Lab Technician

Nash County•Nashville, NC

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lab Technician performs specimen collection, laboratory support, clerical, and technical-assistance duties in a local public health setting. The role supports timely, accurate, and confidential testing by collecting and processing specimens, preparing materials for testing or referral, maintaining laboratory supplies and records, and following applicable safety, quality-control, infection-prevention, and privacy requirements. The Medical Laboratory Assistant II works under the supervision of a qualified laboratory supervisor and performs only testing-related duties authorized by applicable policies, certification requirements, and the laboratory’s CLIA complexity classification. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility for occasional evenings or weekends to meet agency needs. Work takes place in a clinical laboratory setting at either office location, with occasional community travel to support public health activities. The job involves frequent standing, bending, leaning, and manual dexterity, as well as exposure to bloodborne pathogens, infectious materials, and environmental conditions. The employee must be able to lift, carry, and transport equipment and supplies as needed and possess the visual, cognitive, and manual skills necessary for accurate testing and documentation. Errors in specimen collection, testing, or documentation may lead to incorrect diagnosis or treatment, client harm, and legal or regulatory risk. Accuracy is essential to protect client safety, support correct treatment, and maintain compliance with public health standards.

Requirements

Meet one of the stated minimum qualification pathways: an associate’s degree in medical technology from an appropriately accredited institution; completion of a certified laboratory assistant course in medical technology; completion of a comparable course and one year of medical laboratory experience; a high school diploma or GED and three years of medical laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Certification by ASCP or equivalent.
Valid North Carolina driver’s license.
Knowledge of laboratory standards, testing techniques, and diagnostic values.
Ability to recognize abnormal test results and follow established reporting procedures.
Skill in accurately transcribing results and maintaining required documentation.
Knowledge of proper specimen collection, handling, storage, and safety procedures.
Ability to operate laboratory instruments and equipment with precision.
Effective communication skills for interactions with clients, staff, consultants, and community partners.
Ability to maintain focus, attention to detail, and accuracy during testing procedures.
Ability to lift, carry, and transport equipment and supplies as needed.
Visual, cognitive, and manual skills necessary for accurate testing and documentation.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a public health department laboratory.
Experience with specimen handling, collection, and chain-of-custody procedures.
Experience with environmental or water testing.
Knowledge of CLIA regulations, quality control, quality assurance, and proficiency testing.
Experience using an electronic health record for laboratory documentation.
Familiarity with state public health laboratory procedures.
Bilingual ability, primarily English/Spanish.
Participation in workshops or seminars to remain current with emerging laboratory practices and technology.

Responsibilities

Greet, identify, and prepare clients for specimen collection and laboratory services using approved patient-identification procedures.
Collect, label, process, and transport specimens, including venipuncture and capillary blood specimens, urine, swabs, and other specimens within training and scope of practice.
Explain collection procedures, provide basic client instructions, and respond professionally to routine questions.
Recognize and respond appropriately to adverse reactions during specimen collection, including fainting, bleeding, or anxiety, and seek clinical assistance as needed.
Maintain client privacy, dignity, and confidentiality.
Follow laboratory policies and procedures related to CLIA, OSHA, bloodborne pathogens, infection prevention, biomedical waste, and chemical hygiene.
Perform and document routine quality control, temperature monitoring, equipment checks, cleaning, and preventive maintenance as assigned.
Maintain clean, orderly, and properly stocked collection and laboratory work areas.
Use personal protective equipment and follow exposure-control procedures.
Promptly report safety hazards, spills, equipment malfunctions, quality concerns, and potential exposure incidents.
Protect protected health information in accordance with HIPAA, agency policy, and applicable North Carolina requirements.
Enter, retrieve, and update client, specimen, testing, billing, and referral information in electronic health record, laboratory information, or public health reporting systems.
Maintain laboratory logs, temperature records, quality-control records, inventory records, and other required documentation.
Monitor inventory; receive, store, rotate, and dispose of laboratory supplies and reagents according to policy and expiration requirements.
Assist with preparation for laboratory inspections, audits, proficiency testing, and quality-improvement activities.
Collaborate with nurses, providers, laboratory staff, disease-intervention staff, and administrative personnel.
Assist during public health clinics, outreach events, emergency response activities, or communicable-disease response efforts when assigned.
Participate in required training, competency assessments, staff meetings, and continuous quality-improvement activities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.