The Laboratory Technician can be assigned to perform one or more of the following functions, with a minimum of High School Degree and under supervision of a CLIA qualified General Supervisor*.
Provide Clerical/Administrative Support
- Answer phones, take detailed messages and appropriately route calls.
- Scan documents (scan requisitions and worksheets); organize and file test reports and documents, clean and file slides.
- Maintain the laboratory's inventory of supplies and reagents. Keep track of all orders placed and products received.
- With NLNC, as applicable, order and stock necessary reagents and supplies in a manner that reduces waste.
Accessioning, Specimen Processing and Distribution
- PathTrack specimens to receive and send specimens between departments.
- Accession, process and distribute patient samples within the laboratory consistent with accuracy and quality assurance goals of the laboratory.
- Access and navigate MediaLab, MiChart, and Soft to accession patient specimens, requesting additional information from appropriate resources.
- Assist in Problem solving (duplicate tests, missing samples, incorrect samples and missing information); call on unacceptable specimens (clotted, hemolyzed, wrong container etc).
- Work with other laboratory personnel to process patient casework with optimal efficiency and accuracy (e.g. basic sample preparation and setup of assays or loading automation lines).
Maintain and Operate Instruments*/Laboratory Support
- Perform and document daily maintenance as specified in instrument procedures.
- Ensure continuous operation by routinely monitoring the status of reagents, parts and supplies.
- Monitor error codes and perform basic troubleshooting. Notify a supervisor or senior operator if unable to resolve an instrument problem. Document problems, action taken and outcomes in instrument log books.
- Facilitate dish washing and autoclaving of laboratory supplies and glassware; prepare reagents.
- Maintain work area in a well-stocked, clean condition.
Professional Development
Fulfill departmental continuing Ed requirement.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Cytogenetics-Wet Lab and Instrument Support
- Initiate and harvest suspension cultures.
- Perform plasma cell enrichment.
- Prepare suspension culture slides and assist with the maintenance of long term cultures, as assigned.
- Perform G banding, load and operate the automated slide scanner.
- Organize and maintain fixed pellets for long term storage. Maintain freezer maps of archived pellets.
Duties on an as needed basis are listed below.
Cytogenetics-Clerical Support
- Create weekly case report from SOFT for directors. Generate bi/weekly worklist for the laboratory.
- Maintain laboratory scientists' productivity log.
- Sign for all deliveries and put all received supplies in the proper location in a timely manner. Communicate the receipt of temperature sensitive reagents to appropriate staff.
- Record minutes at laboratory meetings and submit to supervisors for review.
- Audit vendor communications at least annually.
- Upload and monitor cases for locum tenens remote sign out.
- Organize and prepare signed cases for archiving. Return FFPE specimens to MLabs.
- Assist leadership staff with special projects as needed.
- Participate in laboratory projects and LEAN initiatives.
Cytogenetics-Accessioning and Specimen Handling
- Able to receive specimens using Soft-Cytogenetics.
- Recognize cases that need additional information, triage or follow up.
- Identify samples that require special handling (baby blood, STAT, pregnant women) and alert technical or senor staff if appropriate.
- Identify cytogenetic tests and appropriate specimens in Soft; recognize the need for, and make, corrections if warranted.
- Recognize when a sample is suboptimal and completes necessary paperwork.
- Monitor the Specimen Receiving Worklist. Recognize the need for follow up with delayed or missing specimens in the appropriate time frame by utilizing PathTrak, Michart or Soft.