Microbiologist II

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the moderate supervision of the TB Clinical Group Manager, and with coordination with the Tuberculosis Diagnostics Team Leader, performs moderately complex to complex microbiological tasks. Examines and interprets liquid and solid mycobacterial culture media, evaluates prior testing results, and determines course-of-action. Maintains patient and culture records. Performs microscopic examination of clinical specimens and culture isolates. Processes clinical specimens for the isolation of acid-fast bacilli (AFB- Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related bacteria) and fungal organisms. Harvests positive cultures and saponifies mycolic acids from samples for identification by mycolic acid high performance liquid chromatography. Maintains the necessary equipment, reagents, and supplies for testing. Conducts, evaluates, qualifies, and documents Team personnel training on technical and support tasks as assigned. Completes other duties as assigned. Duties performed with adherence to standard protocol but with limited use of scientific knowledge, initiative, and judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of medical bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, and biochemistry.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety, aseptic technique, and handling of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control functions.
• Ability to complete tasks and meet deadlines without close supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to manipulate specimens and cultures within a biological safety cabinet with speed, accuracy, and safety.
• Ability to use various items of laboratory equipment, including use of a computer for word processing, spreadsheets, database analysis and results reporting.
• Ability to interact effectively and work in harmony with staff and other team memberts.
• Ability to work independently and follow standard operating procedures.
• Skill in manipulating standard laboratory equipment with speed, accuracy and safety.
• Skill using brightfield, fluorescent, and dissecting microscope to examine slides and cultures.
• Have an earned bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution and have at least one year of experience in high complexity laboratory testing; or
• Have an earned associate’s degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution and have at least two years of experience in high complexity laboratory testing.
• Experience and education may be substituted as defined by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA ’88) Standards.

Responsibilities

• Examines and interprets liquid and solid mycobacterial culture media, evaluates prior testing results, and determines course-of-action. Determines organism morphology and isolates organism(s) from culture media and from mixed cultures; subcultures to appropriate media. Consults with the senior microbiologist and Team Leader regarding problem or unusual cultures.
• Under the technical guidance of the Team Leader, performs microscopic examination of clinical specimens and culture isolates. Stains, examines, interprets, and reports AFB from clinical specimens by direct fluorochrome smear microscopy based on AFB morphology, fluorescence, and quantity. When necessary, overstains the direct fluorochrome smear to examine the smear microscopically using the Ziehl Neelsen staining procedure. Performs microscopic examination and interpretation of organisms from culture media by Ziehl Neelsen stain. Trains others to perform the staining procedures.
• Under the technical guidance of the Team Leader, processes clinical specimens for the isolation of acid-fast bacilli (AFB - Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related bacteria) and fungal organisms. Decontaminates nonsterile specimens by NALC-sodium hydroxide method; concentrates specimens by centrifugation. Inoculates concentrated specimens to liquid and solid primary isolation media; prepares smears of concentrated specimens for staining while making no inoculation mistakes and having no evidence of cross-contamiation. Inoculates mycology specimens to primary isolation media. Trains others to perform these tests. Harvests positive cultures and saponifies mycolic acids for identification by mycolic acid high performance liquid chromatography.
• Maintains patient and sample records. Orders laboratory information system (LabWare) tests as needed for identification. Creates batches and completes appropriate log sheets by daily deadlines. Enters test results into LabWare by daily deadline. Trains others to perform demographics checks using LabWare demographic log or batch worksheets. Communicates with internal and external customers, documents communications in phone and LabWare communication logs.
• Maintains the necessary equipment, reagents, and supplies for testing. Completes appropriate log sheets by assigned deadlines. Performs quality control, quality assurance, equipment preventative maintenance and repair procedures; maintains written documentation of service and repairs performed as well as written and email documentation of work requests. Trains others to perform support tasks.
• Completes other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or continuity of operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees