Clinical Lab Assistant II-Full-time Days

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Warrenville, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Lab Assistant II works at the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center in Warrenville and supports laboratory operations and patient care. The role receives and registers specimens in the laboratory information system, processes specimens for testing or transport, distributes them to the appropriate testing area, and enters or retrieves laboratory results. It also performs diagnostic and analytic testing, including waived and/or moderate-complexity testing under the direction of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), and reports results to providers.

The position collaborates with laboratory staff and clinical departments, troubleshoots issues with appropriate support, verifies instruments and test kits, performs quality control and maintenance, and operates laboratory automation systems as appropriate. Department-specific work includes phlebotomy and other specimen collection, microbiology setup and testing preparation, specialty supply management, and assisting with bone marrow or other biopsy processing. The role is full-time, 40 hours per week, on days.

Requirements

• High school diploma.
• At least 1 year of work experience in a general laboratory, specimen processing, or phlebotomy area, or enrollment in a laboratory-related education program.

Nice To Haves

• Phlebotomy certification or training from an accredited school or institution.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with main laboratory staff, ancillary departments, nurses, and providers to support patient care.
• Receive specimens into the laboratory information system and register specimen drop-offs, ensuring accurate data entry.
• Input and retrieve laboratory results in laboratory or hospital computer systems.
• Process specimens for transport to reference laboratories and distribute specimens to the appropriate testing area.
• Identify and resolve problems using appropriate resources and with assistance from a supervisor, manager, pathologist, or coworkers when appropriate.
• Verify the accuracy of instruments and test kits; perform quality control, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Operate and maintain laboratory automation systems as appropriate.
• Perform diagnostic and analytic testing of specimens; interpret, document, and report results to providers.
• Perform waived and/or moderate-complexity testing under the direction of a CLS.
• Ensure appropriate testing is ordered and identify the correct reference laboratory for referred specimens.
• Communicate specimen rejections and critical or notifiable results to appropriate clinical personnel and complete required documentation.
• Review or record refrigerator temperatures and QC/QA records as needed; document concerns in the Corrective Action Log and report maintenance issues for repair.
• Follow up on outstanding orders, including time-sensitive draws and charges.
• Answer laboratory phone calls and route them appropriately; coordinate courier pickups as needed.
• Perform phlebotomy and other laboratory specimen collections according to age-related standards as required.
• Complete required biological transport training and maintain competency; recognize temperature-dependent transport conditions and select the correct packing-list destination.
• Monitor and maintain specialty supplies, including kits, swabs, and collection containers, and distribute them to units.
• Ensure supplies are available and stored at appropriate temperatures.
• Perform microbiology setups or other testing preparation duties.
• Assist with bone marrow and other biopsy processing as needed.
• Pull AP slides for second-opinion requests and log returned material back into Epic.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Loan forgiveness
• 401(k) matching
• A range of benefits intended to support physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED