Clinical Laboratory Technologist - Microbiology

Clinical Laboratory Technologist
- Microbiology

The Clinical Laboratory Technologist
- Microbiology performs diagnostic microbiology and molecular testing on patient specimens within the laboratory's approved test menu. Working under the supervision and guidance of the Laboratory Director and Laboratory Supervisor, this role is responsible for specimen evaluation and processing, culture workup, organism detection and identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular testing, and the accurate and timely reporting of results. The technologist applies independent judgment, follows established quality and safety standards, and communicates clinically significant findings to providers and authorized staff.

General laboratory bench coverage may be provided as operationally necessary and within the employee's training, competency, and authorized scope of practice.

• Microbiology Specimen Processing and Culture
  • Receives, accessions, evaluates, and processes clinical specimens in accordance with established acceptance, rejection, transport, and storage criteria.
  • Prepares specimens and performs culture setup using appropriate media, incubation conditions, and testing algorithms for specimen types included in the laboratory's approved test menu.
  • Performs direct examinations, including Gram stains and other microscopic procedures, and accurately documents findings.
  • Examines culture growth, evaluates colony morphology, recognizes mixed or potentially contaminated cultures, and differentiates normal flora from organisms that may be clinically significant.
  • Performs subcultures and maintains organism isolation and purity as needed to complete identification and susceptibility testing.
• Organism Identification and Susceptibility Testing
  • Performs manual and automated methods for the detection and identification of bacteria, yeast, fungi, parasites, or other microorganisms included in the laboratory's approved test menu.
  • Performs and interprets antimicrobial susceptibility testing using established procedures, interpretive criteria, and required quality-control standards.
  • Recognizes unusual, resistant, or clinically significant organisms and follows established protocols for confirmation, referral, notification, and documentation.
  • Identifies inconsistent or questionable findings and performs repeat testing, additional workup, or escalation when appropriate.
• Molecular and PCR Testing
  • Performs PCR, nucleic acid amplification, and other molecular microbiology testing within the laboratory's approved test menu and the technologist's documented competency.
  • Follows contamination-control practices, monitors run controls, investigates invalid or failed runs, and documents corrective action before releasing results.
  • Reviews amplification data and instrument flags in accordance with validated procedures and manufacturer requirements.
• Result Review, Reporting, and Communication
  • Reviews and integrates specimen source, patient history, prior laboratory results, and current findings to support accurate result interpretation.
  • Verifies and reports preliminary, final, corrected, and amended results within established turnaround times.
  • Communicates critical, urgent, or clinically significant results to providers and authorized clinical staff in accordance with laboratory policy, including complete read-back and notification documentation when required.
  • Enters and retrieves patient and test information through the laboratory information system and applicable electronic medical record interfaces, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
• Quality, Instrumentation, and Regulatory Compliance
  • Performs and documents quality controls, media and reagent checks, calibrations, equipment maintenance, and temperature monitoring; investigates failures and completes corrective action before patient results are released.
  • Operates, maintains, and troubleshoots microbiology and molecular diagnostic equipment and promptly escalates unresolved instrument or system issues.
  • Maintains accurate records for reagents, media, stains, controls, lot-to-lot verification, expiration dates, and inventory.
  • Participates in proficiency…