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JOB DETAILS
Job Holder:
Job Title:
Immediate Senior Officer:
Board:
Division:
Location:
JOB DESCRIPTION
BMS 1
BMS 2
NHS National Services Scotland
SNBTS
Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh
JOB PURPOSE
To perform laboratory procedures and duties in compliance with agreed specifications in order to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of a high quality blood transfusion laboratory service and internal and external checks.
DIMENSIONS
Staff numbers Glasgow
BMS 4 1
BMS 3
BMS 2
BMS 1
MLA
2
8
17
6

4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
MLA x 6
5. ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT
Serology Department
Department Specimen Reception
Red cell phenotyping
Compatibility testing
Group and Hold Service
Reference Serology Service for all West of Scotland hospitals
Antibody detection
Antibody screening
Antibody identification
Investigation of cases of known/suspected transfusion reaction
Investigation of patients with known/suspected haemolytic disease of the Newborn
Investigation of patients with Auto-Immune Haemolytic Anaemia
Issue of Blood and Blood Products
Issue of Blood Components
Investigation of anomalous grouping or antibody screening results in Glasgow and
Inverness donors
Extended red cell grouping for LN2 stored reference panels
Participation in SCARF and UK rare cell exchange schemes
Ante Natal Services
Antibody monitoring of patients during pregnancy
Cord cell testing
Foetal-maternal Haemorrhage estimation by Flow Cytometry for all West of Scotland hospitals
Issue of antibody cards
Provision of suitable crossmatched blood for Intra-uterine transfusion for Foetal
Medicine Unit, SGH
Anti-D quantification for all referred ante-natal patients in Scotland
Anti-D quantification for commercial reagents

Stock Control
Reception of blood, blood components from Scottish National Blood Transfusion
Service
Maintenance of Glasgow Blood Bank stock
Outdating and discard of blood
Collection of monitoring data
Irradiation of blood components
Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
HLA class 1 and 2 typing by PCR(DNA) of donors for British Bone Marrow Registry
HLA class 1 typing by PCR(DNA) of platelet refractory patients, apheresis donors and
SNBTS reagent red cell donors
HLA antibody screening
Crossmatching of refractory patients with available apheresis donors
HPA -1a screening of Glasgow and Inverness donors by ELISA
HPA-1a confirmatory phenotyping of Glasgow and inverness donors by Flow Cytometry
HPA 1-5 genotyping by PCR of patients and donors
Platelet antibody identification for FMAIT,PTP and refractory patients
Detection of anti-PF4 in pateints with Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia
Detection of platelet auto-antibodies in ITP patients
Tissue Banking Service
Haematopoeitic stem cell processing and storage
Bone banking support
Clean room support
Responsibility for LN2 area
Quality Assurance Department
Provision and control of controlled documents (SOP's, Policies etc)
Temperature monitoring of storage areas and equipment
Provision of a self- audit programme
Maintenance of a quality system within West of Scotland Clinical Services to ensure compliance with MHRA, CPA, EFI and HTA standards
Training
Provision of training to IBMS Certificate of Competence level for SNBTS trainee staff
Provision of workshop and lab based programme to support the IBMS Specialist
Diploma in Transfusion Science and BBTS Specialist Certificate in Transfusion.
Provision of lab based program for trainee and BMS staff from all Trust hospitals in
West of Scotland area
Provision of basic familiarisation training for Trust Nursing staff and Donor attendant staff
Provision of practical and theoretical training for Medical staff taking Certificate in
Transfusion Medicine or MRC Path in Haematology and Transfusion
Provision of practical training and lectures for Medical and Biomedical Science courses at Glasgow, Strathclyde, West of Scotland and Caledonian universities.

6. KEY RESULT AREAS
Analytical and Judgmental Areas:
1. Carries out laboratory procedures and tests in compliance with Standard
Operating Procedures to ensure the provision of safe and high quality blood
2.
3.
4. and blood components and a serological service for patients.
Supervises and trains when required, trainee BMS's unqualified staff and others in procedures and use of equipment relating to all aspects of the work involved.
Assists line manager with compilation of records, statistics and analysis of daily work performed within the section, making recommendations for continued improvement as appropriate.
Participates as appropriate in the application and development of automated
5.
6.
7. and computerised systems to assist in the efficient and effective working of the department.
Complies with Health and Safety regulations to ensure safe working procedures and the health and safety of other staff and visitors to the departments.
Uses analytical skills to test patient and donor samples. Issues test results directly and indirectly to customers.
Selects and issues safe and appropriate blood and blood components directly to patients on basis of test results they have performed.
Uses judgement to schedule and prioritise patients in order of urgency. 8.
7. POLICY/SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
Will be aware of policy and service developments
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
BMS1's may be asked to work in areas where R&D and evaluation such as the development of new systems and the testing of new equipment is in progress
8. PHYSICAL SKILLS
BMS1's require highly developed physical skills in the:
 accurate operation and reading of manual tests
 the rapid and accurate operation of keyboards
 the physical movement and manipulation of blood and blood components, mass screening of red blood cells etc.
 long periods of standing at work benches

9. FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND INFORMATION RESOURCES
BMS1's must be aware of the SNBTS National and local Directorate Business Plan
Financial
They are responsible for maintaining stocks of blood and blood components and are aware of the need for the effective use of blood. BMS1's will use expensive equipment and reagents
Human Resources
BMS1's will be responsible for training new BMS's and MLA staff and will be responsible for MLA's in the absence of Senior BMS staff.
Information
BMS1's will accurately record patient data test results and distribute this information directly to customers. They will be involved in the development of information systems which will improve the service to the customer.
10. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
A BMS1 will provide and receive complex and sensitive information. This information will come from or be given to:
 other colleagues in SNBTS
 medical and nursing staff (SNBTS and other NHS units)
 directly to patient, donors and members of the public
 auditors
The communication will be in the form of oral, face-to-face or electronically
11. QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXPERIENCE
A BMS1 must have attained an Honours Degree in Biomedical Science accredited by the IBMS and acceptable to the Health Professions Council and must retain registration with that body.
After suitable training they must maintain specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practices which must be underpinned by theoretical knowledge of relevant practical experience.
BMS1's must undertake continuous professional development and will maintain and develop specialist skills and knowledge in order to contribute to the continuous improvement of the Blood Transfusion Service.

12. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
BMS1's are guided by SOPs, and good practice. BMS1's are supervised by BMS2's but may work for long periods unsupervised. Formal objectives are set and agreed annually and reviewed bi-annually.
Work comes from the following sources:
 line managers / departmental head
 internal or external customers
 other SNBTS departments
 self generated
BMS1's will participate in laboratory meetings, specialist groups (H&S, Scientific meetings etc.) where planning will be discussed. BMS1's will be asked to participate in specific projects.
13. WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND EFFORT
Working Conditions
Adverse working conditions for BMS1's will include:
 working for periods in 4 o C coldrooms or walk-in freezers
 working with liquid N
2
 continual use of VDU's
 direct contact with untested blood samples
 handling biohazard samples known to be HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C positive
Physical Effort
There is a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for long periods e.g. lifting and moving cases of blood and need for fast response to urgent calls from wards for blood and blood products.
Mental Effort
There is a frequent requirement for intense concentration within the work period. The requirement is unpredictable within the working period.
Emotional Effort
Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances e.g. receiving information on major incidents, urgently delivering blood into busy hospital departments, being informed of patient's death
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Job Holder’s Signature:
………………………………………………………………
Senior Officer/ Head of Department Signature:
……………………………………………………………..
Date:
Date: