CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST I (Non-Competitive)

Open non-competitive job opportunity with filing starting Monday, November 20, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until the needs of the service are met.

About the Department

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. DHS operates as an integrated health system, including 25 health centers, four acute care hospitals, and provides healthcare to youth in the juvenile justice system and inmates in LA County jails. DHS annually serves over 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual operating budget of over $6.9 billion.

Through academic affiliations with UCLA, USC, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences, DHS hospitals serve as training sites for physicians completing Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty. DHS also manages the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency, the County's 911 emergency response system, Housing for Health, and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry.

The mission of DHS is to advance the health of patients and communities by providing extraordinary care.

About the Role

Performs a variety of standardized clinical laboratory tests within a specialized area (such as biochemistry, hematology, microbiology, or immunohematology) or across specialty lines using manual or automated methodology, under the supervision of a physician or a Supervising Clinical Laboratory Scientist in a general or specialized medical laboratory on any shift.

Responsibilities

• Calibrates laboratory instruments following prescribed methods and performs quality control and improvement procedures to assure operational accuracy of equipment and test reproducibility; performs manufacturer-recommended routine maintenance on equipment.
• Oversees the work of Laboratory Assistants assigned to assist with testing.
• Performs specific biochemical tests on body specimens such as whole blood, blood plasma, serum, urine, spinal fluid, and gastric secretions to determine the presence and quantity of metabolic and endocrine substances, toxic substances, and more.
• Performs macroscopic and microscopic examination of urine samples to detect various substances and determine specific gravity.
• Conducts hematological tests such as red blood cell count, reticulocyte, platelet, eosinophil, and leukocyte counts; examines blood smears for abnormal cells, and performs blood sedimentation tests, hemoglobin determinations, and hematocrits.
• Cultures, isolates, and identifies enteric pathogens, parasites, tubercle bacilli, pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms in various substances using standardized laboratory procedures.
• Draws, groups, types, and cross-matches donor-recipient blood; performs antibody screening and identification tests to resolve cross-matching problems; issues whole blood and blood components for transfusion purposes.
• Performs immuno-serological test methods to determine the efficacy of tests and identify the presence and measure quantities of antibodies associated with various medical conditions.
• Utilizes computer programs that operate in conjunction with laboratory equipment; enters test results, quality control, and improvement data.
• Provides instructions to medical personnel on specimen collection requirements.
• Provides bench-level instruction on detailed aspects of assignments to licensed trainees and new laboratory scientists and medical personnel in training.

Requirements

• Clinical Laboratory Scientist license or Limited Clinical Laboratory Scientist Licenses issued by the State of California Department of Public Health in one of the following specialties when assigned to a specialized area such as chemistry, microbiology, hematology, toxicology, and immunohematology:
  • Clinical Chemist Scientist License: Authorized to perform high-complexity tests in chemistry, immunology, and molecular biology.
  • Clinical Microbiologist Scientist License: Authorized to perform high-complexity tests in microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology.
  • Clinical Immunohematologist Scientist License: Authorized to perform high-complexity tests limited to immunohematology.
  • Clinical Toxicologist Scientist License: Authorized to perform high-complexity tests limited to toxicology.
  • Clinical Hematologist Scientist License: Authorized to perform high-complexity tests limited to hematology.
• Applicants must provide the title of the required license, certificate number, date of issue, date of expiration, and the name of the issuing agency. A legible photocopy of the license must be attached at the time of filing or emailed within 7 calendar days.
• All required licenses and certifications must be active and unrestricted.
• Applicants claiming experience in a state other than California must provide their Clinical Laboratory Scientist License Number from that state.

Physical Requirements

This role requires light physical effort, including occasional light lifting up to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Pay

New appointments and current incumbents shall be compensated at Step 5 of the applicable salary range under a Manpower Shortage Recruitment, effective until June 30, 2027, or until the shortage no longer exists.

The County of Los Angeles offers a 20% recruitment and retention bonus for full-time Clinical Laboratory Scientist I positions in Correctional Health Services working on-site in designated facilities.

A Critical Shortage Range of 20% has been approved for full-time Clinical Laboratory Scientist I positions assigned to the night shift.

Schedule

Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.