Hospital Lab Technician 1

UCSF•San Francisco, CA

1d•$42 - $52•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves receiving, labeling, and processing specimens in the Clinical Laboratories. Key responsibilities include inputting patient data into computer systems, handling telephone inquiries about tests and results, and accessioning specimens. The technician will also maintain, troubleshoot, and operate the Total Lab Automation (TLA) system and monitor the TUG sample delivery system. The position requires efficient and accurate performance of all tasks without supervision to ensure good patient care.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and two years of laboratory experience OR two years of college including courses in the natural, physical, or social sciences, and one year of laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Must speak and write clearly and be readily understood to permit accurate transmission of laboratory data, messages, etc.
Must be able to communicate effectively with physicians, requesting departments, and other staff.
Must be able to work well under pressure.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of a clinical lab setting and medical terminology preferred.
Typing and computer experience preferred.
Valid California Phlebotomy CPT license preferred.

Responsibilities

Greet individuals bringing specimens to the lab.
Input patient data into computer systems like Sunquest.
Process work in a specific order: STATs, Process Immediately, Routine Racks, Urine and Body Fluids, Research/Budget.
Receive and sort STAT, pre-op, or routine specimens from internal and external sources.
Check for proper patient identification on specimens and requisitions, and verify clear test requests.
Obtain and verify information and specimen collection requirements from the Laboratory Manual, consulting supervisors or technologists when necessary.
Resolve discrepancies or labeling problems via telephone, involving laboratory Medicine sections or Residents as appropriate.
Place blood samples and requisitions in racks for computer entry and labeling, setting aside specimens requiring special processing.
Process specimens from outside institutions only if accompanied by proper authorization.
Label specimens with appropriate computer-generated labels, being mindful of the risk of incorrect labeling.
Prepare pour-off vials for aliquoting as necessary.
Verify correct computer entry of tests by checking orders on labels against requisitions.
Flag specimens to analytical sections to facilitate sharing of specimens when sample volume is limited.
Initial requisition upon completion of labeling.
Centrifuge specimens and separate cells and/or plasma where appropriate, operating equipment properly and safely.
Add buffers or preservatives to samples or carry out other special processing as required.
Aliquot the correct amounts of specimens into appropriate containers for testing.
Determine if the amount and quality of the specimen meet testing requirements, communicating issues to nursing units, physicians’ offices, or referring laboratories.
Store specimens according to computer labels to maintain sample integrity.
Package specimens for send-out to Referral laboratories.
File requisitions in the bin for scanning.
Verify urine labels against requisitions to detect entry errors.
Check that the proper preservative was added to urine collections.
Measure all timed urine collections and perform quality control checks on electronic scales.
Aliquot urines into proper tubes or containers.
Handle urine specimens as directed by lab manual instructions.
Write Urine Volume and Hours of Collection on the Urine Volume worksheet.
Review Volume/Hrs of Collection on worksheet for daily discard specimens.
Resolve problems arising from improper handling of urine specimens.
Sort STAT specimens with labels and transport them to the appropriate testing sections, verifying test orders against requisitions.
Communicate non-technical information accurately, clearly, professionally, and courteously.
Answer telephone extensions in the work area in a timely manner.
Process test sent out to a Referral Laboratory, packaging specimens according to instructions.
Use basic computer functions (Sunquest GUI Order Entry, General Lab, Smart and Laboratory Inquiry) to retrieve patient data and resolve specimen identification problems.
Process specimens when the computer system is not functioning, following instructions in the written internal crash plan.
Perform additional duties or projects as assigned.
Function as a “Track Master” operator of the automation track system, sorting samples and identifying correct labeling format before loading.
Identify and handle QNS (Quantity Not Sufficient) and blood bank sample tubes appropriately.
Investigate and troubleshoot samples that have download issues or go to error lanes.
Send samples for archiving to the storage module and pull samples from the storage module.
Identify automation track system errors, call vendor support, and troubleshoot track issues.
Fill out automation track problem forms and perform software/hardware reboots for troubleshooting.
Follow manual procedures for pulling samples from the storage system if the storage module is not operational.
Perform automation track storage temperature checks and daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance.
Ensure the PTS (Pneumatic Tube System) bin is not full and consistently unload PTS tube carriers.
Inspect samples from PTS tube carriers to be loaded to the automation track input lanes or BIM.
Separate samples with paper order requisitions for manual receiving.
Continuously monitor, operate, and troubleshoot the TUG robot delivery system throughout the shift.
Recover the TUG robot if it gets stuck and call TUG vendor hotline for troubleshooting assistance.
Communicate with nursing units if the TUG is non-operational.
Credit tests without results and add credit reasons.
Properly fill out problem report forms for mislabeled or unlabeled specimens.
Process Add-On test requests within specified timeframes.
Log refrigerator, freezer, and heating block temperatures daily and notify lead or supervisor of any issues.
Review test on the problem template and locate specimens or endorse unresolved issues to the next shift.
Monitor un-received DPL (Daily Patient Log) within the shift.