Clinical Lab Scientist

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements CitizenshipBe a citizen of the United States (U.S.)Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C.7407(a)EducationA bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or universityCertificationCandidates must meet one of the certification options belowGeneralist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMTGeneralist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMTCategorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMTNOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification heldCategorical 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-CertifiedApplicants 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 below that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science - medical technology - clinical laboratory science - or in a related science (for example - chemistry - biochemistry - biology - microbiology - immunology - etc.) AND Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program within the last 5 yearsClinical practice programs completed after 1974 must be accredited by the NAACLS - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP - formerly CAHEA) - or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a 4-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degreeA bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology) - 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*) - and one course in mathematics AND 1 year of post-MLT certification clinical laboratory experience within the last 3 yearsThis experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing (as categorized by the FDA) in a clinical laboratoryResearch laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirementA bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university including 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of biological science (with one course in microbiology) - 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry*) - and one course in mathematics AND 4 years of clinical laboratory experience within the last nine years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood bank - chemistry - hematology - microbiology - immunology - and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratoryA bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) in chemistry - which may be obtained within or in addition to - the bachelor's degree AND Completion of a 50-week U.S. Military MLT training program (with official certificate verifying completion of training) within the last 10 years AND 1 year full-time clinical laboratory experience within the last 10 yearsThis experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking - chemistry - hematology - microbiology - immunology - and urinalysis/body fluids (or categorical experience that matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratoryResearch laboratory experience does not fulfill this requirementNon-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.7405(c)(2)Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPLNon-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtainedTemporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment Failure to Obtain CertificationIn all cases - CLSs must actively work to meet requirements for certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupationAt the time of appointment - the Human Resources (HR) Office staff - in collaboration with the supervisor - will provide the employee with the written requirements for certification - including the time by which the certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadlineFailure to obtain certification during this time period may result in separation from employmentLoss of CredentialIf an employee fails to maintain the required certification - management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff - must immediately remove the employee from duties and responsibilities associated with this occupationThis may also result in separation from employmentMay qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)Grade Determinations: Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-07 Experience.None beyond the basic requirementsClinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-09 Experience or EducationCandidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.OR EducationMaster's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related scienceKnowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn 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 testingQualifications continued in Education Section... Duties Duties include - but are not limited to: Properly collect - handle - accession - and label specimens according to but not limited to safety - patient identification and infection control policiesInstruct Medical Center or CBOC personnel on preliminary procedures in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Users guideEvaluate the suitability of the specimen for analysis - requesting new specimen if determined to be unusablePrepare specimens for analysis - ensuring that the physiological state of the specimen properties is maintainedInspect all blood products received in blood bank upon arrivalMonitor expiration dates - and storage temperatures dailyInspect blood products for contamination - breakage and return products prior to the expiration dateRelease routine and emergency use blood and plasma according to standard operating proceduresMonitor and replace temperature charts according to policyEvaluate and monitor the performance of test procedures using manual and/or automated techniques in accordance with established protocolsRecognize and react to indicators of malfunctiontroubleshoot and implement correctionsMaintain records for instrument failures and correctionsSelect - perform - evaluate and monitor the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocolsRecognize and react to indicators of malfunctionlocate and implement correctionsConduct quality control procedures on equipment - reagents - and products and maintain proper records for quality control reportsParticipate in the quality control program for the Section - assures that appropriate records are maintained by understanding quality assurance principlesOperate a variety of instruments such as electronic cell counter - discrete chemistry analyzer - discrete urinalysis analyzer - centrifuge - microscope and othersCalibrate and perform maintenance on equipmentVerify correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoringIdentify the cause of common problems and makes simple repairsDifficult repairs or malfunctions are resolved with assistance from the manufacturer of the technical service centerDocument calibrations and maintenance performed as required for accreditationEvaluate the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay proceduresCorrelate quantitative data with patient data (i.e. - history - and medications) to verify resultsPerform additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient resultsRecognize abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directlyResponsible 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 systemAssist in development and maintenance and modification of various computer applications liaison are maintained with technical representatives to correct computer programming and to resolve common problemsMaintain appropriate levels of supplies and reagents for the efficient operation of the assigned sectionWork Schedule: Noon to 10PM - Tuesday - Friday Compressed: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized