CLS/MT CORE

LCMC Health•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist performs clinical laboratory testing and evaluates and reports data to help identify and understand health problems and diseases. The role takes a detailed approach to processing blood and body fluid specimens and maintaining accurate patient identification, testing, documentation, and results. It includes routine laboratory and blood bank procedures, specimen processing, quality control, instrument operation and maintenance, and support for bone marrow aspirations. The position works in accordance with laboratory safety, infection control, and quality policies and may assist with orientation of other laboratory personnel.

Requirements

Clinical Lab Generalist licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners as CLG or CLS.

Responsibilities

Assess specimens received by the laboratory for acceptability, prepare or change reagents and controls as necessary, and record these activities in logs.
Label, accession, and distribute specimens while maintaining patient identification integrity, and inoculate specimens from all body areas on appropriate media.
Initiate orders for blood and blood components from the appropriate blood supplier.
Follow hospital and laboratory safety and infection control policies, and report variances to section supervisors.
Determine when manual methods, micro-methods, or backup procedures are appropriate and initiate them.
Compare patient results with previous results from the same encounter, investigate discrepancies, and report results within established turnaround times after verifying documentation.
Prepare and interpret Gram stains and other wet and dry preparations for bacteriology and parasitology.
Perform routine procedures including ABO/Rh typing and retesting, antibody detection and identification, compatibility testing, and serology procedures.
Prepare blood components using aseptic technique and proper storage.
Evaluate serological reactivity to assist with antibody identification and crossmatch incompatibilities.
Follow universal precautions when handling blood or body fluids and disinfect countertops at the end of the shift.
Operate, calibrate, perform checks on, and maintain clinical laboratory instruments and equipment after orientation; troubleshoot basic malfunctions and document actions.
Determine when to contact an instrument service representative for assistance.
Analyze quality control material, record values according to section policy, and report results outside established limits to the technical supervisor.
Perform precision, accuracy, and linearity comparison studies on new or existing procedures; record proficiency surveys and route forms and reagent quality control as specified in quality control manuals.
Assist with clinical orientation of new or less skilled laboratory personnel as requested by the section supervisor.
Package and dispose of waste chemicals appropriately and maintain documentation of generated waste.
Enter orders or results manually or electronically and review information for accuracy before verification.
Document critical call value notification, duplicate checking, performance date and time, technologist initials, and expected age-related normal values on downtime reports as appropriate.
Check assigned instruments and benches for reagent and supply levels, replenish supplies, notify the appropriate person of low or unacceptable inventory, document receipt and use dates and expiration details, and maintain adequate inventory for incoming shifts.
Receive tissue specimens from surgery, autopsy, and nursing floors; process and preserve tissue specimens properly; and follow proper storage and preservation procedures for other non-core laboratory specimens.
Prepare reagents and collection supplies for bone marrow aspirations according to physician orders, assist physicians in obtaining bone marrow specimens, and perform special stains and protocols as appropriate.