Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician

About the role

This position is located at the Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN-6) - Fayetteville VA Medical Center in Fayetteville - NC and is aligned under the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS).

Responsibilities

• Develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements.
• Performs specialized - high-complexity tasks in the areas advanced blood banking - molecular microbiology - and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in addition to generalist testing in hematology - chemistry - urinalysis and coagulation.
• Serves as a primary operator for specified equipment and assumes all primary operator responsibilities and duties required to maintain equipment in accordance with accreditation requirements.
• Evaluates the suitability of blood and body fluid specimens for analysis - requests new specimens if determined to be unusable.
• 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.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment - reagents - and products and documents/maintains proper records for quality control reports.
• Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring.
• Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Documents and maintains all quality control - maintenance - and corrective action logs.
• Performs instrument to instrument correlations - new reagents and control validations and all other technical procedures required to maintain laboratory compliance.
• 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.
• Generates laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system (LIS).
• Performs review of manually entered laboratory results in the Laboratory Information System (LIS).
• Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results.
• Tracks down "missing" tubes - samples and follows protocol for reordering tests with appropriate documentation.
• Performs proficiency surveys - linearity studies and other intra laboratory proficiency activities to maintain competency.
• Participates in quality management and performance improvement activities by performing high complex testing for validation studies - collecting and reporting data - and recording workload statistics.
• Affords assistance to supervisors in ensuring proper preparation for inspections and accreditation by the applicable accrediting agencies: i.e. - American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - Joint Commission and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Affords assistance in the maintenance and ordering of inventory and supplies required for efficient operation.
• Performs phlebotomy and collects samples in accordance with laboratory procedures.
• Maintains effective written and oral communication with all VA personnel - medical staff - patients - and the public.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and wise decision-making skills through testing and reporting of laboratory results.
• Affords assistance in special projects - delegated assignments - and any other related duties - as assigned.

Requirements

The duties and responsibilities of the Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) include but are not limited to:

• Performs specialized - high-complexity tasks in the areas advanced blood banking - molecular microbiology - and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in addition to generalist testing in hematology - chemistry - urinalysis and coagulation.
• Serves as a primary operator for specified equipment and assumes all primary operator responsibilities and duties required to maintain equipment in accordance with accreditation requirements.
• Evaluates the suitability of blood and body fluid specimens for analysis - requests new specimens if determined to be unusable.
• 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.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment - reagents - and products and documents/maintains proper records for quality control reports.
• Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring.
• Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Documents and maintains all quality control - maintenance - and corrective action logs.
• Performs instrument to instrument correlations - new reagents and control validations and all other technical procedures required to maintain laboratory compliance.
• 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.
• Generates laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system (LIS).
• Performs review of manually entered laboratory results in the Laboratory Information System (LIS).
• Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results.
• Tracks down "missing" tubes - samples and follows protocol for reordering tests with appropriate documentation.
• Performs proficiency surveys - linearity studies and other intra laboratory proficiency activities to maintain competency.
• Participates in quality management and performance improvement activities by performing high complex testing for validation studies - collecting and reporting data - and recording workload statistics.
• Affords assistance to supervisors in ensuring proper preparation for inspections and accreditation by the applicable accrediting agencies: i.e. - American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - Joint Commission and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Affords assistance in the maintenance and ordering of inventory and supplies required for efficient operation.
• Performs phlebotomy and collects samples in accordance with laboratory procedures.
• Maintains effective written and oral communication with all VA personnel - medical staff - patients - and the public.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and wise decision-making skills through testing and reporting of laboratory results.
• Affords assistance in special projects - delegated assignments - and any other related duties - as assigned.

Qualifications

• Citizenship: Citizenship of the United States in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(c)
• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) granted by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP Board of Certification or ASCP Board of Registry) - American Medical Technologists - or American Association of Bioanalysts
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• Grade Determinations: To qualify at the GS-7 - in addition to the basic requirements for employment - applicants must also possess one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) and demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of concepts - principles - methodology of medical laboratory technology - regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests; Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing; Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes; Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment