clinical biochemist (chemistry)

Clinical biochemists carry out complex analytical work. They analyse and interpret data relating to patients' samples to assist with the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Clinical biochemists work with other heath professionals, such as biomedical scientists, to detect changes in the complex biochemistry of body fluids, for example, increases in glucose levels in diabetes mellitus.
They develop and implement new techniques, interpret results and liaise with and advise clinical staff. They are responsible for the evaluation and quality assessment of diagnostic tests and play a role in developing and managing hospital and community analytical services.

Typical work activities

A typical laboratory processes several thousand samples per day. Of these, a few hundred results will be abnormal and need to be scrutinised by a clinical biochemist. Other work activities include:

• planning and organising work in clinical biochemistry laboratories, much of which is automated and computer assisted;
• performing clinical validation: checking abnormal results identified by automated analysers and deciding if further tests are necessary;
• carrying out complex biochemical analyses on specimens of body fluids and tissues, using spectrophotometry, mass spectroscopy, high performance chromatography, electrophoresis, immunoassay and, increasingly, molecular biological techniques;
• auditing the use and diagnostic performance of tests, as part of national and international quality assurance programmes;
• identifying the cause of and resolving any poor analytical performance problems;
• searching scientific literature for evidence of specificity and sensitivity of a diagnostic test;
• devising and conducting basic or applied research;
• writing reports, submitting funding bids and conducting research with clinical staff;
• liaising with clinical and technical staff, and contacting patients;
• training staff, reviewing the need for staff training, supervising MSc students, and giving lectures to medical undergraduates;
• attending and contributing to local and national scientific meetings and conferences;
• managing a clinical biochemical laboratory as career progresses.

• Starting salaries for pre-registration trainees (Band 6) are from £25,472.
• Salaries for post-registration trainees (Band 7) are from £30,460.
• Consultant Clinical Scientist posts (Bands 8C- 9) can command a salary starting from £54,454.
• Progression to consultant positions is not automatic and the seniority of these posts means that the number of available positions at this level is quite low.
• In addition to the salaries stated above, those working in London and the surrounding areas may expect to receive a High Cost Area Supplement of between 5% and 20% of basic salary (subject to minimum and maximum payments), depending upon their exact work location.
• It is possible to work part time following successful completion of training.
• The clinical biochemistry service is made up of medical staff, clinical scientists, biomedical scientists (BMS) and medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) working together as a team. BMS staff conduct the majority of the routine analytical work, with the support of MLAs. For details of careers as a biomedical scientist see biomedical scientist or contact the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) .
• There is a demand for late evenings and out-of-hours consultative work in addition to shift and weekend work to cover an extended working day, seven days per week.
• Self-employment or freelance work is unlikely.
• Career breaks are supported in the National Health Service (NHS) (see NHS Careers ), but clinical scientists must keep up to date with technological developments during any breaks and would require a period of retraining on returning to work to fulfil state registration requirements.
• Jobs are available in most areas but mainly in medium-sized or larger hospitals in urban areas. During training, there is an opportunity to experience working in a variety of different hospital laboratories. Relocation is frequently necessary for career progression.
• There is much variety with the choice of research and development (R&D) projects available, plus the satisfaction of contributing to patient care. However, coping with changes in the NHS can be stressful and workload has increased significantly in recent years.
• Travel at a local level is more common as laboratories merge. Absence from home at night and overseas travel are uncommon.