Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Details

Posted: 03-Aug-25

Location: Fort Meade, South Dakota

Categories:

Allied Health

Internal Number: 842343100

Summary

This position is located at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center. The incumbent serves as a generalist in Clinical Laboratory Science with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of Specimen Collection - Chemistry - Hematology/Coagulation - Urinalysis - Immunohematology - and Microbiology. The generalist medical technologist rotates with other generalists on a regular basis through the above-mentioned areas.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship

Citizen of the United States

Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below

(a)Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT

(b)Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT

(c)Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT

NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held

Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including - Ancillary Testing Coordinator - Education Coordinator - Laboratory Information Manager - Quality Manager - Laboratory Manager - Regional Technical Specialist - National Quality and Compliance Agent - Regional Program Manager - Regional Director - Laboratory Director - or National Quality and Compliance Officer)

Exception for Non-Certified

(a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency

(b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C. A 7405(c)(2)

(c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL

(d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained

(e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment

Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials

Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1)Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency - and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program

OR (2)The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination

NOTE: Possession of a certification identified above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed

Grade Determinations: Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-07

(1) Experience

None beyond the basic requirements

Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-09

(1) Experience or Education

Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade

OR (b) Education

Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science

(2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities

In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing

(b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles

(c) Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance

(d) Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments

(e) Ability to read and interpret written instructions

(f) Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of testing

Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-11

(1) Experience or Education Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: (a) Experience

1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level

OR (b) Education

Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science

(2) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities

In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work

(b) Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement

(c) Skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes

(d) Ability to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair instrumentation

(e) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results

(f) Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions

(g) Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the health care team - external relations - customer service - and patient education

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis - requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable

Prepares specimens for analysis - ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained

Selects - performs - evaluates - and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols

Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction

locates and implements corrections

Performs quality control procedures on equipment - reagents - and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports

Calibrates - standardizes - adjusts - and maintains instruments

Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring

Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs

Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures

Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e. - history - medications) to verify results

Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results

Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly

Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system

Performs venipunctures as well as capillary collections for specimen collection

Instructs - assists - and advises medical technicians - residents - hospital staff - patients and students as necessary regarding questions including - but not limited to - patient testing - specimen collection - equipment - ordering requirements - etc

The CLS develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current regulations

Assists with laboratory projects and improvements such as safety - quality control monitoring - supplies and reagent monitoring and ordering - analyzer specialist - and/or primary operator on test systems

Has ability to assess situations within the laboratory and formulate an appropriate action plan

Adheres to all facility - local - state and federal safety requirements

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am - 4:00pm - On Call Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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