Lab Tech

OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB:

This position is responsible for performing all Laboratory testing as authorized by the Laboratory Director to include proper procurement of blood, urine and other specimens on all age groups, maintenance of all laboratory equipment, daily quality control of all laboratory departments and reporting and maintaining all laboratory records. The section supervisor is also responsible for the oversight of a designated department including instrument maintenance, procedure manuals, problem solving, patient results and verification and acting as a liaison with nursing units and physician offices.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB: (other duties may be assigned)

Procure specimens needed to perform laboratory tests following safety and infection control guidelines.

• Properly identify the patient and label collection containers for all specimens procured daily.
• Perform venipunctures with little trauma or discomfort to the patient including micro samples from fingers, toes or heels.
• Collect or direct the collection of other specimens such as urine, stool, throat cultures and other miscellaneous cultures daily to include the collection of skin scrapings.

Determine the proper specimens needed for testing.

• Review physician orders to ensure that correct tests are ordered daily.
• Collect the proper specimens needed to perform the laboratory testing daily.
• Determine if specimens collected outside the laboratory are acceptable for testing and reject those that are not acceptable.
• Assist phlebotomy and outreach collection sites with specimen requirements

Perform all levels of laboratory testing as authorized by the Laboratory Director.

• Perform testing on all specimens according to laboratory policies and procedures, following safety and infection control guidelines.
• Ensure the results are accurate and reasonable and repeat any questionable results.
• Call critical results to the physician or his/her representative and document every time a critical result is reported.

Identify problems that may adversely affect test performance.

• Identify and document improperly collected specimens. Recollect the specimen or notify others to properly recollect another specimen dependent on test procedure.
• Identify malfunctioning instruments or testing procedures. Correct problems or notify the designated Department Supervisor.
• Document any problems and corrective action. If problems cannot be corrected, decide on an alternative testing method or testing site.
• Maintain records of unacceptable or rejected specimens and instrument repair daily.

Perform maintenance and quality control on all instruments and tests performed in the laboratory.

• Perform quality control on all instruments and tests per laboratory policies.
• Perform daily maintenance on all instruments as per laboratory policies and other maintenance as deemed necessary or as assigned.

Maintain continuing education and competency.

• Perform College of American Pathologists (CAP) proficiency and other proficiency testing within the laboratory as assigned.
• Attend educational and safety inservices when made available or when directed.
• Complete all laboratory specific required education within 30 calendar days
• Participate in laboratory specific educational topics

Report and maintain patient results.

• Maintain knowledge of hospital and laboratory informational system to order tests, result tests and retrieve results at a later time.
• Report and document critical results.

Send out specimens for tests not performed at WMC.

• Determine where tests can be performed if not at WMC, prepare specimen appropriately and forward to the appropriate facility.
• Record results daily when received.
• Use reference lab interface to order and obtain test results for non interfaced and unusual tests

Assume responsibility for the entire laboratory on off shifts.

• In the absence of the laboratory director and technical supervisor, make any decisions concerning the continued operation of the laboratory.
• Communicate to Nursing Supervisor any problems that would delay testing results.