Laboratory Technician - Public Health Lab

About the role

This is technical laboratory work in the performance of a variety of standardized laboratory tests. Work may involve administering screening tests on demand.

Responsibilities

• Applying ethical principals in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using, maintaining, and disseminating data and information about clinical specimens and results.
• Assisting in the preparation of written technical and operational procedures and corrective action reports.
• Adhering to the laboratory’s established corrective action policies and procedures whenever test systems are not within the laboratory’s established levels of acceptable performance, including documentation of all corrective actions taken.
• Maintaining records of test results, quality control results, patient reports, proficiency testing reports, and written procedures.
• Adhering to the laboratory’s quality control policies, including documentation of all quality control activities, instrument and procedural calibrations and maintenance functions.
• Submitting urine specimens to a referral laboratory for confirmatory testing according to established laboratory procedures.
• Utilizing standard laboratory techniques (e.g., media and reagent preparation, etc., drug screening T-Cups, alcohol saliva test strip) to support the Health Department’s public health laboratory.
• Communicating test results with linguistic and cultural proficiency to clients according to the laboratory’s established procedures.
• Engage in best specimen receiving practices, following ACHD standardized protocols
• Preparing accurate records, both on paper and in a computerized database, including laboratory test results, control results, proficiency testing results, and corrective actions reports.
• Filing of records and reports according to the laboratory’s established procedures.
• Providing support at the main laboratory when assigned, including preparation of media and reagents, record keeping, etc.
• Participating in professional development opportunities and contributing to the continuous improvement of individual, program, and organizational performance.
• Incorporating ethical standards of practice into all interactions with individuals, organizations, and communications.
• Responding to public health emergencies.
• Performing related work as required.

Requirements

• A High School Diploma or equivalent with courses in chemistry and biology and one (1) year of experience as a medical laboratory assistant or in medical laboratory testing.
• An Associates Degree in a chemical physical or biological science or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training acceptable to the Allegheny County Health Department.

Qualifications

• Valid automobile operator's license and the use of a vehicle/automobile during working hours. You will be required to travel.

Skills

• All applicable Federal, State & Local Laws related to Labor Relations & Practices
• HIPAA Policy & Procedures
• Microsoft Office programs including Access, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel and other database programs.
• Laboratory Skills
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Databases
• Data Entry
• Report Writing
• Interpersonal Communication
• Public Health
• Documentation
• Laboratory Equipment

Benefits

• Paid holidays, personal days, vacation and sick leave benefits, medical coverage and dental benefits, a retirement plan, life insurance and a deferred compensation plan after eligibility requirements have been met.
• Professional growth through training opportunities (CPR, First AID, Public Health Preparedness, Dignity and Respect, Points of Dispensing, and more); ability to advance in county system; job security; meaningfulness in daily work derived from public service; eligible for federal loan forgiveness; organizational commitment to ACHD’s mission to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of all Allegheny County residents, particularly the most vulnerable.

Pay

Hourly: $20.60 || Annual: $42,848.00

Schedule

Full-Time, Associate Level