Now Hiring: General Laboratory Assistant (Blood Bank) – Pretoria Academic (Permanent Position) | SANBS

Location: Pretoria, Gauteng
Company: SANBS
Employment Type: Permanent
Posted: 11 February 2026
Closing Date: 16 February 2026

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Are you looking for a stable permanent job in the medical and healthcare industry? Do you have Grade 12 with Mathematics and a Science subject? A fantastic opportunity is now available for a General Laboratory Assistant (Blood Bank) at the Pretoria Academic Business Unit. If you are hardworking, detail-oriented, and passionate about contributing to healthcare services that save lives, this position could be the perfect fit for you.

This permanent position falls within the Medical, Health & Social Care industry, specifically under the Biotechnology job category, and offers a remuneration package of R214,503.00 per annum. The closing date for applications is 16 February 2026, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply before the deadline.

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About the Role

The General Laboratory Assistant plays a critical support role within the Blood Bank environment. While the position may not involve direct clinical procedures, it is essential to ensuring the smooth operation of laboratory and blood bank processes. The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing, collecting, and delivering blood hampers, managing bio-hazardous waste disposal, and maintaining strict cleaning and safety standards according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

This role requires responsibility, attention to detail, and the ability to follow procedures accurately, as the work directly supports life-saving blood transfusion services.

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Key Performance Areas (KPAs)

1. Blood Hamper Preparation and Stock Management

A major part of the role involves preparing and managing Blood Bank hampers. This includes:

• Preparing BRB hampers according to SOPs and the daily schedule.
• Collecting unused BRB hampers within specified timeframes.
• Collecting empty blood hampers from hospital wards and designated drop-off points.
• Checking hampers for broken seals and reporting any issues immediately to the Supervisor or Shift Supervisor.
• Opening hampers when required and reporting open hampers containing units.

In addition, the assistant will be responsible for:

• Packing received blood and blood product stock into fridges, freezers, and platelet agitators according to expiry dates.
• Conducting daily stock checks.
• Counting and arranging blood stocks in expiry date order to ensure proper stock rotation and prevent wastage.

This area of responsibility requires high levels of accuracy and reliability, as incorrect handling could affect the safety and availability of blood products.

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2. Waste Disposal and Bio-Hazard Management

Maintaining a safe laboratory environment is essential. The General Laboratory Assistant will manage bio-hazardous waste according to strict SOPs. Duties include:

• Ordering and receiving stock from Waste Disposal Service Providers and Stores.
• Attaching traceability labels and scanning containers into the CS Tracker system.
• Placing bin liners into correctly colour-coded medical waste containers.
• Collecting and discarding outdated samples daily.
• Sealing and packaging medical waste containers properly.

Administrative tasks related to waste disposal include:

• Capturing waste information on the computer system.
• Recording full containers on waste tracking documents.
• Preparing Dangerous Goods Transportation documents.
• Receiving and filing waste manifests for record-keeping.
• Ensuring proper linking of disposal documents with original manifests.

The assistant will also:

• Place medical waste containers in designated areas for removal.
• Monitor and verify the weighing of waste by the approved waste disposal company.

This part of the role ensures compliance with environmental and safety regulations while maintaining high hygiene standards.

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3. Daily Laboratory Cleaning and Support Duties

The General Laboratory Assistant ensures that laboratory areas remain clean, safe, and functional at all times. Responsibilities include:

• Preparing disinfectant solutions when necessary.
• Replenishing test tubes daily and checking them for suitability.
• Cleaning and decontaminating laboratory equipment and workspaces according to SOPs.
• Cleaning blood hampers, racks, trays, recycle boxes, and other equipment.
• Assisting with cleaning blood spills.
• Cleaning and decontaminating water baths as scheduled.
• Cleaning centrifuge buckets when required.
• Refilling detergent containers and ensuring disinfectants are always available.
• Disinfecting sinks, basins, and sluice areas daily.
• Defrosting and cleaning refrigerators and freezers according to schedule.

Maintaining cleanliness in a blood bank environment is critical to prevent contamination and ensure patient safety.

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4. SHEQ Compliance (Safety, Health, Environment & Quality)

The successful candidate will also support SHEQ compliance by:

• Assisting in gathering information to resolve non-conformances or deviations from SOPs.
• Helping resolve customer complaints where necessary.
• Retrieving destruction records for discarded materials.
• Strictly complying with all SOPs and Standards of Practice.
• Adhering to Safety, Health, and Environmental legislative requirements.
• Participating in continuous compliance processes.

This ensures the laboratory operates within legal and regulatory frameworks at all times.

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5. General Duties

In addition to the above responsibilities, the General Laboratory Assistant will:

• Perform other job-related duties as required by supervisors or senior staff.
• Complete the Laboratory Assistants course within the specified timeframe.

This provides an opportunity for skills development and professional growth within the organization.

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Minimum Requirements

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Education:

• Grade 12 (Matric)
• Must have Mathematics and at least one Science subject

Experience:

• No prior experience required (entry-level opportunity)

Skills and Knowledge:

• Computer literacy in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Ability to follow procedures accurately
• Good communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work in a laboratory and healthcare environment

This makes the position suitable for recent matriculants who meet the subject requirements and are looking to enter the medical or laboratory field.

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Why Apply?

This is a permanent opportunity in a respected healthcare environment, offering:

• Stable employment
• Competitive annual remuneration of R214,503.00
• Valuable experience in a blood bank and laboratory setting
• Career growth opportunities through internal training
• Exposure to healthcare and biotechnology operations

Working in a blood bank environment means you will be contributing indirectly to saving lives every day. Even though the role is supportive in nature, it is essential to the proper functioning of blood services.

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Application Details

• Position: General Laboratory Assistant (Blood Bank)
• Business Unit: Pretoria Academic
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Industry: Medical, Health & Social Care
• Closing Date: 16 February 2026
• Remuneration: R214,503.00 per annum

If you meet the requirements and are ready to build a career in the healthcare sector, do not miss this opportunity. Submit your application before the closing date.

This role is ideal for disciplined, reliable, and detail-oriented individuals who are committed to maintaining high standards of safety and quality within a medical laboratory environment. Apply today and take the first step toward a rewarding career in the healthcare industry.

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Application Notice

Only successful candidates will be contacted.
If you have not heard back within two weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.