Job Description
Overview:
Performs a variable number of tasks pertaining to pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical process for waived and moderately complex procedures on body fluids and tissue to detect and measure components of health or disease. Under the supervision of a CLS or CLT the incumbent ensures that accurate results are reported in a timely manner to aid the physician in the prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the patient.
Responsibilities:
Demonstrates technical skills in the pre-analytical phase of the testing process.
- Follows age specific care guidelines in collecting specimens from the various age categories of neonate, child, adolescent, adult and elderly.
- Collects specimens using the proper procedures & protocols.
- Observes principles of phlebotomy.
- Answers the phone readily and in a friendly, welcoming manner.
- Assists customers willingly at the Receiving Desk.
- Receives in specimens from ED, Outpatient areas and Nursing floors expeditiously and prioritizes work for optimum turnaround time.
- Matches barcode label with proper specimen upon receipt of specimen, ALWAYS checking two patient identifiers (Name and DOB).
- Always includes initials when labeling ANY specimen.
- Sorts specimens by testing site/analyzer and delivers to correct location.
- Receives and distributes specimens according to highest priority (i.e. ED, STAT, TS, Routine)
- Performs basic troubleshooting and maintenance on label printers.
- Informs Lab IT staff when a printer is not working appropriately.
- Locates and retrieves specimens in storage for additional testing.
- Determines acceptability of specimens within guidelines.
- Follows protocol in labeling pour-offs. .
- Stores specimens under appropriate conditions as quickly as possible.
- Prepares reagents / standards / calibrators correctly and ensures they are dated & of sufficient quantity.
- Recognizes inappropriate specimens; rejects.
- Assigns complete and accurate source with microbiology specimens; logs specimens into microbiology with correct date and time.
- Selects appropriate culture media, incubation temps and atmosphere for microbiology cultures.
- Organizes and prioritizes work for optimum turnaround time.
- Observes safety guidelines.
- Streaks plates with good standard isolation technique or for quantification (colony counts).
- Recognizes appropriate selection of test orders.
- Performs processing/ordering functions correctly using the Lab Information System
- Assists in referral services as needed
- Loads specimens on instruments as appropriate.
Demonstrates skills in the analytical phase of testing process.
- Follows testing protocols.
- Performs waived and moderately complex test procedures with care and accuracy.
- Makes dilutions accurately; calculates correctly.
- Selects appropriate culture media, incubation temp, and atmosphere for microbiology cultures
- Performs proficiency testing successfully.
- Ensures quality of work by performing QC at required intervals, performing calibrations and footnoting QC following calibration, investigating cause of out-of-control QC and resolves before testing is resumed. Ensures that outdated materials (kits, QC, or reagents) are not used; uses oldest outdate first.
- 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.
- Delivers blood at the Methodist Campus accurately to the floors. Refers all bedside typing to CLT/CLS.
Demonstrates skills in the post analytical phase of the testing process.
- Refers all questionable results to a CLS or CLT to direct further action.
- Enters data/results properly and carefully, including required notification and documentation.
- Reviews data entry before resulting to minimize clerical errors.
- Uses computer functions to access information necessary for resulting out data and/or giving out results to customers.
- Troubleshoots instrumentation independently and with the vendor.
- Addresses unresolved equipment problems to CLS or CLT.
- Returns proficiency testing results completely and in a timely manner.
- Communicates all information necessary to subsequent shifts for completion of testing process or problem resolution.
Participates in support activities necessary to ensure a smooth and efficiently run operation.
- Supports same shift co-workers by assisting in department support activities: calibrates pipettes, takes temperatures, dates all kits, QC, reagents in use, dates and restocks reagents and supplies, washes pipettes & glassware, empties red-bagged garbage, unpacks boxes from receiving and documents receipt, alerts appropriate person if inventory is low.
- Cleans and maintains instruments, refrigerators, freezers and work and storage areas.
- Displays a willingness and interest in learning new instruments or procedures or in cross training into other areas where testing by CLA is allowed.
- Generates electronic messages and completes data sheets using computer capabilities. Provides support for other laboratory sections where possible and helps to maintain lounge areas used in all sections.
- Assists blood bank as needed, delivers blood at the Methodist Campus.
- Resolves problems assigned by technical staff and reports solutions in a timely manner.
Qualifications:
License/Certifications: Education: Other Knowledge/Skills:
Job Tags
Temporary work, Relief, Shift work,