Laboratory Assistant

HNL Lab Medicine•Allentown, PA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Assistant supports laboratory departments and clients with duties determined by the assigned site. Work may include order entry, specimen collection and processing, equipment and reagent preparation checks, specimen transport and distribution, supply inventory, waived testing, and other non-technical support under general supervision. The role clarifies pre-analytical test requirements and assists customers as needed. The position maintains and follows Standard Operating Procedures; receives, triages, and evaluates specimens; processes and delivers specimens and slides; performs clerical and laboratory information system tasks; maintains records and supplies; and helps train new staff. Additional duties may include on-call and mobile services, health-fair activities, finger punctures, equipment and work-area cleaning, reagent preparation, and documenting quality-control checks. Depending on the laboratory assignment, responsibilities may also include handling forensic toxicology materials and legal inquiries, collecting drug-screen specimens, performing breath alcohol and waived testing, coordinating reference-laboratory send-outs, scanning digital pathology slides, and maintaining instruments. The position is onsite at HNL- Roble, 794 Roble Rd.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions in English and write simple correspondence in English.
Ability to present information effectively in one-on-one and small-group situations.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; compute rates, ratios, and percentages; and draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to follow detailed but straightforward written or oral instructions and address problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
Knowledge of email and laboratory information systems; training will be provided.
Selected assistants who must travel for the job must have a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving history.

Responsibilities

Maintain current knowledge of and follow Standard Operating Procedures, completing work accurately.
Order, receive, and triage specimens and evaluate specimen integrity.
Process specimens and slides according to the Laboratory Handbook and SOPs, and ensure their accurate delivery to the appropriate departments.
Perform clerical support, including filing, record maintenance, and entry of patient demographics and insurance information.
Contact clients and patients to obtain missing information.
Provide on-call and mobile services as required and travel to multiple assigned locations when needed.
Maintain supply inventories and promptly report issues to a supervisor or manager.
Assist with training and orientation of new staff and participate in CSI and continuing education programs.
Perform laboratory information system functions for test receipt, requisition, and labeling; complete and record required equipment and test-system checks and report issues.
Participate in health-fair events and perform finger punctures.
Clean laboratory equipment, glassware, and work surfaces; prepare reagents and testing supplies; and document quality-control checks.
Order DEMOs in the laboratory computer system.
For Toxicology/ACL assignments, handle forensic toxicology specimens, data, and reports under forensic testing guidelines, and handle legal inquiries, search warrants, and subpoenas.
Collect drug-screen specimens, perform breath alcohol testing, and conduct waived testing.
For Pathology/Histology/Cytology assignments, coordinate reference-laboratory send-outs for specimens, slides, and/or blocks.
Perform digital pathology slide scanning and instrument maintenance.