Biomedical scientist

Biomedical scientists carry out tests on samples taken by doctors and nurses in order to diagnose a range of illnesses and diseases

Your work is extremely important to many hospital departments, such as operating theatres and A&E, and the functions you carry out are wide-ranging. For example, you may work on medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes or AIDS, screen for and monitor a range of diseases, or carry out tests for emergency blood transfusions. At least 70% of all diagnosis is based on pathology results.

Types of biomedical scientist

Biomedical scientists usually specialise in one of four areas: infection sciences, blood sciences, cell sciences or genetics and molecular pathology.

Infection sciences includes:

• medical microbiology - identification of micro-organisms causing disease and their antibiotic treatment
• virology - identification of viruses, associated diseases and monitoring the effectiveness of vaccines.

Blood sciences includes:

• clinical chemistry - analysis of blood and body fluids to help with diagnoses, and toxicology studies
• transfusion science - determination of donor/recipient blood compatibility, ensuring blood banks are sufficient
• haematology - form and functions of diseases of the blood
• immunology - understanding the immune system and its role in combating disease.

Cell sciences includes:

• histopathology (also known as cellular pathology) - microscopic examination of diseased tissue samples to establish the cause of the disease
• cytology - best known for cervical smear screening, but also covers other cellular analysis
• mortuary - the study and storage of deceased bodies, usually as part of an autopsy.

Genetics and molecular pathology includes:

• genetics - study of genes and hereditary variations in genes
• molecular pathology - study and diagnosis of disease through examination of tissues and fluids at molecular level
• cytogenetics - study of bloody, tissues or bone marrow to look for changes in chromosomes.

For more information on the four laboratory disciplines, see the IBMS What is biomedical science?.

Responsibilities

As a biomedical scientist you'll need to:

• perform routine and specialist analytical testing on a range of biological samples
• give test results to medical staff, who use the information to diagnose and treat the patient's illness
• process patient samples in good time and make sure that turnaround times for reporting results are achieved
• prioritise your workload and perform urgent analytical testing as required
• identify abnormal or unexpected results and report back and follow up with requesting clinicians
• maintain and run specialist lab equipment
• maintain and order stocks of materials
• answer telephone enquiries about test results and other general lab issues
• accurately record data, write reports, and share results
• develop new methods of investigation and keep up to date with diagnostic innovations
• support the lab's quality management system and observe all relevant health and safety regulations
• supervise, mentor and support trainee biomedical scientists and other support staff
• keep your professional knowledge up to date and take responsibility for your continuing professional development (CPD).

Salary

• Starting salaries for an NHS newly qualified biomedical scientist range from £28,407 to £34,581 (Band 5).
• With experience and/or specialist knowledge, you can earn a salary of £35,392 to £42,618 (Band 6). This could be post- registration experience in an NHS clinical laboratory.
• As a senior/lead biomedical scientist, you can expect to earn £43,742 to £57,349 (Band 7/8a). Salaries for consultant biomedical scientists, who have reached the top of their profession, are higher.

Biomedical scientists providing temporary locum cover are usually paid by the hour, rather than by annual salary. Rates are generally around £23 to £40 per hour.

If you're working in London or the surrounding areas, you may receive a high-cost area supplement of between 5% and 20% of your basic salary.

Salary levels for biomedical scientists working for private companies, universities, government bodies and other organisations may vary.

Income data for NHS salaries from pay bands agreed under the Agenda for change pay rates.

Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

If you're employed by the NHS, you'll generally work a standard 37.5 hour week. A flexible approach to work is essential to cover day, evening, night and weekend working.

Some opportunities exist for part-time work or job sharing. Self-employment is unlikely as it's rarely possible to set up an independent laboratory.

What to expect

• Work is usually carried out in a laboratory using computers and hi-tech automated lab equipment.
• You'll work as part of a team that includes healthcare science staff, doctors (particularly those specialising in pathology) and nurses.
• Vacancies are available across the UK in hospitals and private sector laboratories.
• It's also possible to follow a career in research or forensic science.
• Although you won't usually need to travel during the working day or spend time away from home, travel between sites may be necessary.

Qualifications

You'll need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to work as a biomedical scientist in the UK. There are four main routes, but all require in-house training, such as in a clinical laboratory, and completion of the IBMS Registration Portfolio.

Route 1

Complete a BSc (Hons) degree in biomedical science accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) or approved by the HCPC.

IBMS-accredited undergraduate biomedical science degrees are offered by universities on a full-time, part-time, sandwich and integrated basis.

Integrated degrees will include a laboratory placement in an IBMS-approved laboratory, during which you'll complete the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio. On successful completion of your degree, you will be awarded an IBMS Certificate of Competence to show you're eligible to apply to the HCPC for registration as a biomedical scientist.

If your IBMS-accredited degree doesn't have an integrated placement, you'll need to arrange a laboratory placement and complete the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio either during a sandwich year or once you've finished your degree.

You can find a list of accredited degrees at IBMS.

Route 2

An IBMS non-accredited degree plus 'top up' modules. These modules can either be completed in-person or online. The IBMS will be able to advise which ones you need to complete, and the list will be valid for five years. You could complete the additional modules while working as a biomedical support worker. Furthermore, you could complete the IBMS Certificate of Competency portfolio while undertaking the 'top-up' modules.

Route 3

Take a BSc (Hons) degree in healthcare science (life sciences) through the NHS Practitioner Training Programme (PTP), which must be accredited by the IBMS or approved by the HCPC if you want to be eligible to apply for registration as a biomedical scientist when you graduate.

 The degree takes three years, full time, and combines academic and work-based learning. Completion of the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio is integral to this programme.

 Subjects on the PTP include:

• cardiac, critical care, vascular, respiratory and sleep sciences
• clinical engineering
• life sciences
• medical physics
• neurosensory sciences

Route 4

If you're already working in an NHS pathology department and have A-levels or equivalent that include a life science, your employer may support you to complete an accredited degree. This will be on a part-time basis or as part of an IBMS-accredited degree apprenticeship. This is a salaried route that takes three to four years to complete.

Skills

You will need to have:

• practical laboratory skills and manual dexterity
• analytical skills and the ability to interpret and present data in a meaningful way
• communication and teamwork skills
• the ability to work alone or under instruction
• patience and the ability to work accurately and efficiently
• the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
• a willingness to accept responsibility and use common sense
• flexibility and the ability to work with a range of equipment and techniques
• the ability to work under pressure while maintaining standards of service
• attention to detail
• IT skills.

Work experience

It's worth arranging a visit to a local hospital diagnostic/medical laboratory before applying for degree courses to get a feel for the type of work carried out. A placement, internship, or other work experience in a laboratory and evidence of medical interest is useful. Some universities offer summer schools or internships/placements, such as the Imperial Revolutions in Biomedicine Summer School.

Unless you have taken an integrated biomedical sciences degree, you'll need to arrange a laboratory placement and complete the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio. You can do this either during a sandwich year or once you've finished your degree. Many IBMS-accredited courses will offer a placement or sandwich year as part of their degree course.

The NHS advertises pre-registration roles, such as medical laboratory assistant or laboratory technician. Alternatively, you could try to set up your own placement. Other roles might include a biomedical support worker (NHS Bands 2 and 3) and a biomedical scientist associate practitioner (Band 4).

Competition for trainee positions is fierce as there are limited opportunities, so check job adverts regularly and contact hospitals directly. Most hospitals will have an approved training laboratory, although this doesn't automatically mean that they will take on a trainee.

You should check with the employer whether their laboratory is approved for training and if you're able to complete the Registration Training Portfolio as part of the job role.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

The NHS is one of the main employers of biomedical scientists. Work is generally carried out in clinical pathology laboratories and regional laboratories. You could also work for NHS Blood and Transplant or the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), or in pathology and research laboratories in private sector hospitals.

Other employers include:

• Food Standards Agency
• forensic laboratories
• government departments
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• HM armed forces
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• some manufacturing firms, especially those producing pharmaceutical products
• universities
• veterinary services.

There are also opportunities to work on healthcare projects worldwide with international non-governmental and voluntary organisations such as:

• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders

Look for job vacancies at:

• The Biomedical Scientist Jobs
• Careerscene - the biomedical science career network
• New Scientist Jobs
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) - for jobs in the US and worldwide
• NHS Jobs, NHSScotland Jobs, and Jobs.hscni.net - for jobs in N. Ireland

Private healthcare organisations such as Nuffield Health and Spire.

Specialist recruitment agencies such as Globe Locums, Maxxima, Your World and Mediplacements also advertise vacancies.

Professional development

In the first two years after registering with the HCPC, you'll normally continue your professional development by taking the IBMS Specialist Diploma, a specialised professional qualification. The Diploma is offered in a range of disciplines:

• cellular pathology
• clinical biochemistry
• clinical immunology
• cytopathology - not available for new applications as it's been replaced by the separate cervical cytology and diagnostic cytopathology portfolios
• cervical cytology
• diagnostic cytopathology
• haematology with hospital transfusion practice
• histocompatibility and immunogenetics
• medical microbiology
• transfusion science
• virology.

It's also available as a modular, multi-discipline Specialist Diploma in Blood Sciences.

The IBMS Specialist Diploma is assessed through a portfolio of experiential learning and presentation, and a laboratory tour and oral examination. This enables you to demonstrate your training, specialist knowledge, practical skills and competency.

On completion of the IBMS Specialist Diploma or Diploma of Specialist Practice, you're eligible to become a member of the IBMS (MIBMS).

As your career develops, there are opportunities to take IBMS higher and expert qualifications. These are aimed at biomedical scientists looking to move into management or who want to show advanced skills in their specialist area. At the highest level, you can work towards IBMS Advanced Specialist Diplomas. For details of post-registration professional development opportunities, see IBMS Education.

It's also possible to further your knowledge and expertise via an MSc or PhD.

Members with the highest levels of specialist knowledge, achievement and professional standards are eligible to apply for IBMS Fellowship (FIBMS).

With the right combination of experience, knowledge and skills, you may be eligible for registered scientist (RSci) or chartered scientist (CSci) status through the Science Council. For full registration criteria, see the Science Council professional registers.

Career prospects

Opportunities for career development are generally good. There's a set career structure in place in the NHS and you'll need to show you have the required skills, qualifications, experience and knowledge to progress through the pay bands.

Upon qualification, many biomedical scientists choose to specialise in a particular area of biomedical science and progress to senior and specialist roles. To progress to a grade 6 in the NHS, you'll usually need an IBMS Specialist Diploma. Progression to grade 7 usually requires an MSc or the IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma.

With further experience and qualifications, it's possible to reach the top of the profession by becoming a consultant biomedical scientist. For more information, see IBMS Career Pathways.

Senior roles often involve managing a team or department within a laboratory or particular area of service provision, such as health and safety, quality management or service delivery. You may also become involved in advanced specialist scientific work, clinical research or training and education. For information about careers in biomedical research, see The Academy of Medical Sciences.

Some biomedical scientists choose a postgraduate route to other clinical roles, such as endocrinology. Or they may move into health promotion, the commercial sector in product development or scientific sales and marketing. Another option is to move into clinical science (which can be done through the Scientist Training Programme (STP)), and work in a role in which you can directly advise on patient care.