Basic Purpose:

Assumes the responsibility of applying scientific knowledge in performing established laboratory procedures, maintains high standards in laboratory performance, and aids in implementing training programs for students at the bench level.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS FOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST/MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN- GENERALIST
THIS DESCRIPTION DOES NOT STATE OR IMPLY THAT THE DUTIES, ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS ARE THE ONLY PARAMETERS FOR THIS POSITION, ASSOCIATES ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW JOB RELATED INSTRUCTION AND PERFORM OTHER JOB RELATED ACTIVITIES REQUESTED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR.

ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMADATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT. SOME REQUIEMENTS MAY EXCLUDE INDIVIDUALS WHO POSE A DIRECT THEAT OR SIGNFIGANT TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEMSELVES, THE PATIENTS, OR OTHER ASSOCIATES.

BASIC FUNCTIONS:
Laboratory testing of blood and body fluids.

Physical Requirements:
Must be able to stand and/or sit for long periods of time
Visual activity must be unimpaired. Color differential is required.
Equipment operation requires manual dexterity
Must be able to lift or pull 25 pounds.

JOB DUTIES

General Laboratory Requirements

Specimen Procurement

• Obtains good quality blood specimens according to venipuncture and fingerstick procedure.
• Obtains proper amount of blood needed for procedures requiring whole blood or plasma.
• Appropriately documents specimens conditions ie. Icteric, lipemic, hemolysis.
• Collects blood specimens according to appropriate draw times as designated in policy and procedure manual or reference lab preparation manual.
• Collects appropriate specimens for urinalysis testing and correctly instructs patient on collection. i.e. clean catch and 24 hour urine specimens.
• Collects or provides direction for appropriate technique for collection and preparation for all specimens submitted to laboratory for testing -(body fluids, throat cultures, pap smears) and rejects specimens as necessary.
• Collects employee drug testing specimens according to policy and procedure and fills out paperwork correctly.
• Perform DOT drug testing according to instructions and correctly enters testing charges into CPSI.
• Performs drug testing for outside agencies according to instruction.
• Performs DOT brac testing according to DOT guidelines.

Equipment/Maintenance and Troubleshooting

• Recognizes instrument malfunction.
• Instrument Care and Maintenance- performs and documents daily, weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance for instrument as specified in policy and/or instrument procedure manual.

Supply Use and Inventory Control

• Supplies- uses reagents, calibrators, controls, test kits, testing material that is within date. Initials, dates, and time(when needed) open bottles of reagents, calibrators, controls, test kits.
• Identifies low volume supplies and reports to supervisor.

Communication

• Attends laboratory meetings as required.
• Checks e-mail for messages at least once per shift.
• Utilizes departmental communication log.
• Identifies problems and communicates to the supervisor or manager.
• Communicates effectively with patient about procedures being performed according to patients special needs and age level.
• Communicates effectively with laboratory staff, physicians, and ancillary staff.

Safety

• Consistently wears impervious lab coat, gloves and face shield(as appropriate and all other protective apparel, as outlined in PPE policy.
• Properly disposes of biological waste as outlined in the safety manual.
• Does not recap used needles.
• Disposes of sharps in proper designated containers without overfilling containers.
• Is aware of surroundings- i.e. patient bed rails, moving of patients, combative patients, fall risks and employs appropriate safety measures.
• Employee cleans work area and leaves it clutter free for the next shift.
• Employee adheres to the laboratory and facility safety plan.

Quality Control and Test Calibration

• Analyzes and records values of results of controls run on a daily basis in accordance with quality control policy and procedure.
• Initiates and documents corrective action when controls are out-of-range.
• Identifies instrument messages that indicate test run must be repeated.
• Calibrates instruments as needed according to mfg.
• Performs correlation studies or parallel testing as needed.
• Records controls ranges in CPSI as needed.
• Performs equivalent quality control as needed.

Level of Responsibility

• Employee reports to work as scheduled and has acceptable attendance.
• Employee reports to work on call in a reasonable amount of time.
• Employee follows dress code as outlined in the policy and procedure manual.
• Employee takes initiative to start work tasks and completes tasks within a reasonable amount of time.
• Employee follows guidelines for lunch and work breaks.
• Employee accepts recommendations of management with good attitude and implements suggestions.
• Employee follows laboratory and facility policy and procedure.
• Employee completes competency assignments within reasonable amount of time.
• Employee completes educational assignments within reasonable amount of time.
• Employee submits license on time.
• Employee works well with lab staff.
• Correctly logs out specimens to the reference lab and logs reports back into lab.

Quality Assurance Plan

• Employee participates in the department quality assurance plan including submitting data and reporting events as necessary.
• Employee performs proficiency testing as needed and treats PT specimens the same as patients, fills out preparation sheet, and attestation statement and submits results within acceptable date.
• Employee recognizes when systems or analyzers are problematic and consults supervisor as needed.
• Employee has work overviewed or consults supervisor as needed.

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

• General chemistry- performs testing on routine and STAT basis; calibrate all tests and run control material with values obtained in range. Ortho 250
• TDM/Immunology- testing on routine and STAT basis; calibrate all tests and run control material with values obtained in range. Siemans Immulite
• Back-up chemistry- perform testing as needed using quality samples when instrumentation is down or micro samples are required on patients. Perform quality control as stated in policy with values obtained in range. Piccollo
• Back-up chemistry and blood gas testing- perform testing using good quality patient samples as needed when instrumentation is down or micro samples are required on patients. Perform quality control as stated in policy with values obtained in range. I-stat
• Blood Gas Testing-Perform blood gas testing as needed on samples, using good quality samples and performing quality control checks and controls are stated in policy with values obtained in range. Osmetech
• Point of Care Glucose Testing-perform glucose testing as needed using good quality samples and performing calibration and quality control as stated in policy with values within range. Surestep
• Proficiency Testing- performs proficiency testing in chemistry department, treats PT test specimens as patient samples, logs samples, performs QC, completes testing worksheet, signs attestation statement, and has acceptable score overall score. Chemistry/TDM
• DCA 2000- performs Hgb A1C testing according to policy and procedure, run controls, calibrates the instrument with new lots.
• Repeats testing and documents repeat testing according to policy and procedure. Chemistry department
• Performs competency testing in chemistry department and has acceptable score. Chemistry department
• Employee documents lot numbers and expiration dates as needed on quality control logs. Chemistry department
• CA-500- Coagulation Analyzer-Employee performs coagulation testing according to policy and procedure with acceptable samples that meet policy standards.
• CA-500- Employee performs calibration and quality control for PT/PTT testing and only reports patients when controls are within range.
• CA-500- Employee recognizes when system is not functioning properly or test results are not correct and takes steps to correct the procedure.
• Dade Ca-500 coagulation analyzer- Employee repeats coagulation test(s) and reports critical values according to policy and procedure.
• INR/RATIO- employee performs tests and reports patient results according to policy and procedure.
• Bleeding time- employee performs bleeding time testing according to policy and procedure using good technique.
• Employee performs competency testing for coagulation(as given) and has acceptable score.
• Employee performs proficiency testing for coagulation and has acceptable score.

HEMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT

• Pentra Hematology Analyzer-performs CBC determinations on analyzer, calibrates instrument and runs controls as needed, and performs manual differential testing as indicated in policy and procedure manual.
• Recognizes when differentials contain abnormal morphology and consult supervisor and/or refer slides as needed.
• Manual sed rate- perform sed rate testing as indicated by policy and procedure, performs stand calibration and correctly times testing.
• Follows policy and procedures for handling of, accepting, rejecting specimens.

• Follows quality control guidelines for the department and maintains records.
  • Pentra
  • Differential
  • Sed rate
• Documents lot numbers and expiration dates as needed on calibration and control logs.
• Performs maintenance on instrumentation as needed.
• Recognizes when instrument systems are not working properly and takes corrective action.
• Reports testing that is within the limits of quality control.
• Performs competency testing as assigned in the Hematology department and has an acceptable score.
• Tests proficiency testing samples in the hematology department and maintains an acceptable score.

Urinalysis

• Perform urinalysis testing with appropriate technique as needed on specimens of appropriate quality according to policy and procedure.
• Calibrates instrument daily and performs quality control on instrument as specified in policy with values within range.
  • Clinitek 100/50

• Performs maintenance as required and makes necessary documentation of maintenance performed.
  • Clinitek 100/50
  • Microscopes
• Performs microscopic testing w/QC as needed and follows criteria for culture for specimens as indicated.
• Performs dilution, manual back-up testing, and manual sp. Gravity testing as needed.
• Documents lot numbers and expiration dates as needed on calibration and control logs.
• Recognizes when instrument systems are not working properly and takes corrective action.
• Performs competency testing as assigned in the Urinalysis department and has an acceptable score.
• Tests proficiency testing samples in the urinalysis department and maintains an acceptable score.

SEROLOGY

• Performs serology testing according to policy and procedure manual that includes observing and recording internal and external controls as needed and recording values, recording kit lot numbers and expiration dates, and performing parallel testing.
• Serum pregnancy testing