Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician

Summary

An Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) serves as a laboratory generalist with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of chemistry (including special chemistry and toxicology) - hematology - coagulation - urinalysis - immunology - immunohematology (blood banking) - microbiology - and specimen procurement and processing. The incumbent at this level develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C.
• 7407(a)
• Education
• Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification
• Certification
• Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations
• (a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP - Board of Certification
• OR ii ASCP - Board of Registry
• (b) American Medical Technologists
• OR (c) American Association of Bioanalysts
• Exception
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C.
• 7405(c)(2) without the option to extend
• For grade levels above full performance level - the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 4.c.(1) above
• Loss of Certification
• Management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff - must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the MLT occupation who fail to maintain the required certification - which may also result in separation from employment
• Foreign Education
• Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification as described in subparagraph 4.c
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service
• English Language Proficiency
• MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• GRADE DETERMINATIONS
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for appointments in paragraph 4 - VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician - GS-07
• Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below
• Assignment-specific KSAs are designated with an asterisk (*) and are only required if that task is required of the position - as indicated in part (c) below
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs i
• - iv
• and the advanced KSA as identified by the corresponding asterisk(s) if MLTs are assigned advanced MLT duties: I Knowledge of concepts - principles - methodology of medical laboratory technology - regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests
• ii Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories =to laboratory testing
• iii Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes
• iv Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment
• v *Knowledge of laboratory information technology (IT) systems including troubleshooting systems issues - interface requirements between new instruments and existing IT infrastructure and laboratory IT test development
• vi *Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as College of American Pathologists (CAP) - Joint Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with continuing education and employee orientation to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements
• vii *Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards
• viii*Ability to assist with quality management activities in the laboratory - including monitoring and evaluating quality in accordance with CLIA and CAP - conducting quality improvement activities and communicating quality management results
• Assignments
• MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• They are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks including - but not limited to - advanced blood banking (antibody titers - elutions) - advanced microbiology (Mycobacterium (Acid Fast Bacillus) Identification and Sensitivities - Mycology Identification - Virology - Anaerobic Culture - Polymerase Chain Reaction testing) - molecular testing - high complexity testing - recording workload statistics - quality management projects and obtaining data for validation studies
• Advanced MLTs may be expected to independently operate the full range of laboratory functions at remote sites
• Their duties consist of advanced operation - training and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems
• MLTs at this level may act as key operators for specific instrumentation
• Advanced duties may also include one or more of the tasks identified below
• When these duties are required - advanced MLTs must also demonstrate corresponding KSA(s) as identified by the asterisk(s) below
• i *Laboratory Information Management: Carry out day-to-day operations related to laboratory information systems/computer use and system maintenance
• (KSA v) ii *Safety Coordination: Oversee safe handling of specimens - chemicals and equipment by all staff and ensure compliance with safety regulations
• (KSA vi) iii *Laboratory Education: Plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for laboratory staff to meet accreditation requirements
• (KSA vii) iv *Quality Management: Coordinate quality management activities within the laboratory and ensure compliance with required standards of quality
• (KSA viii)
  
  

Duties

• Functions: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level
• MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• They are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks including - but not limited to - advanced blood banking (antibody titers - elutions) - advanced microbiology (Mycobacterium (Acid Fast Bacillus) Identification and Sensitivities - Mycology Identification - Virology - Anaerobic Culture - Polymerase Chain Reaction testing) - molecular testing - high complexity testing - recording workload statistics - quality management projects and obtaining data for validation studies
• Advanced MLTs may be expected to independently operate the full range of laboratory functions at remote sites
• Their duties consist of advanced operation - training and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems
• MLTs at this level may act as key operators for specific instrumentation
• Duties/Tasks - Performs a variety of clinical laboratory tests (including moderate and high complexity) following established procedures - policies - and protocols
• - Carry out day-to-day operations related to the laboratory information system
• - Safely handle biological specimens and operate all equipment in a safe manner as prescribed by the manufacturer
• Comply with all OSHA - VA - and Medical Center safety regulations
• - Participate in an ongoing continuing education program required of all testing personnel in the clinical laboratory
• - Coordinate quality management activities within the laboratory and ensure compliance with required standards of quality
• - Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems
• - Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient
• Preferred Experience: Three years' experience working as a lab generalist in a hospital setting
• Experience - Education - and Certification
• Must have relevant experience as MLT and Performance Based Interview Tour Information: The incumbent must be flexible to work weekly tours (4-days/