LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Job Description

General Laboratory Requirements:

Specimen Procurement:

Obtain quality blood specimens via venipuncture and fingerstick.

Collect the correct amount of blood for tests needing whole blood or plasma.

Document specimen conditions (e.g., icteric, lipemic, hemolysis).

Collect blood specimens at designated times per policy.

Collect and instruct patients on urinalysis specimens (e.g., clean catch, 24-hour urine).

Collect and prepare various specimens (e.g., body fluids, throat cultures, pap smears) and reject as necessary.

Collect employee drug testing specimens and complete paperwork correctly.

Perform DOT drug testing and enter charges into CPSI.

Conduct drug testing for outside agencies.

Perform DOT breath alcohol testing per guidelines.

Equipment/Maintenance and Troubleshooting:

Recognize instrument malfunctions.

Perform and document maintenance (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) as specified.

Supply Use and Inventory Control:

Use in-date reagents, calibrators, controls, test kits, and document opening details.

Report low volume supplies to supervisor.

Communication:

Attend laboratory meetings as required.

Check email for messages at least once per shift.

Safety:

Wear lab coat, gloves, face shield, and other protective gear as required.

Dispose of biological waste properly.

Do not recap used needles.

Dispose of sharps in designated containers without overfilling.

Be aware of surroundings and take safety measures (e.g., patient bed rails, moving patients, fall risks).

Clean and declutter work area for the next shift.

Follow the laboratory and facility safety plan.

Quality Control and Test Calibration:

Analyze and record control results daily.

Document corrective actions when controls are out-of-range.

Identify instrument messages that require test repeats.

Calibrate instruments as needed.

Perform correlation studies or parallel testing as needed.

Record control ranges in CPSI.

Perform equivalent quality control as needed.

Level of Responsibility:

Reports to work on time and has good attendance.

Responds to on-call duties promptly.

Follows the dress code.

Starts and finishes work tasks efficiently.

Adheres to lunch and break guidelines.

Accepts and implements management's suggestions positively.

Follows lab and facility policies.

Completes competency and educational assignments on time.

Submits license on time.

Works well with lab staff.

Logs specimens and reports correctly.

Chemistry Department:

General Chemistry: Routine and urgent testing, calibrate tests, and run controls (Ortho 250).

TDM/Immunology: Routine and urgent testing, calibrate tests, and run controls (Siemens Immulite).

Back-up Chemistry: Testing as needed when main instruments are down, using quality samples (Piccolo).

Back-up Chemistry & Blood Gas Testing: Testing as needed with quality samples when main instruments are down (I-stat).

Blood Gas Testing: Perform tests and quality control checks as needed (Osmetech).

Point of Care Glucose Testing: Perform glucose tests, calibrate, and run quality controls (Surestep).

Proficiency Testing: Treat proficiency test specimens as patient samples, log samples, perform QC, complete worksheets, and sign attestation (Chemistry/TDM).

DCA 2000: Perform Hgb A1C tests, run controls, calibrate with new lots, and document repeat tests.

Competency Testing: Perform and score well on competency tests.

Documentation: Record lot numbers and expiration dates on QC logs.

CA-500 Coagulation Analyzer: Perform coagulation tests, calibrate, run quality controls, and report results when controls are in range.

System Issues: Recognize and correct issues with the CA-500.

Critical Values: Repeat coagulation tests and report critical values (Dade CA-500).

INR/RATIO: Perform and report tests according to policy.

Bleeding Time: Perform tests using good technique.

Proficiency Testing for Coagulation: Perform and score well on proficiency tests.

Quality Assurance Plan:

Participate in the department's quality assurance plan by submitting data and reporting events.

Perform proficiency testing, treat PT specimens like patient samples, complete preparation sheets and attestation statements, and submit results on time.

Recognize and report system or analyzer issues to the supervisor.

Have work reviewed or consult the supervisor as needed.

Hematology Department:

Pentra Hematology Analyzer: Performs CBC tests, calibrates, runs controls, and does manual differential testing.

Abnormal Morphology: Identifies abnormal differentials and consults supervisor or refers slides.

Manual Sed Rate: Performs sed rate tests, calibrates, and times tests correctly.

Specimen Handling: Follows policies for accepting and rejecting specimens.

Quality Control: Adheres to quality control guidelines and maintains records.

Documentation: Records lot numbers and expiration dates on logs.

Maintenance: Performs instrument maintenance as needed.

System Issues: Recognizes and corrects instrument problems.

Reporting: Reports tests within quality control limits.

Competency Testing: Completes assigned competency tests with acceptable scores.

Proficiency Testing: Tests proficiency samples and maintains acceptable scores.

Urinalysis:

Perform urinalysis tests with proper technique on quality specimens.

Calibrate the instrument daily and perform quality control checks (Clinitek 100/50).

Perform maintenance and document it (Clinitek 100/50).

Use microscopes for microscopic testing with quality control and follow criteria for specimen culture.

Perform dilution, manual back-up testing, and manual specific gravity testing as needed.

Document lot numbers and expiration dates on calibration and control logs.

Recognize and correct instrument issues.

Complete competency tests with acceptable scores.

Test proficiency samples and maintain acceptable scores.

Serology:

Perform serology tests according to policy, including observing and recording controls, kit lot numbers, expiration dates, and performing parallel testing.

Conduct serum pregnancy testing.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to stand and/or sit for long periods of time

Visual activity must be unimpaired. Color differential is required.

Equipment operation requires manual dexterity

Must be able to lift or pull 25 pounds.

Full-time