Lab Tech Assistant- Microbiology

Mercy Health - Lima, OH

Full-time

Lima, OH

Ambulatory Health Care Services

About the position

The Lab Tech Assistant in Microbiology plays a crucial role in the preparation and analysis of specimens within the laboratory setting. This position involves registering and accessioning orders through the Hospital Information System and Laboratory Information Systems, ensuring that specimens meet the necessary acceptability criteria. The Lab Tech Assistant is responsible for performing established pre-analytical and analytical laboratory procedures that do not require the interpretation of a Medical Technologist, Histotechnologist, or Cytotechnologist. All tasks must be executed in accordance with established laboratory policies, ensuring accuracy, safety, and timeliness in all operations. In this role, the Lab Tech Assistant will perform waived and limited moderately complex testing as defined by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). They will also be responsible for conducting quality control procedures, evaluating specimen acceptability, and implementing corrective actions as necessary. The assistant will support technologists by maintaining laboratory instruments, preparing reagents, and managing blood products. Recognizing and reporting instrument malfunctions is essential, as is the operation and maintenance of clinical laboratory equipment, including routine preventative maintenance and safety checks. The Lab Tech Assistant will register and process specimens for testing, ensuring adherence to established guidelines for centrifugation and aliquoting. They will utilize computer programs to track specimen transport, minimizing the risk of lost specimens, and provide customer service related to laboratory inquiries. Additionally, when assigned to the Microbiology department, the assistant will be involved in the culture setup of microbiology samples and preparation of gram stains, performing the Micro Setup Time (MST) as needed. This position requires a proactive approach to laboratory operations and a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and safety in the laboratory environment.

Responsibilities

• Performs waived and limited moderately complex testing as defined by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).
• Performs and reports testing and quality control procedures according to established protocols; evaluates specimen acceptability and implements corrective action within scope of training.
• Provides support functions to technologists including the loading and maintaining of instruments, making up of reagents, thawing, pooling, importing, and issuing of blood products, and maintenance and function checks.
• Recognizes instrument and equipment malfunctions and keeps appropriate person(s) informed of problems, issues, and resolutions as needed.
• Operates, maintains, and repairs clinical laboratory equipment within the scope of training including routine preventative maintenance, calibrations, and safety checks.
• Competently registers, enters insurance information, accessions, triages and processes specimens in preparation for testing and transit.
• Uses computer programs to track specimen transport and minimizes lost specimens.
• Provides laboratory customer service to include request for add-ons, specimen collection information, phlebotomy requests, result inquiry, etc.
• Maintains inventory levels and stocks supplies.
• When staffed in Microbiology department, culture setup of microbiology samples and gram stain preparation. Performs the MST (Micro Setup Time) as needed.

Requirements

• High School Degree or GED (required).
• Associates in Biology or Chemistry (preferred).
• Laboratory experience (preferred).
• Active Listening skills.
• Critical Thinking skills.
• Verbal and Written Communication skills.
• Monitoring skills.
• Science knowledge.
• Judgment and Decision Making skills.
• Operation Monitoring skills.
• Time Management skills.
• Customer Service skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Medical Terminology knowledge.
• Office Machine Operation skills.
• Phlebotomy Collection Software knowledge.

Benefits

• Comprehensive, affordable medical, dental and vision plans
• Prescription drug coverage
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life insurance w/AD&D
• Employer contributions to retirement savings plan when eligible
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance
• And much more