Laboratory Aide - Microbiology

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:

• A minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent GED is required.
• Must have a current and valid driver’s license for occasional travel between business sites.
• Some previous Lab work and experience with the Meditech and CoPath system is preferred but not required.

COMPETENCIES:

• This position requires the incumbent have strong English verbal as well as basic English writing ability and be courteous and customer service oriented with good interpersonal skills and a proficiency in the use of computers.
• Duties of this position require the incumbent be adaptable to a changing workload and be familiar with, and able to operate computer terminals, centrifuges, telephones, pneumatic tube systems, copies and fax machines.
• Cytology Lab Aides will have the ability to perform the technical tasks of cytology preparation including mixing body fluids with the appropriate fixative and performing the manual and automated staining and cover slipping preparation.

1. Possesses knowledge of and follows laboratory (and/or hospital) polices and procedures that include personnel policies, safety, infection control, blood borne pathogen, chemical hygiene, fire disaster, etc.
2. Demonstrates knowledge of proper specimen requirements and processes the specimens according to the department specific protocols/procedures.
3. Maintains the file system for all manual laboratory requisitions and ensures completeness of information for medical records coding.
4. Processes marker lists (state, call, fax) and documents appropriate information in computer.
5. Answers and/or directs to the appropriate person, all telephone and personal inquiries regarding test results, methodologies, requirements, status, billing questions and turnaround time.
6. Monitors, as defined in pre-established schedules, various information systems programs (i.e. fax and patient report jobs, order entry and cancellation logs, etc.) and reports all problems to the Lab Supervisor, Manager or Director.
7. Assembles materials requested by physicians to restock outpatient supplies and arranges for delivery of same.
8. Sorts laboratory reports by location and delivers reports to the proper location, mails outpatient and addendum laboratory results to the appropriate doctor or location.
9. Telephones abnormal results, when requested, to physician’s offices or nursing areas and fully documents the transactions.
10. Delivers, in a timely manner, the specimens to the appropriate sections of the laboratory, notifying technical personnel of any STAT or emergency requests.
11. Prepares specimens for any and all reference laboratory referrals; verifies that all requirements are met and properly logged; packages the specimen(s) for the Courier’s pickup each day or for special mailings.
12. Processes laboratory specimens by: examining the sample for proper collection criteria, verifying the patient demographic data (name, address, ID, physician, insurance information, etc.), entering the patient information into the LIS, or Reference Lab information system, centrifuging (where applicable), decanting, labeling and allocating of specimens to the various laboratory sections.
13. Correctly registers and accessions and labels all Pap smears and other body fluids for Cytology prior to processing, as evidenced by less than two instances of registration or labeling errors. Properly processes and stains Pap smears and other body fluids for screening by a Cytotechnologist or Pathologist and tracks their location.