Medical Lab Technician

SUMMARY
To aid with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease through the collection and diagnostic testing of body fluid specimens including blood, urine, stool, sputum, spinal, synovial, semen, and peritoneal fluids. Incumbent will be required to work in all areas of the clinical laboratory to include blood bank, chemistry, hematology, immunology, and microbiology. Must be available to work all shifts to include day, night, weekend, and holiday. Incumbent is expected to provide excellent customer service at all times for the facility and must be flexible to meet a constantly changing work environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Cultures and examines blood and body fluids to determine the presence of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
2. Analyzes chemical content of blood for blood glucose, lipids, cardiac monitoring, drug monitoring, hormone levels, products of metabolites, liver and kidney function.
3. Performs blood typing, screens for antibodies, and selects blood for transfusion.
4. Microscopically examines blood for abnormal cells such as leukemia, anemia, and bacteria and urine for infection or abnormalities.
5. Draws blood or obtains specimens for routine testing.
6. Monitors point of care testing services for all patient care areas of the hospital and other various areas under Brookings Health System (ex. Home Health, Clinics, etc).
7. Develops and modifies procedures as needed.
8. Performs coagulation testing for proper clotting, monitor’s anticoagulant therapy and possible disease states such as DIC, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.
9. Must be able to perform accurate counting of various cells in body fluids and be able to accurately dilute specimen and calculate final results.
10. Provide point-of-care testing as needed per situation.

TASKS, DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Tasks, duties and responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:
1. Use automated equipment and instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously.
2. Monitor, calibrate, and troubleshoot equipment to maintain reliable results.
3. Prepare specimens for sending to reference labs.
4. Analyze, review, verify, and relay laboratory results to physicians verbally, electronically, or manually.
5. Perform testing accurately and efficiently in all areas of the laboratory.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Incumbent may be responsible for providing direction, assigning and reviewing the work of others in specific instances and training new employees or laboratory interns.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

KNOWLEDGE:

1. Incumbent must be able to analyze human fluid samples for abnormal cellular elements,
bacteria, fungi, and chemical constituents.
2. Associate’s degree in Laboratory Technology.
3. Accreditation by the ASCP, BOR, or equivalent.
4. Must be able to accurately obtain, label, test, and handle specimens and interpret and report
results.
5. Must demonstrate knowledge of basic laboratory terminology.
6. Must maintain yearly competency as instructed by Laboratory Manager/Director and maintain credit maintenance program if licensed after 2002.