Blood Bank Medical Laboratory Specialist; MLS

Position Title:

The Senior Blood Bank Medical Laboratory Scientist supports transfusion medicine and consultation services through advanced blood bank testing, antibody identification, patient investigations, hospital support, and donor services operations. This role serves as a technical resource for internal and external customers and participates in after-hours consultation and hospital support as needed.

Reporting to the Donor Collections Manager, with a dotted‑line relationship to the NDC Operations and Technical Services Manager, this position combines laboratory expertise, customer service, and operational support to ensure safe and timely delivery of blood products and consultation services.

• Perform, interpret, and document patient and donor serological testing in SafeTraceTX®.
• Investigate and resolve complex antibody identification cases using advanced immunohematology techniques.
• Prepare and maintain consultation reports for hospital and patient cases.
• Perform and document quality control testing and quality assurance activities.
• Prepare laboratory reagents and educational wet samples.
• Maintain rare cell sample databases and records.
• Ensure compliance with all laboratory policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

• Serve as a technical resource for hospitals, physicians, and healthcare partners.
• Communicate test results and consultation information with internal and external customers.
• Process incoming and outgoing hospital orders through BECS.
• Record and manage antigen‑negative blood product orders.
• Support timely fulfillment of blood product requests and special transfusion needs.

• Assist with loading, unloading, setup, and breakdown of mobile collection sites and donor center operations.
• Conduct donor screening procedures according to established standards.
• Perform venipuncture and donor blood collection procedures.
• Provide post‑donation care and donor support.
• Help create exceptional donor experiences that encourage repeat donations.

• Perform Driver I responsibilities as assigned.
• Act as Shift Coordinator when necessary.
• Participate in an on‑call rotation to support after‑hours consultation services and hospital needs.
• Serve as backup support for hospital services operations.
• Assist with onboarding, training, and mentoring of new staff members.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Since 1975, Gulf Coast Blood has been one of the nation’s largest community blood centers, serving 170 hospitals across 26 counties. Headquartered in Houston, we support the world’s largest medical complex—the Texas Medical Center—while operating 18 donor centers and hosting more than 7,000 mobile blood drives each year. As an FDA‑accredited nonprofit, we provide high‑quality human cellular material for both scientific and therapeutic use.

Gulf Coast Blood is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants for positions are considered without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, military status, protected veteran status, disability status, genetic testing results, or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable law, statute, regulation or Executive Order.