Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)

Overview

Texas Oncology is seeking a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) to join our team at the Austin Midtown location (901 W 38th St #200 Austin, Texas 78705). This is a full-time Monday - Friday 9:30am-6pm position with no weekends, call, or major holidays.

Responsibilities

• Assists with performing phlebotomy and collecting appropriate specimens from patients as ordered.
• Assures pre-authorization and completes appropriate consent forms (ABN) prior to collection of limited coverage tests.
• Assists with special procedures as needed (i.e. bone marrows in the room).
• Follows the laboratory’s procedures for specimen handling and processing, test analyses, reporting, and maintaining records of patient results.
• Performs specimen analysis of all Chemistry, Hematology and Immunology specimens.
• Maintains and operates all laboratory equipment. Performs daily, weekly and monthly instrument maintenance as indicated.
• Adheres to the laboratory’s quality control policies and documents all QC activities, instrument and procedural calibrations, and instrument maintenance.
• Records proper lot numbers of all controls, calibrators, and reagents.
• Participates in proficiency testing by performing sample analysis and reporting results at least once a year.
• Prepares peripheral blood smear and competently performs complete WBC differential on normal and abnormal smears.
• Performs microscopic examination of urinary sediment.
• Processes specimens for send-out testing.
• Follows the laboratory’s policies whenever test systems are not within the laboratory’s established acceptable levels of performance.
• Identifies problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results and either corrects the problem or notifies supervisor.
• Documents all corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory’s established performance specifications.
• Maintains proper documentation as described by the quality assurance program including accessioning logs, test report logs, quality control logs, equipment records and checklists.
• Verifies all critical results and documents with accurate follow-up.
• Maintains adequate inventory of supplies and ensures that all supplies are viable before using in patient testing.
• Sets up and prepares reagents, stains and other chemical solutions as needed.
• Restocks the laboratory area as needed.
• Sends specimens to reference laboratories for any testing not performed in house.
• Processes incoming orders for lab testing including reference laboratory specimens.
• Processes in-house and in-coming results for charting.
• Charts patient results in a timely manner as needed.
• Properly identifies and bands patients for blood product transfusion.
• Processes properly labeled specimens according to local bloodbank policy.
• Trains employees in laboratory procedures.
• May act as primary operator for at least one laboratory instrument.
• Participates in development of new instruments and procedures as needed.
• Acts as a resource for laboratory science information.
• May oversee daily laboratory activities of in the absence of supervisor.
• Complies with quality assurance standards.
• Adheres to all OSHA compliance laws and Universal Precaution procedures.
• Complies with applicable regulatory agency standards.
• Properly disposes of hazardous materials.
• Maintains a clean working environment.
• Maintains confidentiality of all information related to patients and medical staff.
• Performs CLIA classified Moderate and High complexity testing with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• Level 1: Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Science, or related health care field OR Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university with a major in biological science or chemistry with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in biology and chemistry, which may be obtained within, or in addition to, the baccalaureate degree.
• Current state license if required. AMT, ASCP or equivalent certification preferred.
• Position is entry level and requires no experience, however lab experience is preferred.
• 4-year degree candidates are required to take Hematology and/or Chemistry exam after 1 year of completion of training.
• Licensure and certification requirements depend on the state.
• Experience with Flow cytometry preferred.
• Level 2: In addition to Level 1 qualifications, requires a minimum of three years of experience.
• Level Sr: In addition to Level 1 and 2 qualifications, requires five years of experience.