Clinical Lab Scientist (CLS)

Prime Healthcare•Lynwood, CA

About The Position

The Clinical Lab Scientist performs waived, moderate, and highly complex laboratory tests authorized under applicable California law and CLIA. Testing personnel must have skills appropriate to their education, training, experience, and technical abilities. The role performs a wide variety of laboratory procedures, using independent judgment and manual and automated methods across Hematology, Blood Bank, Chemistry, Urinalysis, Coagulation, Microbiology, Immunology, and other disciplines introduced into the laboratory. The scientist may also perform venipuncture or capillary puncture, take on lead technician responsibilities during a shift when a supervisor is absent, and be assigned point-of-care testing responsibilities. The role follows laboratory procedures and quality-control policies, identifies and addresses issues that could affect test performance, maintains instruments and equipment, reviews patient results for accuracy before release, and recognizes age-specific differences in expected results. It also supports proficiency testing, laboratory policy and procedure maintenance, and compliance with department and hospital requirements for safety, infection control, emergency preparedness, and human resources. Other tasks may be assigned by the department manager or director.

Requirements

ASCP certification or equivalent.
Bachelor’s degree in chemical, biological health science, or Medical Laboratory Technology from an accredited institution, or other educational requirements stated in CLIA (42 CFR § 493.1489).
At least one year of post-baccalaureate clinical training as a CLS, or equivalent experience consisting of at least one year performing high-complexity testing in hematology, chemistry, blood bank, and microbiology.
Qualifying experience must demonstrate competency across all primary clinical laboratory disciplines.
Active California Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) license required. Individuals with a limited or specialty California clinical laboratory license may be considered, but may perform and supervise only testing within the scope of their licensed specialty and applicable regulations.

Responsibilities

Perform waived, moderate-complexity, and high-complexity laboratory tests within applicable legal and CLIA requirements.
Follow laboratory procedures for collecting, processing, analyzing, and reporting patient test results.
Follow quality-control policies and document corrective actions when test systems deviate from established performance specifications.
Identify problems that may adversely affect test performance, correct them when possible, or immediately notify the appropriate supervisor or director.
Perform laboratory procedures using independent judgment and manual and automated methods across Hematology, Blood Bank, Chemistry, Urinalysis, Coagulation, Microbiology, Immunology, and other laboratory disciplines as introduced.
Perform and document instrument and equipment maintenance on daily, weekly, monthly, or as-needed schedules, as appropriate.
Review patient results for accuracy before releasing or reporting them.
Recognize age-specific differences in expected results, from newborns through geriatrics.
Test proficiency-testing samples in the same manner as patient samples and avoid collaboration with other laboratories before reporting results to the appropriate agencies.
Perform venipuncture or capillary puncture on patients of various ages when required.
Assist with the development and maintenance of laboratory policies and procedures.
Follow department and hospital policies and procedures related to safety, infection control, emergency preparedness, and human resources.
When a supervisor is absent, may be assigned or identified as Lead Tech and take responsibility for the section or department during the shift.
May be assigned point-of-care testing responsibilities.
Perform other tasks or responsibilities assigned by the department manager or director.