Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical Laboratory Technician

Fort Leonard Wood, MO

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works under clinical supervision of the technical supervisor who outlines priorities, objectives and policies.
• Responsible for understanding and following The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) standards.
• Must not have color blindness/defective color vision.
• Rotates through various sections of the Blood Donor Center and on blood drives in remote locations. Independently performs standardized clinical laboratory tests and procedures appropriate to blood banking.
• Works under the clinical supervision of the Blood Donor Center Supervisor and Quality Assrance Officer who outlines assignment parameters, deadlines, and priorities. Works independently performing a full range of procedures unique to blood donor center operations. Expected to work independently and to recognize and resolve problems.
• Work performed is covered in established standard operating procedure (SOP) and instructions. Maintains a professional attitude and communicates effectively with donors, patients, physicians, and fellow employees.
• Assists in the established donor recruitment practices unique to local donor base to maintain adequate number of donors to support mission requirements. Reports questionable cases concerning donor acceptance, deferment, or rejection. Assists in determining donor eligibility by performing donor medical screening to include donor vital signs and hemoglobin determinations Assists in the training/instruction of assigned laboratory personnel in appropriate procedures, techniques, and instrumentation for use at the Blood Donor Center. Ensure all blood collection, processing and testing are in accordance with various regulations and guidelines (ie, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, Code of Federal Regulations, College of American Pathologists (CAP), American Association of Blood Bank (AABB) standards, standard operating procedures (SOPs), The Joint Commission (TJC), instrument manuals, manufacturer’s package inserts, etc.), and statement of major duties, knowledge, skills, abilities, responsibilities, physical and performance requirements of this position and its organizational relationships.
• Performs a wide variety of blood donor collection procedures to include donor registration, medical interviews, donor screening and donor phlebotomy for both in-house and mobile site blood drives ensuring donors meet all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria and current manufacturing practices.
• Determines eligibility of potential donors based on judgment and in accordance with SOP and regulatory guidelines. Screens subjects donating blood (e.g., volunteer blood donors, autologous and therapeutic patients) and exercises care to ensure their blood is at a safe level prior to being used. Takes vital signs (i.e., temperature, pulse, and blood pressure) and checks hemoglobin and/or hematocrit levels, ensuring prospective donors are eligible to donate blood.
• Conducts second overall assessment of donors. Explains the procedures and prepares donor arm for phlebotomy. Screens candidates for autologous collections. Exercises independent judgment to ensure phlebotomy procedures will not harm the donor and that the collected blood is processed, tested, and available at the time of the patient’s needs. Monitors donor during donation process and observes for possible adverse reaction (e.g., light headache, passing out, convulsing). Administers first aid or calls for medical help depending on the circumstances.
• Strips, segments, weighs, and stores whole blood units. Records information, such as time of started and stopped drawing blood. Prepares samples to be sent to testing laboratory. Receives and reviews test results, ensuring proper procedures are followed if irregularities or tests discrepancies are found. Enters results into the computer system to update the files of blood donors and follow up log for serological testing of blood donor units. Inputs all data on the blood products in the computer system to ensure proper release and inventory of products. Labels units for shipment or storage in accordance with SOP to ensure accuracy and appropriateness of the release and use of the blood product.
• Performs apheresis platelet collections, which involves the utilization of apheresis donor equipment and completion of pre and post donation packets. Apheresis equipment operation requires programming the instrument with pre-donation data, donor phlebotomy, monitoring donor and equipment during the apheresis procedure and inputting post-donation data to determine the final platelet yield. Apheresis procedures further require the operation of an automated hematology analyzer which includes ensuring the instrument powers up correctly, analysis of QC samples, checking results accuracy, correctly programming the instrument for sample analysis and diluting samples as needed. Apheresis procedures require the performance of manual white cell counts using a Nagoette Chamber (high complexity test) in leuko-reduced blood components which includes obtaining the samples from the platelet bag, loading the hemocytometer, identifying white cells and counting them manually with a microscope to calculate the total white count using a manual formula.
• Prepares collected units for processing, processes the units into red cells and plasma, labels all manufactured products, prepares products for storage/shipment and distributes products as required. Inputs blood donor demographics as well as blood product information and test results into EBMS. Uses EBMS for tracking and management of blood products in all blood area systems. Performs in accordance with protocols and assists in maintaining conformity of staff with protocols. Performs follow-up care for donors displaying reactions. Contributes to blood drive set-up, teardown, canteen maintenance, quality control and record keeping.
• Perform a full range of clinical laboratory tests in any one or a combination of the following sections of the laboratory: hematology and blood bank. Determine the suitability of specimens for analysis. Prepare specimens for analysis and ensure that the physiologic state of the properties is maintained. Prepare reagents and primary reference materials as necessary. Calibrate, standardize, adjust, and maintain instruments. Verify correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks. Identify the cause of common problems and make simple repairs. Recognize and react to indicators of malfunction. Locate and implement corrections. Obtain analytical data, convert to a prescribed unit of reporting, as necessary, and correlate data to verify results. Conduct quality control procedures on equipment, reagents and products and maintain proper records for quality control and quality assurance reports. Prepare specimens for transport to MTF laboratory or for mail out. Prepare biological waste for proper disposal.
• Performs a wide variety of frozen blood component manufacturing procedures to include, glycerolization, deglycerolization, product inventory and product distribution. Inputs blood product information and test results into EBMS. Receives specimens from donor collections for testing.
• Follows established procedures for processing of blood specimens. Maintains positive identification of specimens and test requests until results are verified. Uses EBMS and other information systems as required for inputting blood specimen data and results.
• Performs a variety of difficult and complex procedures involving the processing of blood units such as quarantining of units testing positive for infectious diseases, initiating destruction packets for destroyed units and entering/verifying testing results.
• Receives specimens from donor collections for testing. Prepares specimens for shipment to testing laboratories. Receives, inputs, and verifies testing results from outside laboratories. Tests include ABO/Rh, RPR, antibody screen, CMV, HIV, HCV, HBsAg, HBC, HTLV-I/II, NAT (HIV/HCV/HBs and WNV), Chagas and new assays as they are developed. Determines the appropriateness of the specimens (timing of specimen from collection to testing, possible interference, proper specimen type, correct temperature, etc.
• Manufactures packed red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and recovered plasma in accordance with SOP. Maintains records on component preparations. Performs quality control tests for red blood cells, platelets, and instrumentation in accordance with SOP.
• Stocks blood donor, blood processing, and blood product manufacturing supplies and mobile equipment. Ensures stock levels are adequate. Participates in mobile blood drives to remote sites. Operates and performs daily preventive maintenance, repair, and quality control on blood bank equipment (e.g., centrifuges, automated apheresis, venipuncture instruments). Performs specialized tests on platelets for quality control in accordance with standards. Works with hazardous materials (e.g., infectious biological material) and adheres to established safety procedures to minimize potential danger to self and others. Operates various computers and computer systems, to include the computer control blood bank management system. Uses computer hardware and software programs to enter or recall data of donor registration and history, complete blood and component preparation, maintain test result tables, label units, control inventory, and ship blood products to the transfusion service. Records donor deferrals in the computer system per SOP. Maintains legible and accurate records in accordance with regulatory requirements for all procedures (e.g., test results, collection, preparation, processing, inventory, shipping, quality control). Collects and maintains quality control data and records as required. Provides input to the supervisor in evaluating new instrumentation, procedures, and products for possible future use. Keeps abreast of new developments in the field of immunohematology and of serological testing of donor units. Evaluates new techniques/equipment for use in the blood bank and provides recommendations.
• Participates in the training and orientation of new personnel (military and civilian), reserve military personnel, and students in blood banking theory and operations. Monitors inventory of supplies, reagents and controls allowing sufficient lead-time to obtain additional supplies prior to running out. Annotates date received and initials all supplies upon receipt and opening. Stores reagents in accordance with manufacturer’s directions. Ensures all expired reagents/controls are disposed of properly.
• Performs all required equipment maintenance and calibration. Responsible for performing daily, weekly, and quarterly maintenance on all donor center equipment, to include apheresis equipment, automated analyzers, timers, centrifuges, thermometers, etc. Incumbent works with considerable independence within framework of guidelines previously established to carry out testing, setting priorities based on workload requirements, exercising sound judgment and interpretation.
• Requires a working knowledge of the various information systems related to the automated equipment as well as the instrument error/malfunction code panels. Utilizes prescribed calibrators, reagents and controls as stated in the manufacturer guidelines and standard operating procedures. Performs preliminary steps for instrument setup, function verification and operation for instrumentation. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunctions to identify direct causes, whether technical (e.g., reagent or specimen) or instrument, initiating the appropriate corrective action. Works with manufacturer technical services to identify and correct malfunctions. Evaluates and interprets results to determine if data is complete and valid and to recognize panic, abnormal and reactive values.
• Uses seasoned judgment and cognitive skills in order to correlate manual and automated test results and/or correlate integrated test results from panels run for validity to various disease states. Uses independent judgment to analyze results in order to determine their adequacy for notification of donors of unusual results as well as the adequacy of the quality of the product when manufacturing of blood components. Notifies the medical technologists for all repeat reactive samples, ensuring immediate quarantine of products is conducted. Reviews, edits and processes final results on the EBMS. Ensures an occurrence report is generated when any variance, planned or unplanned deviation from SOPs is performed. Ensures that equipment preventive maintenance is performed on a periodic basis or when required. Checks unexpected or unusual results, unacceptable control values, etc.
• Assists in the development of standard operations manuals for the Blood Donor Center which include criteria for selection of donors; donor instructions, reactions and care; and donor unit processing and component manufacturing. Assists in the monitoring of established protocols for correlations of test results and pre-set trouble shooting protocols. Assists and performs quality control procedures throughout the Blood Donor Center. Monitors defined reference values/ranges and corresponding record keeping systems. Identifies and reports needs for change in the Quality Control/Quality Assurance Program. Assists in the evaluation, modification or adaptation of new tests systems or techniques; test kits; reagents; and equipment; and reports recommendations for local use.
• Assists in the training of donor center staff, military medical laboratory technician training and pathology resident instruction on blood donor operations and technology. Required to staff mobile blood drives in a TDY capacity which may include weekends and holidays.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduate from a medical laboratory technician training program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP formerly CAHEA) or educational program acceptable to the American Medical Technologist (AMT).
• Maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association, or the American Red Cross.
• One year of experience in a clinical laboratory within the last two years prior to contract execution, in any one or a combination of the following sections: hematology, chemistry, cytology, histology, urinalysis, serology, microbiology, and blood bank.
• Certification/registration as Medical Laboratory Technician or equivalent by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), AMT or other agency approved by the Assistant Secretary Defense (Health Affairs), ASD(HA).
• Must be a US Citizen.

Potomac Healthcare Solutions offers the following benefits:

• Medical Insurance with PPO and HSA Options (United Healthcare)
• Dental Insurance (Humana)*
• Vision Insurance (Humana)*
• 401(k) with Employer Match
• Health Savings Account with Employer Match
• Prescription Drug Program
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability (Mutual of Omaha) *
• Voluntary Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability (Mutual of Omaha) *
• Relocation Assistance
• 10 Days Paid Time Off
• 11 Federal Holidays
• Continuing Education Assistance/License Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Incentives and More

NOTE: *Effective the 1st day of the month following start date

About Potomac Healthcare Solutions:
Potomac Healthcare Solutions is an award-winning, dynamic, and rapidly growing healthcare services company with a proven background in providing world-class health services for both government and commercial organizations. We are actively recruiting skilled, caring practitioners to support our rapidly growing program base and supported healthcare facilities. If you would like to be a part of a quality-driven organization and make a difference, we would like to talk to you!

If you do not find interest in this opportunity but know of someone who may, we kindly ask that you refer the individual to Potomac Healthcare Solutions by forwarding this job posting.

Potomac Healthcare Solutions, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected classes under the laws applicable to Potomac Healthcare Solutions.

Potomac Healthcare Solutions, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer Veterans/Disabled.

***This position is contingent upon contract award.