Lab Assistant - Methodist Lab

About the position

Performs a variable number of tasks pertaining to pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical process for waived and moderately complex procedures on body fluids and tissue to detect and measure components of health or disease. Under the supervision of a CLS or CLT, the incumbent ensures that accurate results are reported in a timely manner to aid the physician in the prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the patient.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates technical skills in the pre-analytical phase of the testing process.
• Follows age specific care guidelines in collecting specimens from the various age categories of neonate, child, adolescent, adult and elderly.
• Collects specimens using the proper procedures & protocols.
• Observes principles of phlebotomy.
• Answers the phone readily and in a friendly, welcoming manner.
• Assists customers willingly at the Receiving Desk.
• Receives in specimens from ED, Outpatient areas and Nursing floors expeditiously and prioritizes work for optimum turnaround time.
• Matches barcode label with proper specimen upon receipt of specimen, ALWAYS checking two patient identifiers (Name and DOB).
• Always includes initials when labeling ANY specimen.
• Sorts specimens by testing site/analyzer and delivers to correct location.
• Receives and distributes specimens according to highest priority (i.e. ED, STAT, TS, Routine).
• Performs basic troubleshooting and maintenance on label printers.
• Informs Lab IT staff when a printer is not working appropriately.
• Locates and retrieves specimens in storage for additional testing.
• Determines acceptability of specimens within guidelines.
• Follows protocol in labeling pour-offs.
• Stores specimens under appropriate conditions as quickly as possible.
• Prepares reagents / standards / calibrators correctly and ensures they are dated & of sufficient quantity.
• Recognizes inappropriate specimens; rejects.
• Assigns complete and accurate source with microbiology specimens; logs specimens into microbiology with correct date and time.
• Selects appropriate culture media, incubation temps and atmosphere for microbiology cultures.
• Organizes and prioritizes work for optimum turnaround time.
• Observes safety guidelines.
• Streaks plates with good standard isolation technique or for quantification (colony counts).
• Recognizes appropriate selection of test orders.
• Performs processing/ordering functions correctly using the Lab Information System.
• Assists in referral services as needed.
• Loads specimens on instruments as appropriate.
• Demonstrates skills in the analytical phase of testing process.
• Follows testing protocols.
• Performs waived and moderately complex test procedures with care and accuracy.
• Makes dilutions accurately; calculates correctly.
• Selects appropriate culture media, incubation temp, and atmosphere for microbiology cultures.
• Performs proficiency testing successfully.
• Ensures quality of work by performing QC at required intervals, performing calibrations and footnoting QC following calibration, investigating cause of out-of-control QC and resolves before testing is resumed.
• Ensures that outdated materials (kits, QC, or reagents) are not used; uses oldest outdate first.
• Ensures timeliness of testing by organizing work for minimal turnaround time, performing work in careful manner to minimize repeat testing and turnaround time, referring testing to alternate sites if in-place systems are not operable.
• Delivers blood at the Methodist Campus accurately to the floors.
• Refers all bedside typing to CLT/CLS.
• Demonstrates skills in the post-analytical phase of the testing process.
• Refers all questionable results to a CLS or CLT to direct further action.
• Enters data/results properly and carefully, including required notification and documentation.
• Reviews data entry before resulting to minimize clerical errors.
• Uses computer functions to access information necessary for resulting out data and/or giving out results to customers.
• Troubleshoots instrumentation independently and with the vendor.
• Addresses unresolved equipment problems to CLS or CLT.
• Returns proficiency testing results completely and in a timely manner.
• Communicates all information necessary to subsequent shifts for completion of testing process or problem resolution.
• Participates in support activities necessary to ensure a smooth and efficiently run operation.
• Supports same shift co-workers by assisting in department support activities.
• Calibrates pipettes.
• Takes temperatures.
• Dates all kits, QC, reagents in use.
• Dates and restocks reagents and supplies.
• Washes pipettes & glassware.
• Empties red-bagged garbage.
• Unpacks boxes from receiving and documents receipt.
• Alerts appropriate person if inventory is low.
• Cleans and maintains instruments, refrigerators, freezers and work and storage areas.
• Displays a willingness and interest in learning new instruments or procedures or in cross training into other areas where testing by CLA is allowed.
• Generates electronic messages and completes data sheets using computer capabilities.
• Provides support for other laboratory sections where possible and helps to maintain lounge areas used in all sections.
• Assists blood bank as needed, delivers blood at the Methodist Campus.