Laboratory Technician

Job Summary

Responsible for performing clinical laboratory tests in a high specimen volume environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

A Medical Technologist / Lab Technician is responsible for the technical processing of tests and performing the more difficult tests assigned to the department.

Some incumbents of the class perform independent work of a comparable level, including completion of more difficult and complex tests with responsibility for results, re-tests where abnormal or atypical results are obtained, and assisting superiors in specialized development or quality control work.

Emphasis of the work is on daily technical supervision of technicians and laboratory assistants engaged in completion of a volume of diagnostic tests, with assigned responsibility for accuracy of results and administrative control of standardized tests performed by manual or automatic methods within the department.

Work is performed under the general supervision of a professional superior who discusses complex problems arising and evaluates work for professional quality.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ensures accuracy of results.
• Assists employees with work in progress.
• Advises employees on alternate procedures and decides on the advisability of re-tests.
• Supervises completion of department laboratory reports.
• Recommends repair of equipment and instruments and ordering of supplies.
• Completes the more complex tests assigned to the department, requiring lengthy procedures and advanced skills.
• Discusses various unit findings with the General Supervisor
• Personally performs a volume of difficult tests and procedures in the CSS laboratory, including sample preparation, data review, and maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory Instruments.
• Completes specialized tests where procedures are time-consuming, exacting, and requiring considerable interpretation of a technological nature.
• Assists other technologists in the completion of procedures as requested.
• Conducts emergency tests of a complex nature.
• Reviews controls or related automatic equipment such as auto analyzers.
• Assists the Supervisor in the establishment or review of quality control procedures, and in the evaluation of new methods.
• Follow the supervisor’s direction in initiating procedures.
• Discusses results with the superior during progress.
• Maintains quality control records.
• Check reagents.
• Prepares data summarizing results of evaluation tests as directed.
• Responsible for attending all scheduled in-service training provided.
• Performs related work as required.

Identify specific duties related to the following activities:

• Laboratory Duties
• Pre-analytic:Knowledge of the department’s policies and procedures that are implemented for the collection and pre-analytical handling of patient specimens
• Analytic: Knowledge of the requirements for the testing of patient samples, quality control, and reports.
• Post-analytic: Is familiar with testing, transmission, storage, and retention patient results and specimens.
• Administrative or Managerial: Prepare data summaries for supervisor review
• additional essential roles include: excellent leadership, human relations, and communication skills.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

• State of Florida clinical laboratory technician license.
• Must meet CLIA personnel requirements for Testing Personnel performing High Complexity Testing (42 CFR §493.1489):
• Bachelor’s degree in chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science
• -or- Education and training equivalent to CLIA requirements under 42 CFR §493.1489
• Familiarity with laboratory IT systems, Excel, and Word.

Physical Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee must possess manual dexterity and visual acuity.
• The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Some light lifting up to 50 lbs. may be required.On average, the employee will be lifting approximately 25 lbs.
• Must wear appropriate personal protective equipment while working in the laboratory.

Environmental Conditions

Laboratory environment. Occasional harsh chemicals with strong odors may be present.Personal protective equipment and OSHA, CLIA and laboratory policies, procedures and standards must be observed at all times. Safety restrictions are enforced.