Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Veterans Health Administration • Spokane, WA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist collects, handles, accessions, labels, evaluates, and prepares specimens for laboratory analysis while following safety, patient identification, and infection control policies. The role performs and monitors manual and automated testing, quality control, equipment calibration and maintenance, and the validity and reporting of laboratory results. It includes blood bank duties such as inspecting and storing blood products and releasing routine and emergency blood and plasma according to standard operating procedures. The scientist also maintains laboratory records, supplies, and reagents; troubleshoots instruments and laboratory computer applications; and communicates urgent abnormal results to physicians.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to VHA eligibility and application requirements. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined after review of the application. The work schedule is noon to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Compressed scheduling is available; telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointment of non-citizens when recruitment of qualified U.S. citizens is not possible under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(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 applicable categorical or specialist ASCP or AMT certification. Categorical and specialist certifications are restricted to relevant laboratory sections or specified non-section-specific assignments.
• Applicants without current certification must meet one of the listed eligibility routes for the MLS certification exam, involving specified bachelor's-level coursework and clinical practice, clinical laboratory experience, or military MLT training and experience.
• Non-certified appointees must actively work toward certification; they may only work under supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL, may only be appointed at entry level, and cannot be promoted or converted until certified. Temporary non-certified appointments may not extend beyond two years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.
• 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 knowledge of clinical laboratory testing policies and procedures, quality control and assurance, and equipment and routine maintenance, plus teamwork, instruction interpretation, and accurate performance of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical testing.
• 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 doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science; demonstrate the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities in laboratory science, quality and performance improvement, informatics and data flow, instrumentation maintenance and troubleshooting, independent result interpretation, complex instructions, and communication with healthcare team members and other contacts.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Selected applicants are subject to background and security investigation, pre-employment drug screening, onboarding, and the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application requirements stated in the announcement and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated under the stated public-interest criteria.

Nice To Haves

• ASCP or AMT certification.

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.
• Release routine and emergency 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 or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols.
• Recognize instrument or test malfunctions, troubleshoot, implement corrections, and maintain records of failures and corrections.
• Conduct quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintain quality control records.
• Participate in the section quality control program and maintain appropriate 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 proper operation using procedures and quality control checks, identify common problems, and make simple repairs; obtain technical service 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 data 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; liaise with technical representatives to correct programming and resolve common problems.
• Maintain appropriate supplies and reagent levels for efficient operation of the assigned section.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval; award amount may be up to $200,000 for 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.

What This Job Offers

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