Salary : $39,858.72 - $53,583.36 Annually
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: PH4976D
Department: PUBLIC HEALTH
Opening Date: 07/24/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
Position/Program Information
EXAMINATION NUMBER:
PH4976D
FIRST DAY OF FILING: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (PT)
This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: Open Competitive Job Opportunity
No out-of-class Experience will be accepted .
DEFINITION: Assists laboratory personnel in the performance of standard laboratory tests on human and other specimens or assigns, trains, and reviews the work of a group of lower-level laboratory positions.
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class work under the technical and administrative direction of higher-level laboratory personnel. Positions are found in a laboratory setting and perform a variety of tasks such as logging in patient specimens, adding fixatives and preservatives to specimens, smearing specimens onto microscopic glass slides, transcribing laboratory tests results into a computer, preparing media and reagents, or assigning, training, and reviewing the work of a group of lower-level laboratory positions.
Essential Job Functions

• Receives patient specimens such as blood, urine, feces, pulmonary fluids, gastro-intestinal fluids, body carry fluids, and sputum slides with standard laboratory request forms providing information such as patient's name and tests to be performed by licensed personnel; verifies patient's name and permanent file number by matching information on request form and specimen container.
• Logs in specimen information such as patient's name, permanent file number, and hospital ward number in laboratory log, worksheet or computer; routes specimen to appropriate work station or laboratory for the standard tests to be performed.
• Prepares specimens for laboratory testing by adding fixatives or preservatives utilizing a prescribed technique/instrument appropriate to the type of specimen.
• Processes specimens for subsequent analysis by licensed personnel by performing duties such as making primary inoculations of test material to be cultured, and smearing and staining test specimens on laboratory glass slides and/or plates.
• Operates semi-and fully-automatic laboratory equipment pre-calibrated by licensed laboratory personnel to perform specific tests; loads specimen on machine, and records machine-derived test results portrayed in the form of a digital read-out, and alerts supervisor before proceeding if test result or procedure outcome falls outside a specific range.
• Transcribes laboratory test results from laboratory reports/worksheets into a permanent log or computer; routes laboratory reports to patients' ward so medical personnel will be informed of laboratory findings.
• Prepares specific quantities of media, reagents (including acids) and other solutions and compounds by mixing components to standard ratios using laboratory apparatus such as balances, volumetric and graduated cylinders following written procedures; lifts and moves containers holding several gallons or other substantial quantity of constituent parts or compounds produced.
• Performs scheduled routine maintenance on miscellaneous devices such as microscopes, centrifuges, and knife sharpeners.
• Maintains laboratory supplies and equipment by cleaning stain set-ups and filters; refresh or replace solutions according to department policies and procedures.
• Provides technical direction to a group of lower-level laboratory positions by assigning and reviewing their work to ensure efficient unit operation, and informs supervisor of their performance; trains personnel in the performance of lower-level laboratory work, and resolves scheduling, work assignment, technical and operational problems within established guidelines.
• Responds to telephone inquiries regarding laboratory test results and routes technical inquiries to higher level personnel.

Requirements
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:
Six months' experience in laboratory work* in a public health, medical or biological laboratory.
PHYSICAL CLASS: III - Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*Laboratory work is defined as experience accessioning and/or processing specimens for diagnostic testing using general laboratory equipment (e.g., centrifuge, autoclave, scale, etc.)
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Credit will be given to applicants who possess the following desirable qualifications.

• Additional points will be awarded for additional experience beyond the Selection Requirements.

Additional Information
EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of an evaluation of experience and desirable qualifications based upon application information and supplemental questionnaire at the time of filing weighted 100%.
Applicants must meet the Selection Requirements and must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added on the Eligible Register.
Passing this examination and being added on the Eligible Register does not guarantee an offer of employment.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be added to the
Eligible Register in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of eligibility.
NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS.
Complete applications will be processed on an as received basis and promulgated to the Eligible Register accordingly.
VACANCY INFORMATION: The Eligible Register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Health as they occur.
AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
SPECIAL INFORMATION:
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
How to Apply Applications must be submitted ONLINE ONLY . Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted. Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 pm deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address. Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button located on this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website. Any required documents and/or additional information, if any, must be received with your application at the time of filing online or within fifteen (15) calendar days from application submission to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements. Fill out your application and supplemental questionnaire completely and correctly to receive full credit for any relevant education, training, and job experience you include. In the space provided for education, include the names and addresses of schools attended, dates attended, degree received, and degree major. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job/position title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and detailed description of work and duties performed. If the application and/or Supplemental Questionnaire is/are incomplete, the application will be REJECTED. IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please note that ALL information supplied by applicants and included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination and selection process.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT .
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification(s) and/or Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. In doing so your application will be dispositioned as INCOMPLETE and will not be accepted.
• Comments such as "SEE RESUME" or "SEE APPLICATION" will not be considered a valid response; therefore, using such statements will also result in your application being rejected as INCOMPLETE .

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will follow all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at https://lacountylibrary.org. NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number. California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922 ADA Coordinator Phone: (323) 659-6546 Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099 Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077 Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst Department Contact Phone: (323) 659-6546 Department Contact E-mail: HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
Your Responsibilities:
1. Completing Your Application:
a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.
c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.
2. Requirements on Job Posting:
a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.
b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual age 40 or older.
c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.
3. Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.
4. Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile on and make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.
5. Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:
a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation(s) may be subject to verification, consistent with state and federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.
Disclaimer : The County of Los Angeles is not responsible or in any way liable for any computer hardware or software malfunction that may affect the employment application or the application selection process.
You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of this system and the Internet generally. This system and the information provided on it are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. No advice or information given by the County of Los Angeles or its respective employees shall modify the foregoing or create any warranty.
The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.
The County of Los Angeles shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this system or with the delay or inability to use it (or any linked sites), or for any information obtained through this system, or otherwise arising out of the use of this system, the Internet generally or on any other basis.
NOTE: Your application is submitted using Secure Encryption to ensure the privacy of all information you transmit over the Internet.
By accepting the Use Disclaimer set forth herein, you agree to all of the above terms and further agree to use this Online Job Employment Application System only for the submission of bona fide employment applications to the County of Los Angeles. Any other use of this Online Job Employment Application System, including without limitation any copying, downloading, translating, decompiling, or reverse engineering of the system, data, or related software, shall be a violation of the Use Disclaimer.
Test Preparation : Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at /. Additional resources may be listed on the job posting.
Veteran's Credit : In all open competitive examinations, a veteran's credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.
A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.
This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran's credit. More information available at:
Accreditation Information : Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at: and
Background Check : The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). I f asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
Career Planning : Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at
Benefit Information : Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a "new member" of the County's defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) - unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 : All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.
Equal Employment Opportunity : It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.
Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program : In an effort to improve compliance with court ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.
Social Security Act of 2004 : Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website , or call toll free 1-800-772- 1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.
Employment Eligibility Information : Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) and other applicable laws prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant's protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, childbirth, and other characteristics.
COVID-19 VACCINATION : Some County workforce members may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Successful candidates for those positions/classifications may be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.
Updated February 2024
For detailed information, please click
01

For the foreseeable future, all notices, including result letters and notices of non acceptance, will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address.

Please add hrexams@ph.lacounty.gov and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

Applicants have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is the applicant's responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.

Los Angeles County will not consider claims of not viewing or receiving notifications to be a valid reason for a late test administration or re-scheduling, if applicable.

• I have read and understand the above information and instructions.

02

The information you provide on this supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the examination process. CHECK YOUR ANSWERS CAREFULLY. Any mistakes you make and/or any incomplete responses you provide in completing these questions will be used to disqualify your application even if you possess the qualifying experience or education.
Be specific as possible and include all information requested. Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered as a response.
All information is subject to verification at any time in the examination and hiring process. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or dismissal.

• I have read understand the above information and instructions.

03

Selection Requirements Describe your experience in laboratory work in a public health, medical or biological laboratory.
If you do not have experience in this specific description, please type "Not Applicable" and proceed to the next question.
NOTE: For each experience please indicate the following information:

a) Name and Address of Employer

b) Position/Title held

c) Date From: (MM/YYYY), Date To: (MM/YYYY) (specifically, when you performed the duties)

d) Hours Worked per Week

e) Detail your experience (Comments such as "see resume or application" will not be considered as a response.)
You will not receive credit for your response if you have missing requested information.

Required Question