Medical Laboratory Scientist Lead, UWMC Northwest Lab

University of Washington Medical Center • Seattle, WA

9d • $47 - $68

About The Position

The UW Medicine Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology is hiring a Medical Laboratory Scientist Lead for the University of Washington Medical Center Northwest Laboratory in Seattle. The role performs routine clinical laboratory testing used to screen, diagnose, and treat pathological conditions and works with departmental managers on higher-level laboratory activities, including quality control reviews, lot verification, procedure editing, safety and quality assurance, competency development, analytical measurement range and linearity studies, LIS testing, and CAP/CMS requirements.

The lead performs and validates laboratory testing across Hematology, Chemistry, Coagulation, Microbiology, Urinalysis, and transfusion medicine. Duties include operating and maintaining analyzers and other equipment; assessing quality control; handling and triaging specimens; validating results; communicating critical results; troubleshooting technical issues; managing reagents, supplies, and inventory; and responding to transfusion emergencies. The position also supports training and competency of students and staff, provides procedural and workflow feedback, contributes to inspection readiness and proficiency testing follow-up, and serves as a resource for laboratory staff and trainees.

This is a regular, 100% FTE position on the night shift. The work schedule will be discussed with the hiring manager.

Requirements

• Accredited bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, or equivalent education and experience.
• Medical Laboratory Science certification with the American Society for Clinical Pathology or equivalent, or certification from a specialty organization appropriate to the laboratory division.
• Three years of professional experience, including one year as a Medical Laboratory Scientist 2 or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and manual clinical testing in Hematology, Chemistry, Coagulation, Microbiology, Urinalysis, and transfusion medicine.
• Handle varied sample types and perform dilutions, neutralizations, ultracentrifugation, and other sample alterations as appropriate.
• Understand test reportable ranges, investigate results outside those ranges, and determine when interventions are needed.
• Recognize critical and urgent results, communicate them to the appropriate clinical provider within expected timeframes, and document communications and read-backs or reasons for no read-back in the LIS.
• Run and evaluate quality control according to standard operating procedures and enter results into the LIS or applicable QC monitoring system.
• Perform assigned quality assurance tasks, carryover studies, and validation of research samples, new instrumentation, and assays.
• Perform maintenance on laboratory benches, automated analyzers, and transfusion-related equipment; troubleshoot issues and follow up with the departmental Manager as needed.
• Triage samples in middleware, interpret flags, determine whether results are reportable, and validate middleware results.
• Perform and interpret manual testing, including manual differentials, urine microscopy, Gram stains, body-fluid analysis, manual hematocrits, and specified kit tests; make and analyze cytospin preparations.
• Differentiate normal and abnormal cell morphology and identify blood cells, nucleated cells, urine elements, and microbiology smear findings using microscopes.
• Train students and new employees on assigned bench tasks and maintain competency in assigned departments and the LIS.
• Replenish reagents, manage inventory, rotate and store supplies, identify shortages, and request or obtain supplies as needed.
• Calculate concentrations; prepare, verify, and document reagents, controls, and standards; and update instruments with new lot parameters when appropriate.
• Retrieve samples, slides, reagents, or other materials from storage for review when requested.
• Cancel or credit results as needed, notify providers of canceled tests, and enter requests for additional testing.
• Recognize and manage mislabeled specimens and determine when consultation with a Lab Medical Resident may be needed.
• Process transfusion medicine specimens; monitor blood-component storage temperatures; retrieve, tag, release, thaw, return, quarantine, or transfer components as appropriate.
• Respond to transfusion emergencies calmly and efficiently, with complete documentation; communicate component readiness, turnaround expectations, and transfused-component review information to clinical teams.
• Collaborate with colleagues and clinical teams to maintain an effective, positive work environment and ask for or provide assistance as appropriate.
• Follow laboratory safety procedures, wear appropriate PPE, handle hazardous chemicals according to SOPs, and dispose of hazardous chemical and biohazardous waste according to SOPs.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving, and act as a resource for students, trainees, MLS1 and MLS2 staff, new employees, residents, and post-doctoral fellows.
• Provide peer-review feedback, coordinate educational programs, review competency materials, and support retraining and competency initiatives.
• Provide procedure, workflow, and competency feedback to staff, including discussion of process deficiencies and retraining where needed.
• Write and edit procedures as needed and work with departmental managers on monthly QC reviews, lot verifications, safety and QA assignments, competency development, AMR and linearity studies, LIS testing, and biannual CAP/CMS requirements.
• Organize monitoring and identification of key performance indicators, assist with CAP inspection preparation, and assist with documentation and follow-up on CAP proficiency testing failures.

Benefits

• Vacation and sick time accrue monthly.
• 12 paid holidays.
• State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits of qualifying coursework per quarter at the University of Washington or participating colleges and universities.
• Fully subsidized U-PASS public transit pass covering multiple forms of regional public transportation.
• Healthcare, dental, disability, retirement, and other plan options.
• Fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress reduction classes through Whole U.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior