Processing Tech I

ARUP Laboratories•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

Works under direct supervision to learn the proper handling of specimens received at ARUP’s central facility and/or University Division and prepares specimens for laboratory testing. Work includes matching patient information, data entry, aliquoting, and scanning documents. The position supports accurate, timely specimen processing while following departmental procedures, safety requirements, and standards for patient confidentiality.

Requirements

Ability to handle and process specimens according to corporate and departmental procedures.
Ability to use departmental applications, including applicable LIS applications and functions.
Ability to follow specimen identification, labeling, documentation, temperature-handling, and safety procedures.
Ability to operate a biological safety cabinet; centrifuge operation is required for applicable University Hospital Clinical Lab and University Division functions.
Ability to use appropriate personal protective equipment in a biohazard laboratory environment.
Ability to maintain data security, patient confidentiality, and ethical standards.
Ability to make sound judgments and consult a Supervisor, Lead, or Workflow Coordinator when needed.
Ability to work well with others and perform reliably, including working all required overtime.
Ability to stoop, reach, and move between work sites and within the office.
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 30 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
Fine motor control for picking, pinching, typing, or other finger-based tasks.
Close, far, and peripheral visual acuity, including depth and distance observations, and the ability to distinguish colors.

Responsibilities

Read and sign department-specific SOPs and the Safety Manual; attend Specimen Processing team and staff meetings.
Process specimens promptly as they become available.
Enter patient demographics and process specimens and orders using appropriate applications; order tests indicated on requisitions and process manual and electronically transmitted tests on submitted paperwork.
Document additional requisition or packing-list information and follow departmental processes to resolve identified issues.
Handle and label specimens and paperwork appropriately; recognize specimen types and handle them according to corporate and departmental procedures.
Document specimen receipt information and client-provided information on specimen labels as required.
Check all required identifiers across specimens, paperwork, and electronic records to ensure they match and specimens are correctly labeled.
Handle specimens requiring rerouting or sharing; place processed specimens on the automated track, at the appropriate temperature for manual sorting, or deliver them to the testing laboratory at the proper temperature when automated delivery is unavailable.
Process specimens at all three temperatures and follow procedures for manual and electronically transmitted orders.
Operate the biological safety cabinet; operate a centrifuge for University Hospital Clinical Lab and University Division work as applicable.
Use the Internal Test Directory or applicable test information catalog for accessioning and client submissions or inquiries; use current departmental LIS applications and functions.
Aliquot specimens according to procedure using appropriate safety equipment.
Know or locate ARUP and University Division laboratory locations, operating hours, and general functions.
Make sound decisions or consult a Supervisor, Lead, or Workflow Coordinator when needed.
Assist management with complex processing needs, including specimen searches and compromised shipments.
Protect data security and patient confidentiality, maintain ethical standards, and comply with safety policies and regulations, including dress and PPE requirements.
Stay informed of departmental procedures and perform assigned cleaning duties and departmental projects.
For Central Processing, use ARUP Accessioning and Shipment Tracking applications.
For University Division, ensure specimen acceptability and integrity according to protocol and prepare specimens for delivery between ARUP testing facilities by creating packing lists according to specimen-handling requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance, dependable performance, effective collaboration, and the ability to work all required overtime.