Medical Lab Assistant

Summary

Laboratory assistants work under the direct supervision of the medical technologist (Medical Laboratory Specialist) and a pathologist or other qualified physician, performing pre-, post, and analytic tasks in histology, cytology, microbiology, and the general laboratory.

(75%) SUPPORT FOR CLINICAL TESTING (Duties are dependent on site):

• Executes waived testing, including result reporting.
• Histology/Cytology: prepares tissue specimens and enters information into the laboratory information system for technical personnel and the Pathologist; assists with inventory management.
• General laboratory (Chemistry, Hematology, Urinalysis, Blood Bank): prepares urine specimens for testing; prepares analyzers for testing, monitors inventory, loads supplies and specimens, and empties waste.
• Microbiology: prepares and stains slides for bacteriologic study; plates specimens on specified media; prepares specimens for testing; assists with inventory management; prepares analyzers for testing.
• Keeps accurate temperature, quality control and various other required records.
• Assists with pending logs.

(25%) SPECIMEN PREPARATION AND PROCESSING:

• Identifies specimens properly; uses basic laboratory tools (centrifuges, incubators, balances); prepares specimens for processing and performs venipunctures.
• Registers patients and accurately enters data into the hospital and laboratory information systems.

• Adheres to all laboratory policies and procedures.
• Maintains confidentiality of all medical information.
• Follows patient registration, billing and coding procedures where required.
• Demonstrates competency in Infection Prevention and Control practices and policies.
• Performance, operation, and reporting of waived and point‑of‑care testing (e.g., glucose, pregnancy tests, urine dipsticks, coagulation tests).
• Performance and interpretation of quality control; critical values and STAT results; result retrieval and reporting.
• Preparation, labeling, and staining of slides; microbiology setup and plating.
• Processes related to reagents, standards, and controls; analytical instrumentation (loading, test initiation, error recognition and reporting, specimen dilution, and calibrations).
• Review, clarification, and verification of physician orders.
• Follows strict identification policies to accurately identify specimens and perform specimen labeling.
• Determines acceptability of specimen for testing, specimen prioritization and distribution, specimen storage, transport, and special handling considerations (time, temperature, and light).
• Specimen processing including, but not limited to, centrifugation and aliquoting.
• Adheres to all Federal CLIA, CAP, and OSHA regulations.
• Regulations; safety and infection control; waste disposal; laboratory equipment; professionalism and ethics; and laboratory information system (LIS).
• Provides for the age‑specific needs of the population served according to department standards and policies/procedures as evidenced by observation, documentation, and peer feedback for patients who range in age from birth to 100+ years.
• All other duties as assigned.

• Credential: MLA (ASCP):
  Medical Laboratory Assistant.
• Must hold and maintain an active, national Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) certification within 12 months of hire or transfer into role (preferred first attempt within 3 months of hire).

• Education:
  
  HIGH.
• Equivalent
  
  Experience:
  
  must meet one of the following combinations outlined by ASCP: