Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Duties

• 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.
• Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis; requests new specimen if determined to be unusable.
• Serves as primary operator on new systems.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports.
• Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, and maintains instruments.
• Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring.
• Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• Performs daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance as required per instrument specifications.
• Performs reagent lot-to-lot validations and new lot quality control crossover studies.
• Performs bi-annual linearity and AMR studies.
• Assists in writing procedures and other documents as directed.
• Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures.
• Utilizes correlation of quantitative data with patient data (i.e., patient history, medications, etc.) to confirm validity of results.
• Assumes the responsibility to maintain operations including preventative maintenance and training of technicians and technologists on the operation of new test systems.
• Oversight of the clinical training experiences of technical and professional level technologist or technician training programs in order to fulfill education and professional requirements (where training programs exist).
• Provides technical training and guidance to students, residents, staff, and other employees.
• Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results.
• Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly.
• Calculates final test results and applies knowledge of statistics to prepare and interpret quality control data (mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation).
• Responsible for the accurate generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system.
• Responsible for monitoring the section for inspection readiness.
• Possesses knowledge of the contents of the CAP checklists for each section and is able to respond to the inspector for each checklist question or able to find the correct response.
• Performs CAP survey unknowns as assigned in all sections of the laboratory.
• The lead is assigned responsibility to assist in the preparation of inspections of the under the guidance of the Supervisory Medical Technologist, responsible for the checklist in each of these sections and the "evidence of compliance" (EOC).
• Technologist will participate with the inspection team during the onsite CAP inspection.
• Instruction techniques and practices are sufficient to provide technical orientation to new technologists, bench teaching for technicians and technologists, and to conduct in-service training for laboratory staff.
• Responsible for knowledge of regulatory agency requirements necessary to assure that work meets standards to the extent necessary to maintain accreditation from CAP, JCAHO, FDA, OSHA by following printed guidelines.
• The Lead will also be responsible for quality control review and recommend updates to procedure manuals for specific laboratory function.
• Gathers, tabulates, and submits monthly QC/QA data to the supervisor.
• The Lead Technologist must perform sound independent work with minimal oversight of the Supervisor and maintain competency to lead staff work performance.
• Performs Blood Bank duties.
• Performs all type and crossmatches for transfusion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
• Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
• Categorical or specialist certifications by ASCP or AMT.
• May 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).