Specimen Processing Technician

State of North Carolina

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Specimen Processing Technician within the Central Accessioning Unit of the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, performing routine, standardized pre‑analytical tasks for clinical and environmental specimens submitted for testing. The technician ensures specimens meet regulatory requirements and NCSLPH acceptance guidelines and accurately accession them using both the Lab Web Portal—an online system used for submitting, tracking, and accessing laboratory test requests and results—and LIMS, the internal system used to manage sample data, testing workflows, and reporting within the laboratory. The Specimen Processing Technician supports timely and accurate documentation by monitoring specimen movement in these systems and communicating with internal units and submitters to maintain efficient workflow. The position functions under supervision in a structured laboratory environment and performs work aligned with the Medical Laboratory Technician role, emphasizing standardized procedures and quality expectations in pre‑analytical operations.

Requirements

• Employees in this position must be capable of meeting the Federal CLIA ’88 personnel requirements of Testing Personnel in a laboratory performing high complexity testing.
• Applicants must attach copies of their transcript(s) and/or certification(s) to be considered for the position
• Associate’s degree in medical technology from an appropriately accredited institution or completion of a certified laboratory assistant course in medical technology or a comparable course from an accredited institution OR High school or General Educational Development diploma and two years of medical laboratory experience OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise managing high‑volume specimen intake workflows using the Lab Web Portal and LIMS, consistently tracking, routing, and advancing specimens to meet required turnaround times.
• Documented skills in troubleshooting and maintenance experience on pre‑analytical instruments—including label printers and automated bulk‑loaders—to minimize processing delays and sustain continuous unit operations.
• Demonstrated accuracy evaluating specimen acceptability against regulatory and NCSLPH acceptance guidelines, with reliable accessioning of multiple test types in a high‑throughput environment.
• Experience adhering to PPE requirements, safety protocols, and established SOPs, with documented participation in quality improvement activities aligned to CLIA and SLPH quality practices.
• Proven effectiveness documenting and resolving specimen discrepancies through direct communication with providers, clinical staff, and couriers, maintaining data integrity and seamless pre‑analytical workflow.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily Central Accessioning receiving tasks to prioritize specimens according to required turnaround times and advance them through pre‑analytical steps.
• Monitor unit logs using the Lab Web Portal and LIMS to confirm all received specimens move to the next processing stage in a timely manner.
• Check specimen acceptability against established requirements and accurately accession high‑volume specimens for multiple tests.
• Document specimen discrepancies and communicate with providers, clinical staff, and couriers to resolve issues and maintain data integrity.
• Operate, troubleshoot, and perform basic maintenance on pre‑analytical instruments, including label printers and automated bulk‑loaders.
• Follow PPE requirements, safety protocols, and standard operating procedures to ensure compliant pre‑analytical workflows.
• Participate in training sessions and support quality improvement activities consistent with CLIA and SLPH quality practices.
• Collaborate with clerical/data entry, customer service, mailroom/receiving, and laboratory units to maintain accurate specimen routing and efficient operations.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and properly stocked work area to support continuous unit throughput and readiness.

Benefits

• Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).
• Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.
• In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees