Clinical Laboratory Scientist

LCMC Health; Covington (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

LCMC Health is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to join its team in Louisiana. The role involves accepting specimens, preparing reagents, labeling and distributing samples, and performing a range of microbiology, serology, and blood bank procedures.

The position emphasizes patient safety, quality control, and compliance with universal precautions. The ideal candidate holds a Louisiana Clinical Lab Generalist license and is available for day or night shifts in a hospital laboratory

Qualifications

• Licensed Clinical Lab Generalist with Louisiana State Board of Medical practice.
• Day or Night shift availability.

Responsibilities

• Accept specimens and ensure criteria for testing.
• Prepare reagents and controls; maintain documentation.
• Label, accession, and distribute specimens with patient identification integrity.
• Inoculate specimens onto appropriate media.
• Initiate orders for blood components from suppliers.
• Follow hospital/laboratory safety and infection-control policies; report variances.
• Evaluate methods; initiate procedures as needed.
• Compare patient results with prior data and investigate discrepancies.
• Prepare and interpret gram stains and other preparations for bacteriology and parasitology.
• Perform serology and blood bank procedures including compatibility testing.
• Maintain aseptic technique in blood component preparation and storage.
• Follow universal precautions for blood/body fluids handling; disinfect work surfaces.
• Operate and troubleshoot clinical laboratory instruments; log maintenance actions.
• Determine when to contact instrument service.

Education

Clinical Lab Generalist license (Louisiana State Board of Medical)

Job description

Overview

As a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, you have the uncanny ability to look for the needle in the haystack that may reveal medical mysteries. You’re not seeking the spotlight; instead, you shed light on health problems such as cancer, diabetes, and genetic abnormalities. Blood or body fluid specimens can hold the answers to research or recovery, so you take a detailed approach to performing clinical laboratory testing, evaluating results, and reporting data.

While you may never meet patients personally, you feel a connection to the individuals whose health you support. Your experience, knowledge, skills, empathy, and compassion are essential to our team, and we’re excited to learn what you’ll bring to this vital scientific research mission.

Responsibilities

• Accept specimens received by the laboratory and ensure they meet criteria for testing.
• Prepare reagents and controls, record changes, and maintain appropriate documentation.
• Label, accession, and distribute specimens while preserving patient identification integrity.
• Inoculate specimens onto appropriate media.
• Initiate orders for blood or blood components from the appropriate supplier.
• Follow hospital/laboratory safety and infection–control policies and report variances to supervisors.
• Determine the appropriateness of manual methods, micro‑methods, and backup procedures; initiate procedures as needed.
• Use the computer system to compare patient results to prior results, investigate discrepancies, and report results within established departmental turnaround times.
• Prepare and interpret gram stains and other wet and dry preparations for bacteriology and parasitology.
• Perform routine procedures including ABORH typing, retesting, antibody detection, identification, compatibility testing, and other serology procedures.
• Prepare blood components, maintaining aseptic technique and proper storage.
• Evaluate serological reactivity to assist with antibody identification and cross‑match incompatibilities.
• Follow universal precautions when handling blood or body fluids; disinfect countertops with appropriate cleaner at the end of the shift.
• Operate, calibrate, conduct performance checks, and maintain clinical laboratory instruments; troubleshoot basic malfunctions and document in the action log.
• Determine when an instrument’s service representative should be contacted for assistance.
• Analyze quality‑control material for each procedure, record values per policy, and report out‑of‑range results to the technical supervisor.
• Perform comparison studies of precision, accuracy, and linearity for new or existing procedures; record proficiency surveys and manage reagent quality control as specified in the manuals.
• Assist in the clinical orientation of new or less‑skilled laboratory personnel per supervisor request.
• Ensure proper packaging and disposal of hazardous waste chemicals; maintain documentation.
• Perform order or result entry (manual or computerized) and review for accuracy before verification.
• Document critical call value notifications, duplicate checking, date and time of performance, technologist initials, and expected age‑related “normal” values on down‑time reports.
• Check assigned instruments and benches for reagent and supply levels, replenish inventory, and notify appropriate staff of low or out‑of‑date items.
• Receive tissue specimens from surgery, autopsy, or nursing floors; perform proper processing and preservation; comply with storage and preservation requirements for non‑core laboratory specimens.
• Prepare reagents and collection supplies for bone marrow aspiration; assist physicians with specimen procurement; perform special stains and follow protocols as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Minimum: Clinical Lab Generalist licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical
• Work shift: Day or Night

Company

LCMC Health is a community‑based healthcare organization rooted in NOLA. We focus on bringing the best possible care to every person and parish in Louisiana and beyond, and we emphasize authenticity, equity, inclusion, and a heart‑and‑soul approach to healthcare.