Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician

Summary

The Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician is a member of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) team at the Beckley VA Medical Center. The technician performs nonprofessional technical work in one or more areas such as chemistry, blood banking, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, or microbiology. The reports of findings of tests and examinations may be used by physicians in diagnosis, care, and treatment of patients.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education:
  
  Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification.
• Certification:
  Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations:
  American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), ASCP‑Board of Certification, or ASCP‑Board of Registry;
  American Medical Technologists;
  American Association of Bioanalysts.
• Foreign
  
  Education:
  
  Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification.
• Grade Determinations – Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician – GS‑07:
  
  Experience:
  
  In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS‑06 grade level.
• Experience at the GS‑06 grade level includes:
  Using independent judgment to perform the full range of duties in the laboratory—from sample collecting to evaluating and communicating test results; performing day‑to‑day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision while ensuring testing accuracy and quality of proper patient care; maintaining all instrumentation in assigned areas to deliver precise results using processing techniques; and analyzing body‑fluid samples such as blood, urine, and tissue samples.
• Analyzing laboratory findings and issuing necessary reports.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  The candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified for advanced MLT duties, including but not limited to the following:
• Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.
• Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing.
• Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment.
• Knowledge of laboratory information technology (IT) systems—including troubleshooting system issues and interface requirements between new instruments and existing IT infrastructure and laboratory IT test development.
• Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as CAP, Joint Commission, and OSHA, along with continuing education and employee orientation to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements.
• Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards.
• Ability to assist with quality management activities in the laboratory—including monitoring and evaluating quality in accordance with CLIA and CAP, conducting quality improvement activities, and communicating quality management results.
• Assignments: MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty.
• For all assignments above the full performance level— the higher‑level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity, and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
• Their duties consist of advanced operation, training, and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems.
• They may act as key operators for specific instrumentation.
• Advanced duties may also include advanced blood banking (antibody titers,…