Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Spokane, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This part-time position performs clinical laboratory testing and related specimen, blood bank, instrument, quality-control, and laboratory information system duties. The employee collects, handles, accessions, labels, and evaluates specimens; prepares specimens while preserving their properties; and instructs Medical Center or CBOC personnel on preliminary procedures in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Users Guide.

The position monitors blood products, including inspecting deliveries, monitoring expiration dates and storage temperatures, checking for contamination or breakage, and releasing routine and emergency-use blood and plasma according to standard operating procedures. It performs and monitors tests using manual and automated methods, troubleshoots malfunctions, maintains equipment and quality-control records, and documents calibration and maintenance for accreditation.

The scientist evaluates the validity of test data, correlates quantitative results with patient information, performs follow-up testing when needed, and promptly reports abnormal results requiring physician attention. The role also generates, edits, and verifies laboratory results in the laboratory computer system, assists with computer application maintenance and problem resolution, and maintains adequate supplies and reagents.

The work schedule is Thursday and Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. A compressed schedule is available. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval; awards may be up to $200,000 for one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change-of-station benefits are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated statutory exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Meet one of the stated certification options: generalist MLS certification from ASCP BOC or AMT; generalist MT certification from ASCP BOR or AMT; or eligible categorical or specialist certification where applicable to the laboratory section or assignment.
• Applicants without current certification must meet one of the specified education, clinical training, and/or clinical laboratory experience routes that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification examination through ASCP BOC or AMT; non-certified applicants may be hired only at entry level under the stated conditions and must actively work toward certification.
• For GS-09, meet either one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade or a master's degree or two academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science; demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-11, meet either one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science; demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Subject to background and security investigation, onboarding, and required pre-employment identification and application documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification for continued employment after that period.
• Certification must be maintained; failure to obtain or maintain required certification may result in removal from duties or separation from employment.

Nice To Haves

• ASCP or AMT certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collect, handle, accession, and label specimens in accordance with safety, patient identification, and infection-control policies.
• Instruct Medical Center or CBOC personnel on preliminary procedures in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Users Guide.
• Evaluate specimen suitability and request a new specimen when the submitted specimen is unusable.
• Prepare specimens for analysis while maintaining their physiological properties.
• Inspect blood products upon arrival; monitor expiration dates and storage temperatures; check for contamination or breakage; and return products before expiration as required.
• Release routine and emergency-use blood and plasma according to standard operating procedures.
• Monitor and replace temperature charts according to policy.
• Select, perform, evaluate, and monitor test procedures using manual and/or automated techniques in accordance with established protocols.
• Recognize indicators of instrument or test malfunction, troubleshoot, and implement corrections; maintain records of failures and corrections.
• Conduct quality-control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintain appropriate quality-control records.
• Participate in the section quality-control program and maintain records in accordance with quality-assurance principles.
• Operate laboratory instruments, including electronic cell counters, discrete chemistry analyzers, discrete urinalysis analyzers, centrifuges, and microscopes.
• Calibrate and maintain equipment, verify correct operation through procedures and quality-control checks, identify causes of common problems, and make simple repairs; seek technical assistance for difficult repairs or malfunctions.
• Document calibrations and maintenance as required for accreditation.
• Evaluate data validity in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures; correlate quantitative results with patient history and medications; and perform additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal results.
• Recognize abnormal results requiring immediate attention and report them directly to the physician.
• Generate laboratory results in the laboratory computer system and edit and verify recorded results.
• Assist with development, maintenance, and modification of computer applications and liaise with technical representatives to resolve programming and other common problems.
• Maintain adequate supplies and reagents for efficient operation of the assigned section.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; award may be up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level