Lead Histocompatibility Clinical Laboratory Scientist

About the Company

Gift of Hope is among the largest OPOs in the nation, proudly serving most of Illinois and northwest Indiana with connections to 180 hospitals and 10 transplant centers. As one of the few OPOs operating a full-service, in-house laboratory, we're at the forefront of organ donation and transplantation science.

The Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for performing laboratory testing, quality control procedures and maintenance of equipment and work area; serves as section lead; serves as lead on process improvement initiatives; responsible for employee training and task assignment; assists with work scheduling and personnel management.

About the Role

Perform high-complexity laboratory testing using established methodologies, including molecular HLA typing, flow-cytometry, genetic analysis, HLA antibody screening, ABO typing, and infectious disease testing.

Responsibilities

• Serve as section lead, overseeing designated testing areas and providing technical guidance in histocompatibility testing, with at least two years of expertise in antibody screening and flow crossmatch.
• Serve as the final reviewer to sign off clinical cases in all aspects of testing including technical, quality, billing, etc., as designated by laboratory management.
• Document test results and all pertinent information; interpret different and complex reaction patterns; identify probable causes for any irregular or atypical test results.
• Responsible for compiling and preparing section quality assurance reports.
• Serve as lead on process improvement initiatives.
• Accurately communicate results to internal and external customers including clinicians, transplant coordinators, and other OPO personnel.
• Accurately enter, retrieve, and transmit test data into laboratory information systems.
• Assist laboratory staff in testing procedures, quality controls and standard operating protocols.
• Provide instruction and guidance to new employees in testing procedures, quality controls and standard operating protocols.
• Perform laboratory employee competency assessment, as required.
• Provide laboratory employee support, direction and management, as requested by laboratory management.
• Assist with personnel management as designated, including but not limited to, one-on-one meetings, performance evaluation, coaching, and disciplinary actions.
• Assist with development, validation and implementation of new and/or revised procedures and protocols.
• Preserve donor cells and serum samples for potential future testing, if needed.
• Process blood samples received from patients waiting for a transplant.
• Prepare reagents required to perform analysis and ensure reagents are available and usable.
• Set up and monitor equipment required to perform tests.
• Maintain established preventive maintenance schedules for assigned equipment.
• Perform minor equipment repairs such as adjustments and calibration of equipment.
• Maintain quality control records and logs; prepare, record and store data for future reference.
• Monitor supply levels to ensure adequate levels are maintained.
• Ensure cleanliness and organization of work area in accordance with safety standards.
• Serve as on-call off-hours technical consultant for laboratory employees.
• Work with laboratory leadership to develop, plan, implement, monitor and assess the laboratory quality assurance and performance improvement programs.
• Identify non-conformances and deficiencies and manage the corrective action process.
• Promote the culture of quality assurance and performance improvement throughout the laboratory.
• Work with laboratory leadership to ensure compliance with all pertinent regulatory agencies, such as CMS/CLIA, FDA, UNOS, ASHI, and CAP.
• Responsible for determining, tracking, trending and reporting of relevant quality metrics, including, but not limited to, turnaround times, error rates, customer satisfaction score, etc.
• Assist laboratory leadership with preparation for all internal and external audits and inspections; assist with follow-up as needed, including responses and corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in one of the biological, chemical or medical sciences.
• Certification as a Certified Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) or Certified Histocompatibility Specialist (CHS) issued by the American College of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ACHI), or the ability to obtain certification within 18 months of hire or promotion.

Required Skills

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in high complexity testing in histocompatibility, immunology, infectious disease or virology.
• Technical competency in a minimum of three clinical testing areas specific to the Gift of Hope Laboratory including infectious disease, HLA typing, crossmatching, and HLA antibody testing.
• Critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Basic skills in Excel and Word.
• Proficient with laboratory software systems.
• Familiarity with procedures for quality control of reagents and maintenance of equipment.

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, military or veteran status, family medical history or genetic information or any other classification protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on an individual’s job-related qualifications and abilities.