Daily Lab Checklist
Creating and sticking to a daily lab checklist isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Having a structured system keeps you on track from specimen handling to instrument maintenance, reduces errors, and improves overall efficiency.
Each day in the lab brings a mix of routine and urgency. Unexpected STAT samples, analyzer alerts, or reagent shortages can easily throw your workflow off balance. However, when you follow a well-structured checklist, you gain a visual roadmap of your responsibilities and a way to prioritize tasks without missing critical steps. A daily lab checklist ensures consistency, especially during shift changes or when working with multiple team members across departments.
Additionally, a daily lab checklist brings mental clarity. Knowing what needs to be done and checking it off as you go minimizes distractions and increases your focus. In turn, this leads to fewer errors, better time management, and a calmer, more productive environment.
Being organized is essential to succeeding in the lab, regardless of your level of experience as a medical technologist or your level of preparation for certification. Using a personalized daily lab checklist can help you remain productive, compliant, and prepared for any situation that may arise during your shift.
1. Start-of-Shift Tasks
🕐 Clock in and review lab announcements or handovers from the previous shift
📋 Check and document refrigerator, freezer, and incubator temperatures
⚙️ Perform daily instrument start-up and calibration (if required)
🧪 Run and verify quality control (QC) for all analyzers
📦 Inspect reagent levels and expiry dates; restock if necessary
🧼 Clean and disinfect work surfaces and biosafety cabinets
🧾 Review pending tests and STAT list from LIS (Laboratory Information System
2. Mid-Shift Tasks
🧫 Monitor and log test turn-around time (TAT)
🧷 Verify sample labeling, integrity, and volume before processing
🧬 Perform manual or automated testing according to SOPs
📊 Record results and validate abnormal findings as needed
📤 Communicate critical values to authorized personnel promptly
🔁 Replenish supplies (e.g., pipette tips, gloves, reagents) as needed
📥 Check LIS inbox for new orders or updated instructions
3. End-of-Shift Tasks
🔒 Save and backup data from instruments (if required)
📃 Finalize test results and release in LIS
🧴 Perform end-of-day instrument cleaning and shutdown
📦 Dispose of biological waste following biosafety protocols
📑 Complete documentation logs (QC, maintenance, etc.)
🔄 Relay important updates or pending tasks to the next shift
📝 Bonus Tips:
Laminate your checklist for easy marking with a whiteboard pen
Use digital checklists if your lab allows
Customize your checklist based on department (e.g., hematology, microbiology, blood bank)
