The efforts made during each wave of the Covid-19 epidemic will not have been in vain. Alongside preparers in hospital pharmacies and dietitians, paramedical medical laboratory technicians are integrated into category A, according to the decree n° 2022-625 of April 22, 2022.
A long-awaited recognition because of their significant contribution to the realization of Covid tests within the public departmental analysis laboratories (LDA) which employ them. “It’s a real bonus for them, an enhancement of their skills, their work, which involves risks, and their responsibilities”, welcomes Isabelle Martel, director of the LDA of Bouches-du-Rhône (80 agents).
In tune with society
But recognition is restricted to a small part of the workforce of territorial laboratory technicians. Only those who work specifically in medical biology are concerned, whereas, in reality, according to Aurèle Valognes, director of the LDA of Mayenne (50 agents) and president of the French Association of directors and managers of public veterinary analysis laboratories, “the mobilization of all the agents, whatever their category, was necessary for the analyzes of Covid tests by RT-PCR, while continuing to ensure the other activities “.
Veterinary biology, food safety, water quality, phytopathology… the range of fields studied is extensive in these establishments, some of which have come together within public interest groups. According to Isabelle Martel, the LDA of Bouches-du-Rhône, which she heads, is “the only one to do, in addition to this wide range of activities, medical biology, in particular for maternal and child protection, or screening sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis”.
For these reasons, as a territorial laboratory technician, “it is an exciting job, in tune with the aspirations of society on issues of health, the environment and food safety”, believes Eric Gueneau, director of the LDA of Côte-dʼOr (80 officers).
Possible developments
Yann Romera, paramedical technician, graduate of a BTS in bio-analysis and controls, is satisfied to exercise a profession that has become “strategic”, “unequaled weapon once morest the health crisis”, within the LDA of Bouches-du-Rhône. As it is oriented towards food and water microbiology, it also processes samples from bathing sites, colleges, nursing homes, etc.
Despite everything, territorial employers encounter difficulties in recruiting because of competition from private and hospital laboratories, and the constraints of the public service, provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But, according to Aurèle Valognes, the territorial offers a great versatility and possibilities of evolution, towards technician positions “environments and landscapes” or “quality of rivers”.
“I like the variety of tasks to be performed”
Adeline van Rossum, paramedic technician at the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental analysis laboratory (LDA)
“With a DUT in ‘biological and biochemical analyses’, I worked in private laboratories, which offered few possibilities for development, before entering the LDA of Bouches-du-Rhône, in the ‘serology, biochemistry, hematology”. I carry out analyzes of samples – blood, urine – in conjunction with screening centers – for sexually transmitted diseases, cancer of the cervix… – and for maternal and child protection. I like the technical nature of my job and the diversity of the tasks. From the first confinement, we were in great demand for the Covid tests, a little for the samples, especially for the analyses. The health crisis has allowed us to highlight our public service mission. I go to category A, on the first rung. This brings me better recognition of my diploma and an increase in my remuneration. »
