Position Summary:

To perform, check accuracy and report results of routine and complex laboratory procedures on body tissues, fluids and other substances when received for research participants. To assist supervisor and/or team lead with evaluating new instruments and/or methods, reagent preparation, quality control information, troubleshooting, and equipment maintenance. To assist team lead with apheresis procedures, bone marrows, coordinating educational sessions, computer operations, and/or quality control/improvement activities within a section as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Key areas of responsibility for daily operations of general laboratory:
• Receipt and logging in of clinical specimens
• Process clinical specimens
• Assist coworkers with troubleshooting
• Work in a steady, efficient manner such that an appropriate number of procedures are performed in a specified timeframe with minimal repeats
• Check weekly supply inventory for laboratory-assist in monitoring supplies including dating and storing new reagents as received.
• Observe expiration dates and check new reagents before use.
• Assists in keeping laboratory up-to-date with regulatory requirements (CAP, CLIA, etc.)
• Glassware Washing
• Autoclaving
• Fill and autoclave Tip boxes
• Key areas of responsibility for daily operations of clinical and molecular laboratory:
• Read existing cultures and make decisions as to subculture, preliminary or final report according to established safety and technical protocols.
• Perform PCR.
• Enter results into database and make reports
• Operate instruments according to established test protocols.
• Perform and document routine function checks on instruments to assure operation before and during performance of tests.
• Record keeping (quality control temp, preventive maintenance, physician requests and patient results)
• Report by phone positive cultures to physician and written reports to hospitals
• Evaluate quality control of media and reagents to ensure quality data and take appropriate action when quality control checks are outside established guidelines
• Perform routine preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment used by this lab (pH meter, autoclave, balance, pipettes, scopes, incubators, freezers, safety equipment)
• Preparation of media or supervision of media preparation
• To assist supervisor with evaluating new instruments and /or methods, reagent preparation, quality control information, troubleshooting, and equipment maintenance.
• Demonstrates UAB core values toward all clients, staff and students
• Performs other duties as assigned

Salary Range - $25.25 - $33.00

Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory - Heersink School of Medicine (uab.edu).

This position is for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Campus, some duties may be for UAB Medicine only.

Bachelor's degree in Clinical Laboratory or a related field and the completion of a twelve (12) month internship in a Medical Technology program approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) required. Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirement. Certification or eligible for certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) with the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or as a Medical Technologist (MT) with the American Medical Technologists (AMT) required. Certification from ASCP or AMT must be obtained within thirteen (13) months from the date of hire. Additional credentials may be recognized for the Blood Bank, Molecular and Microbiology departments. Depending on the unit/department or if the position works directly with patients, Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association (AHA) may be required or required to be obtained within 30 days of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Sterile technique,
• Microbiological culture skills,
• Computer skills,
• Data Management skills.
• Mycoplasma culture.
• Cell culture.
• PCR development and testing.
• CAP proficiency testing