Laboratory Technician 1-3

State of Louisiana • Baton Rouge, LA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Louisiana Public Health Laboratory seeks a Laboratory Technician to receive, enter, and process samples for testing. This role is within the central laboratory of the Louisiana Office of Public Health and the Louisiana Department of Health. Responsibilities include assessing sample quality and integrity, data entry, and sample processing. Quality control and maintenance activities involve temperature monitoring, inventory control, supply dissemination, and supporting laboratory analysis functions. The lab analyzes both clinical and environmental samples. The successful candidate will ensure adherence to federal laboratory regulations and CLIA requirements. Excellent communication skills are preferred.

Requirements

• Two years of general laboratory experience; OR Completion of an accredited clinical laboratory or medical laboratory technology program; OR An associate or bachelor’s degree in medical technology, nursing, clinical laboratory science, or a biological, physical, or chemical science; OR Certification as a Laboratory Animal Technician or Laboratory Animal Technologist by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
• Every six semester hours earned from an accredited college or university in any of the biological, physical, chemical, or agricultural sciences will substitute for one year of experience.
• Positions in Human Testing Laboratory environments must be licensed to practice as either a Laboratory Assistant or a Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Technician in the State of Louisiana as required by Louisiana Clinical Laboratory Personnel Law R.S. 37:1311-1329 and the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a laboratory, especially experience working in an accessioning operation for clinical and/or environmental specimens
• Familiarity with CLIA regulations
• Customer service skills and experience interacting with laboratory customers
• Experience with using laboratory information management systems (LIMS)
• Experience with typing and data entry skills
• Excellent communication skills

Responsibilities

• Receive, track, and process laboratory specimens while maintaining proper specimen handling and chain-of-custody procedures.
• Enter and retrieve patient demographic and laboratory data using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and hard copy records.
• Prepare and distribute patient laboratory reports to submitters by mail or fax while ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
• Respond to requests for patient information from healthcare professionals and members of the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
• Monitor and document daily equipment temperatures and promptly report instrumentation or equipment issues to the supervisor.
• Perform routine cleaning, maintenance, and disinfection of laboratory equipment, including biological safety cabinets, refrigerators, freezers, and incubators.
• Assist with general laboratory and office operations, including inventory, receiving packages, shredding outdated records, answering calls, and maintaining required specimen-handling competencies.
• Improve the laboratory’s support of the public health mission in Louisiana, while improving the lab’s overall diagnostic capabilities and service level.
• Ensure an on-going level of exceptional client service and quality control.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees.
• Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree