Phlebotomist/Lab Assistant

Responsibilities

• Obtains blood specimens and collects non-blood specimens such as urine, sputum, stool, and throat swabs for laboratory testing.
• Checks test requisition or computer label for correctness and completeness prior to collecting samples; reports discrepancies to unit personnel for correction.
• Verifies positive patient identification.
• Performs venipunctures, finger sticks, and heel sticks using aseptic technique and in accordance with department procedures.
• Observes hospital isolation procedures.
• Ensures specimen requirements are met at the time of collection and maintains specimen integrity.
• Coordinates the collection of therapeutic drug-monitoring assays with nursing personnel to ensure proper drug dose to collection time.
• Coordinates special laboratory studies with ambulatory services and pharmacy; administers oral test solutions.
• Initials, dates, and times all collections.
• Performs log-in of specimens.
• Performs screening tests and reports results, including POC INR, bleeding times, and quality control tests.
• Records results in logs and enters them into the computer system.
• Accessions and processes specimens to prepare them for laboratory testing.
• Labels specimens with computer labels and verifies specimen integrity; rejects unacceptable specimens per established procedures.
• Measures the total volume of 24-hour urine specimens and prepares aliquots for reference laboratory testing.
• Answers telephone calls, reads laboratory results to satisfy inquiries, records requests for blood collections, and routes calls as needed.
• Prepares specimens for reference laboratory dispatch and testing, including test order forms and log entries.
• Resolves ambiguous or unusual test orders by contacting providers, pathologists, nursing stations, or reference laboratories.
• Runs the computer work list to ensure all orders have been processed.
• Contributes to general laboratory functions and institutional needs:
  • Attends department staff meetings and in-service training.
  • Maintains compliance with laboratory and hospital policies, procedures, and safety practices.
  • Keeps the work area neat, clean, and restocks daily supplies.
  • Puts away supplies when shipments arrive.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• May assist in training phlebotomy students.
• May be assigned to various clinical areas to assist with specimen processing and testing procedures.