Medical Laboratory Assistant

Position Status:

Full time

Shift:

Second Shift (Evenings - Less than 12 hours per shift) (United States of America)

Hours per week:

40

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