact professionally with medical staff and ensure an adequate and efficient response to routine queries. * Perform Shift Supervisor functions and other related duties when required to facilitate the efficient running of the laboratory. * Perform miscellaneous routine laboratory tasks and other job-related duties when required by supervisors and other senior staff to facilitate efficient running of the laboratory. * Attend meetings to ensure that relevant information is acquired. * Working conditions for this role include overtime as and when required, shift work and weekend duties as scheduled, occasional local and national travel, and participation in a call out system. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * **Education:** HPCSA Registered Biomedical Technician / Technologist Blood Transfusion. * **Experience and Knowledge:** * As per HPCSA registration requirement as Medical Technician / Technologist Blood Transfusion. * Understanding of relevant legislation. * Knowledge of relevant company procedures. * Computer Literacy in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook. * **Special Circumstances / Attributes:** * Availability for overtime as and when required. * Availability for shift work and weekend duties as scheduled. * Willingness to undertake occasional local and national travel. * General physical health, reasonable endurance, and mobility. * Detail conscious. * Proficient eye-sight. * Must not be colour blind. **Who should apply** Candidates should be HPCSA Registered Biomedical Technicians or Technologists with a specialization in Blood Transfusion. The ideal applicant will be highly detail-oriented, possess proficient eyesight, and not be colour blind. They must be prepared for a demanding work environment that includes shift work, weekend duties, occasional travel, and overtime. A strong commitment to adhering to Standard Operating Procedures, maintaining high quality standards, and ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and accreditation requirements is essential. Applicants should be computer literate and demonstrate a professional approach to interacting with customers and medical staff. **Deadline** 19 October 2026 **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/qualified-blood-bank-technician-technologist-ladysmith-south-african-national-blood-service-sanbs-5 Source: myjobmag

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At a glance

• Microsoft Excel
• Health and safety (OHS)

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