Job Description

The Medical Laboratory Assistant is responsible for up-front specimen handling and facilitating the workflow in and out of the laboratory. Assists laboratory personnel with laboratory procedures, may perform some CLIA “Waived” and/or “Moderately Complex” testing and support clerical duties. Relies on established guidelines to accomplish tasks.

1. Productivity

• Determines blood donor eligibility by performing related testing, evaluating donor/patient medical history, assisting physicians with special tests and procedures, recruiting blood donors, and completing appropriate records pertaining to donations in a manner that ensures donor confidentiality. Participates in mobile and in-house blood bank operations and maintains donor stations where designated on a regular rotation. Separates blood components, pools platelets, and thaws frozen plasma for transfusion. Visits patients who have received blood during surgery in order to inform them about the hospital blood donation program.
• If applicable, performs noncomplex testing (i.e., sed rates) as well as directed testing (i.e., sweat testing) following SOPs.
• Receives and organizes specimens. Independently prioritizes workload.
• Investigates and takes responsibility for proper identification of each specimen. Processes specimens according to procedures (may involve centrifuging and aliquoting specimens). Sorts and tracks according to the appropriate performing laboratory, maintaining the integrity of the sample. If in Blood Bank, verifies label, boxes, ships and prepares documents for Recovered Plasma and filters Red Blood Cells to remove leukocytes.

2. Quality

• Quality is paramount in all aspects of daily functions and work processes to include specimen preparation, assaying, and result reporting in compliance with established policies and procedures toward promoting high quality health care standards. Performs quality control, instrument maintenance and check procedures, and maintains accurate and complete records of daily activities.
• Assists in care and maintenance of the laboratory work area and equipment.

3. Compliance

• Demonstrates initiative in adapting to changes or unusual circumstances, especially those not covered by written or verbal instructions, in a way that promotes cooperation and minimizes disruption to the working environment.
• Combines ethical judgment with technical skill within the policy and legal guidelines of the hospital and laboratory in decision making processes and in the performance of procedures.
• Observes and adheres to all departmental and hospital policies and procedures, and follows all safety, quality assurance, and infection control standards.

4. Teamwork / Customer Service

• Coordinates, plans, and utilizes time efficiently in an effort to prioritize and organize duties while remaining flexible to meet the needs of the laboratory service customers. Maintains an inventory of supplies in work areas and requests and orders supplies as necessary to ensure efficient departmental operations and avoid duplication of energy and services whenever possible.
• Acts as an intermediary between clients, physicians and laboratory technologists in order to obtain additional specimen information that is crucial to the accuracy of test results. Consistently exhibits a professional manner, appearance, and performance in the approach to job related duties in an effort to maintain high standards in the delivery of quality health care services.

5. Other duties as assigned

• Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent

License and Certification: Must possess a Louisiana License: CLS-Laboratory Assistant