Position: Laboratory Assistant – Tuberculosis
Location: Patna, Bihar
Overview:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.
CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.
At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skillsets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with majority of our staff based in program countries.
WJCF is an Indian not-for-profit entity, registered under Section 8 of the Indian Companies Act 2013, and has an affiliation agreement with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). Our miassion is to save lives and improve health outcomes in the country by enabling the government and private sector to strengthen and sustain quality health systems. WJCF has partnered with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and state health departments since 2007, providing technical and operational support across key health priorities, including infectious diseases (COVID-19, hepatitis, HIV, TB, vector-borne diseases), non-communicable diseases (cervical cancer, diabetes, sickle cell disease), maternal and child health (anaemia, immunisation, diarrhoea, pneumonia), sexual and reproductive health, health insurance and digital health (AB PM-JAY, ABDM), oxygen and hypoxemia management, safe drinking water, and climate and health.
Program Overview:
The World Health Organization estimated that 10.7 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) in 2024 and 1.23 million died from it. India accounted for the highest proportion of TB burden of any country, with 25% of the global cases, and 25% of death caused by TB. The National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), headed by the Central TB Division (CTD), MoHFW, is an expansive public health program with the ambitious goal of ending TB in line with the mandate of the Sustainable Development Goals.
WJCF has been supporting the CTD and state health departments of more than 15 states in the mission to end TB. WJCF’s TB program has been operational since 2012, and its interventions address several program areas, including preventive therapies, case detection, access to diagnostics, engagement of the private sector, and more. It also lends technical support to Governments across a range of themes- strategic planning, data analytics, monitoring and evaluation, patient management and delivery of services.
Project Background:
The Central TB Division (CTD) has an ambitious TB Elimination goal and is scaling up case finding and adoption of molecular testing for all presumptive TB cases. WJCF aims to support CTD’s efforts by augmenting their efforts in active case finding, designing optimal strategies for case finding efforts, and assessing the use of technology and novel diagnostic products in India’s public and private health delivery systems.
Open PCR for TB detection potentially enables redeployment and optimal utilization of the RT PCR infrastructure developed during COVID -19 pandemic. Recently, RT- PCR kits, which can be used for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in sputum, using Real – Time PCR system, have been validated by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), licensed by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and recommended for programmatic use by the National Technical Expert Group (NTEG).
The current project aims to evaluate performance of RT-PCR test kits for TB testing through open PCR equipment, in real-world field settings. Further, the project aims to identify operational challenges and gather feedback from laboratory staff and clinicians to assess any added value of open RT-PCR kits in complementing existing co-located NAAT platforms.
The key objective of the exercise to demonstrate utility of open RT-PCR kits for TB detection among asymptomatic TB in patients presenting with an abnormal Chest X-Ray (CXR).
Position Summary:
The Laboratory Assistant would work under the supervision of the senior laboratory technician and reports to the Laboratory In-Charge / Microbiologist. They would support the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of molecular testing and assist senior technicians in sample processing. Further, the Laboratory Assistant would ensure that the laboratory environment remains sterile and operational.
This position requires a highly motivated individual with strong technical skills, who is comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with senior laboratory personnel in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Responsibilities:
- Sample Management: Assist in sample receipt, opening sample boxes, matching samples with annexure, triple-layer packaging, labelling of clinical specimens, autoclaving annexures and maintaining laboratory register.
- Pre-Analytical Support: Prepare reagents, buffers, and master mixes under the supervision of a Microbiologist or Senior Technician.
- Equipment Maintenance: Perform daily cleaning and ensure periodic calibration of essential equipment such as micro-pipettes, centrifuges, and thermal cyclers.
- Sterilization & Biosafety: Maintain stringent Infection Prevention and Control standards, including the decontamination of work surfaces to prevent cross-contamination of DNA/RNA.
- Waste Management: Segregate bio medical wastes using color-coded bags according to policy.
- Data Entry: Facilitate accurate data entry of test results into Registers, Laboratory Information Management Systems and Ni-kshay.
- Inventory Control: Monitor the stock of consumables (tips, tubes, PPE etc.,) and reagents to ensure uninterrupted testing.
- Support the development of presentations and reports for the dissemination of information among partners, donors, and stakeholders.
- Undertake other responsibilities as needed
Qualifications:
- Diploma or Bachelors in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT/BMLT) or a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences/Biotechnology with at least 2-years of experience in RT-PCR facilities.
- Understanding of RT-PCR workflows and aseptic techniques.
- Pay high attention to detail to prevent sample mix-ups and strong adherence to quality assurance standards.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Hindi.
- Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across diverse and multi-cultural stakeholder groups.
- Experience with TB diagnostic tools (GeneXpert, smear microscopy, culture) preferred
- Familiarity with NABL accreditation standards preferred
Note: This will be on 3rd party payroll