What are the responsibilities and job description for the Reference Laboratory and Product Management Technologist (Augusta) position at The Blood Connection?
Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:00pm, rotating weekends, rotating on call schedule.
Position Overview
A Reference Laboratory and Product Management Technologist is a clinical laboratory scientist with a broad knowledge of procedures routinely performed in a medical laboratory and a working knowledge of all procedures performed in a relevant specialty area. The job primarily involves the application of this knowledge through the performance of analytical related tasks using blood or blood products, the correlation of test results and the solution of testing problems, and the continued development of operational skills through daily workload responsibilities.
Essential Functions
Reference Lab:
Adheres to all required FDA, AABB, CLIA, and OSHA regulations
Follows current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards
Handles and processes specimens, ensuring proper identification per established guidelines
Performs laboratory testing according to Standard Operating Procedures, including but not limited to:
ABO/Rh(D) testing
Antigen typing
Hgb S testing
Recognizes testing irregularities and has the ability to troubleshoot to identify the cause and resolve the problem or refer to the appropriate level
Operates laboratory equipment correctly and performs equipment and reagent quality control; able to recognize unacceptable levels of performance and can troubleshoot to resolve discrepancies or failures
Correlates laboratory test results with patient diagnosis and treatment
Recognizes and resolves discrepancies in patient and/or donor testing results
Provides telephone consultation to hospital customers; including receiving and fulfilling orders for antigen negative products
Performs labeling and verification of blood products
Maintains appropriate inventories of reagents and laboratory materials and performs tasks associated with supply and reagent management to include ordering, receiving, inspection, preparation, and quality control of supplies and reagents
Rotates on-call responsibilities
Hospital Services / Product Management:
Serves as technical resource for Hospital Services staff to ensure that appropriate products are ordered and received by hospital customers (antigen negative orders)
Ensures that all orders are filled and delivered in a timely manner
Performs all procedures associated with the shipping and receiving of blood components
Assists in inventory management and stock rotation of blood and blood components
Provides technical support to hospital blood banks served by the blood center
Quarantine/Discard of Blood Components:
Identifies products that require quarantine or discard due to non-conforming test results and communicates information to the component lab
Equipment Care:
Performs calibration of equipment as needed
Performs maintenance procedures as indicated by equipment manufacturer’s recommendations
Miscellaneous:
Other duties as assigned or required
Minimum Qualifications
MLT/MT Degree strongly preferred or Associates Degree in Laboratory Science or one of the following:
60 semester hours including 24 semesters of medical lab technology;
60 semester hours including 24 hours of science that includes 6 hours chemistry, 6 hours biology and 12 hours chemistry, biology, or medical lab tech in any combination and laboratory training that includes either:
Completion of a clinical lab training program or
3 months training in each specialty in which high complexity testing is performed
MLT/MLS/CLS/MT/BB American Society for Clinical Pathologist (ASCP) certification required or equivalent
Must meet CLIA and/or AABB requirements for testing personnel
One year of experience working in a licensed, certified or accredited immunohematology reference laboratory or transfusion service preferred.
Ability to organize and prioritize workload and meet deadlines
Ability to communicate effectively, tactfully, and courteously to patrons, donors, sponsors and co-workers
Ability to work with all levels and in a diverse work environment
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, management, and peers
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Lifting, carrying, pulling and/or pushing up to 50 pounds
Repetitive sitting to standing movement throughout a shift
Bending and twisting