Medical Laboratory Assistant

Position Status:

Shift:

Hours per week:

Job Information
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
A Brief Overview
Responsible for supporting the laboratory's technical professionals and technicians in the performance of clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory testing.
Education Qualifications

• High School Diploma / GED Required

Experience Qualifications

• 1 year Phlebotomy or laboratory experience. Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Follows all OSHA guidelines and hospital and laboratory safety procedures. (Required proficiency)
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize work, particularly during busy times. (Required proficiency)
• Ability to read and understand oral and written instructions. (Required proficiency)
• Knowledge of laboratory operations as well as policies and procedures. (Preferred proficiency)
• Ability to follow directions accurately. (Required proficiency)
• Strong attention to detail. (Required proficiency)

What you will do

• Reviews, clarifies and verifies healthcare provider orders for laboratory tests. Orders tests and receives specimens in the electronic health record. Follows protocols for patient and specimen identification.
• Understands the basics of specimen collection and complications that can impact analytical results. Communicates specimen collection information directly to healthcare providers and patients as needed.
• Understands specimen integrity and acceptability of a specimen for testing. Processes specimens according to correct protocol--centrifugation, aliquoting, storage, transport, special handling considerations (time, temperature, and light). Evaluates for proper type and adequate volume of specimen.
• Distributes specimens and/or prepared slides to the appropriate testing personnel/section.
• Acts as a support person for internal and external customers with regards to problem solving. Answers questions regarding test orders and specimen requirements.
• Perform and report results on waived test systems.
• Monitors supplies and inventory for area of responsibility. Cleans and maintains specimen processing and testing benches and equipment.
• Supports testing in assigned departments. May include (1) Preparation, labeling and staining of slides (manually and/or automated); (2) Microbiology set-up/plating; (3) Preparation of reagents, standards and controls; (4) Running analytical instrumentation under the supervision of technical staff; (5) Performing quality control and/or routine maintenance on equipment.
• Alert to sources of error. Determines duplicate and incorrectly ordered tests. Follows procedures for confirmation of frequently misordered tests.
• Package specimens per International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations and facilitates