Lab Technician - HIV

Position Title: Laboratory Technician

Location: Prison Intervention States (Assam – Kamrup Metro, Nagaon, Tripura – Agartala, Arunachal Pradesh – Namsai, Meghalaya – West Jaintia Hills, Nagaland – Kohima, Rajasthan – Jaipur, Uttar Pradesh – Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Bihar – Purnia, Patna, Samstipur, Chapra, Jamui, Katihar, Madhubani, Madhubani, Motihari, Banka, Darbhanga, Gopalganj, Khagadiya, Sasaram, Aurangabad)

Purpose of the Position:

The Laboratory Technician will support to ART Centre to strengthen Viral load testing performance along with HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), Hepatitis B & C, and other health screening services. The candidate will be responsible for viral load testing, specimen collection, documentation, quality assurance, and reporting in accordance with national guidelines and programme protocols.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

      Laboratory Services

o  Ensure coordination with CSC/Prison to ensure Viral load sample collection at field level.

o  Ensure support to ART Centre for sample collection and testing.

o  He/She will closely work with ART Centre.

o  Conduct HIV screening/testing as per national testing guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

o  Perform sample collection, processing, storage, and transportation for HIV, TB, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other required investigations.

o  Ensure proper labeling, handling, and maintenance of specimens.

o  Support organization of health screening camps and diagnostic activities within prison settings.

o  Coordinate with designated laboratories and health facilities for confirmatory testing and referrals.

      Quality Assurance

o  Adhere to prescribed laboratory quality assurance and quality control procedures.

o  Maintain calibration and routine maintenance records of laboratory equipment.

o  Ensure proper storage and inventory management of testing kits, reagents, consumables, and laboratory supplies.

o  Follow biosafety and infection prevention protocols at all times.

      Documentation and Reporting

o  Maintain laboratory registers, testing records, stock registers, and reporting formats.

o  Ensure timely entry and submission of testing data and laboratory reports.

o  Support compilation of monthly, quarterly, and annual programme reports.

o  Maintain confidentiality of all client and laboratory information.

      Coordination and Support

o  Coordinate with prison authorities, health department officials, ART centres, TB units, and partner agencies for smooth implementation of services.

o  Assist in tracking referrals and linkage of diagnosed inmates to treatment services.

o  Participate in programme review meetings, trainings, and capacity-building activities.

o  Support awareness and health education activities related to HIV, TB, Hepatitis, and other communicable diseases.

      Deliverables

o  Timely and accurate completion of assigned laboratory tests.

o  Maintenance of laboratory records and stock registers.

o  Submission of monthly testing and screening reports.

o  Compliance with quality assurance and biosafety standards.

o  Support in achieving programme targets for screening and diagnosis.

      Required Qualifications

o  Diploma/Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT/BMLT) from a recognized institution.

o  Registration with relevant State Medical Laboratory Council (where applicable).

      Experience

o  Minimum 1–3 years of experience in laboratory testing and diagnostics.

o  Experience in HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis, or public health programmes will be preferred.

o  Experience of working in prison settings, community health programmes, or government health facilities will be an advantage. 

  Required Qualifications

o  Diploma/Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT/BMLT) from a recognized institution.

o  Registration with relevant State Medical Laboratory Council (where applicable).

Technical Skills

• Sample collection and Operation of HIV viral load testing platforms.  

• Preparation and handling of reagents, controls, and calibrators. 

• Instrument maintenance, troubleshooting, and calibration. 

• Understanding of laboratory workflows.

Quality Management Skills

• Implementation of Internal Quality Control (IQC) procedures. 

• Participation in External Quality Assessment (EQA)/Proficiency Testing. 

• Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 

Biosafety and Infection Prevention

• Safe handling of potentially infectious specimens. 

• Proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 

• Biomedical waste segregation and disposal. 

• Compliance with laboratory biosafety guidelines.

Maintenance of testing logs, stock records, and equipment records.