Patient Health Bone Marrow

I am currently employed by the Birmingham women’s hospital, as a Band 5 Genetic technologist working within a UKAS accredited ISO 15189 Genetics laboratory. The hospital and laboratory specialise in delivering a high quality, disease testing service for patients. I am dedicated in performing high quality genetic testing to high standards, improving future patient health outcomes by ensuring patients receive the appropriate diagnosis and test results.

I have acquired a comprehensive knowledge and experience in molecular and cytogenetic testing, where I have performed high quality genetic tests for a variety of genetic conditions to high standards, including diagnostic testing to rule genetic diseases, predictive and carrier testing for the identification of genetic mutations. In addition to my current employment, I have completed a degree in Medical Biology BSc at the University of Huddersfield in July 2020. My bachelor’s degree in an aspect of Medical Sciences, with modules including medical genetics allowed me to gain a comprehensive knowledge on the various complex diseases due to a genetic defect, and the various tumour suppressor genes that play a role in hereditary cancers.

My interest in the Biomedical scientist role is supported by my extensive experience gained in molecular and cytogenetic testing. I currently work as a Band 5 Genetic Technologist in the Haematology and oncology laboratory. In this role, I have developed strong managerial, technical, scientific and analytical skills, through setting up Bone marrow samples, CVS, tissue and blood samples for prenatal and postnatal blood culturing and oncology samples for cytogenetic harvesting and analysis. I am proficient in processing Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) for detecting myeloma cells. I currently lead on FISH processing for chromosomal analysis, scoring constitutional, routine, and urgent fish cases as the lead duty technologist. Throughout my Band 5 role, I have been responsible for managing daily team workflows and ensuring strict adherence to quality standards across all laboratory processes.

During my role as a band 4 Assistant Genetic technologist, I had performed molecular genetic testing within the targeted testing team. I am highly competent in performing Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for diagnosing various genetic disorders. I have demonstrated the physical and mental efforts of excelling in clinical practice by carrying a high throughput genetic analysis on patients and families with inherited genetic diseases, by employing molecular genetic techniques including Robotic PCR, Sanger sequencing, Cystic fibrosis testing for the wider cystic fibrosis mutations, Fragile X syndrome testing for the determination of DNA mutations by evaluating the CGG repeats. I also perform Quantitative Fluorescent PCR (QF-PCR) to rule out the presence of maternal cell contamination of a sample and performing DDPCR for mosaicism using the Biorad digital droplet generator, to test for cancers, looking at the PIK3CA gene. I am also competent to work with automated robots including the applied Biosystems genetic analysers to analyse genomic data.

My experience with genomic data software has significantly deepened my understanding of the various stages involved in genomic data analysis, including report writing and the submission of test results. I am proficient in using laboratory information systems such as Epic and Shire. Additionally, working with genomic analysis tools like Mutation Surveyor and GeneMarker has enhanced my scientific skills, particularly in interpreting quality markers and detecting sequence variants within DNA regions.

I would ensure a team approach in the testing of a sample by routinely working alongside senior scientists and the wider genetics team, to prioritise urgent testing to meet turn-around times efficiently and to determine the best diagnosis for a fetal sample, as prenatal diagnostics affect ongoing pregnancies and require results reporting from 3-14 days of sample processing, this requires working under immense pressure in prioritising cases.

Prior to my current experiences, I was previously employed at the Cambridge university hospital trust under the East Genomic laboratory hub within the Addenbrookes hospital as a Genomic associate in molecular genetics, where I was processing clinical samples routinely and prioritising urgent testing for patients with rare disease and cancer. Additionally, I would employ good laboratory management within the laboratory, through the preparation of laboratory reagents, including the validation of new reagents, and the maintenance of laboratory equipment ensuring they are of high standards. I also participated in the requisitioning of laboratory consumables and implementing the use of departmental policies and procedures. I would ensure to maintain an appropriate record of the work undertaken, including the computerised records of tests conducted whilst continuing to maintain confidentiality.

I understand the importance of implementing good Quality Management standards. I participate in internal and external EQA quality control schemes, to ensure quality control measures are carried out to monitor analytical performance when carrying out laboratory processes. I am part of a wider genetics team, where quality is an essential component in genetic testing as it is used to detect any analytical errors ensuring high standards and accuracy of patient test results.

I am highly motivated and can work on my own initiative. I have expressed an analytical and investigative approach to my work, which was demonstrated in my final year project. I conducted an Evaluation and Analysis in an area of biomedicine, introducing anti-therapeutic drugs with the potential of targeting brain tumours as a future, modern advancement in the therapy of Glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. I expressed the ability to relay my scientific findings in a professional and methodological manner using statistical data analysis and scientific software to analyse data, and a cellular software: ImageJ for processing multidimensional images of cancer cells and immunofluorescence microscopy to envision tumour cell migration using light microscopy.

I am extremely focused to excel in the field of health care sciences. I believe in contributing to high quality genetic testing. I have a range of skills and strengths allowing me to work as a Biomedical scientist. I possess an extensive scientific knowledge on the various laboratory processes that I acquired through my Medical Sciences degree. I can adapt to various laboratory rotations, I demonstrate an advanced knowledge of genomic testing applications, I am proficient in genetic analysis tools such as: GeneMarker, and mutation surveyor and bioinformatic platforms. I have currently taken on a leading role which enhanced my delegation skills, allowing me to train new and less experienced staff members, and discuss cases of projects with members of a multi-disciplinary team. I am familiar with the leading and testing workflow within a medical laboratory, in test ordering, result interpretation, and analysis of genetic material. I possess an ongoing awareness of conflict resolution skills, I can handle constructive decisions positively, as well as strongly adhering with quality assurance by ensuring ISO compliance, Contribute to SOP writing and supporting UKAS accreditation standards.

I understand the importance of complying with the Trust’s infection prevention and control procedures by prioritising the protection of patients and staff by performing daily hand hygiene procedures and maintaining a safe working environment. Preventing contamination is a vital aspect during laboratory procedures, therefore I aim to maintain a sanitary working environment by sterilising laboratory surfaces using a surface disinfectant. Wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) is highly significant within a diagnostic laboratory to prevent contamination of patient DNA and spillages hence, I would ensure to comply with the PPE procedures.

I am extremely proficient in utilising the departments Quality Management System, including Q-Pulse and the importance of raising Corrective and preventative actions (CAPA’s) for ensuring high levels of patient care through minimising laboratory errors. Thus, the departments Quality management system - shire, to access laboratory data and specimen information to monitor and track patient samples and testing criteria, whilst maintaining confidentiality. I also recognise the importance of interpreting the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and the control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) to ensure the safe handling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals and reagents. I understand the role that ethics play in genetics and the ethical issues surrounding patient testing when handling DNA for sensitive tests, including foetal DNA. Thus, when handling any patient sample, I would uphold confidentiality by respecting patient information with the obligation to process all samples fairly, by ensuring sensitive data and patient samples remain in the laboratory.

I am eager to succeed in the nhs, I am a highly committed individual with a positive outlook towards pursuing CPD. My commitment to my continued professional development enables me to take responsibility of my own workload, through maintaining a portfolio of my learning whilst acquiring new skills to improve in clinical practice. I am consistent with NHS legislations and training schemes by participating in departmental staff meetings, by reviewing inefficiencies in workflows and suggesting improvements, partaking in audits and implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) for test processes.

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