Intermediate Laboratory Assistant

Christie Clinic's department of Laboratory is seeking a full-time Intermediate Lab Assistant at the University clinic in Champaign with varied hours between Monday-Friday with occasional Saturdays. This position may require occasional travel to other clinics to support the laboratory department.

Perform moderate complexity testing as defined by CLIA roles. Collaborate with caregivers across the organization to ensure they have critical information needed to provide excellent patient care.

JOB DUTIES: (This list may not include all of the duties assigned.)

• Demonstrates technical skills in the pre-analytical, analytical, and post analytical phases of the testing process.
• Determines acceptability of specimens within guidelines.
• Correctly identify patients through all phases of testing,
• Ensure proper storage of all patient sample, reagents, and laboratory inventory.
• Prepares reagents / standards / calibrators correctly and ensures they are dated & in sufficient quantity.
• Performs and document daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual, and as needed maintenance activities according to manufacturer's recommendation.
• Recognizes specimens that do not meet the requirement for testing and follows specimen rejection process.
• Recognizes appropriate selections of test orders; can assist in making recommendations for proper test order.
• Selects appropriate culture media, incubation temperatures and atmosphere for microbiology cultures. Streaks plates with good standard isolation technique or for quantification (colony counts).
• Organizes and prioritizes work for optimum turnaround time.
• Observes safety guidelines.
• Recognizes appropriate selection of test orders
• Performs test procedures with care and accuracy.
• Performs proficiency testing successfully within assigned time.
• Displays knowledge by correlating test results to disease states and resolving problems with methodologies and/or instrumentation.
• Ensures quality of work by performing QC at required intervals, performing calibrations, and investigating cause of out-of-control QC and resolves before testing is resumed. Ensures that QC is tested and documented at frequencies mandated by manufacturers and regulatory agencies.
• Ensures timeliness of testing by organizing work for minimal turnaround time, performing work in careful manner to minimize repeat testing and turnaround time, referring testing to alternate sites if in-place systems are not operable.
• Demonstrates skills in the post analytical phase of the testing process. Recognizes implausible results, unusual tests reactions, errors, and instrument malfunctions and is able to investigate & problem solve.
• Enters data results properly & carefully, including required notification & documentation.
• Reviews data entry for correctness prior to verifying results to minimize errors.
• Use pending logs to assess completion of testing to improve turnaround time.
• Uses computer functions to access information necessary for resulting out data and/or giving out results to customers.
• Addresses unresolved method & equipment problems by utilizing manufacturer resources such as hot lines or operating manual to assist in problem solving.
• Communicates all information necessary to coworkers to ensure completion of testing process or problem resolution.
• Participates in support activities necessary to insure a smooth and efficiently run operation.
•  Contributes ideas and assists in implementing changes to insure cost-effective operation of the department.
• Calibrates pipettes, takes temperatures, dates all kits, QC, reagents in use, dates and restocks reagents and supplies, washes pipettes a
• Perform related work as required.
• Potential for travel to other lab locations.  Mileage will be reimbursed after employee submits to supervisor. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Bachelor's or Associates Degree in in Science in Chemical, Physical, Biological, Clinical Laboratory Science or Medical Technology.

AND

60 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited institution that, at a minimum, includes either 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses, OR 24 semester hours of science courses that include six semester hours of chemistry, six semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination: OR Laboratory training including either completion of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by the ABHES, NAACLS, or other organization approved by HHS (note that this training may be included in the 60 semester hours listed above), or Successfully completed an official U.S. military medical laboratory procedures training course of at least 50 weeks duration and currently hold the military enlisted occupational specialty of medical laboratory specialist (laboratory technician).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1 year laboratory experience

CERTIFICATE/LICENSE: 

None

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Demands include sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, stretching and lifting up to 25 pounds.  Other requirements include visual acuity and normal color perception.  Hearing within, or correctable to, normal range, vision correctable to 20/20 and manual dexterity for the operation of office equipment is required.  Proofreading documents, closely examining documents and closely examining specimens is mandatory and therefore requires vision correctness.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in a laboratory setting and requires frequent exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment.  Requirements may include working irregular hours.

PAY AND BENEFITS:

The estimated pay range for this position is exclusive of fringe benefits and potential bonuses. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications, and other job-related criteria. 

We also offer a substantial benefits package, including:

• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, Personal, Holiday, Birthday)

• Dependent Care Flexible Spending