Laboratory Support Technician - Full-TIme

Socket.dev; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

UPMC is seeking a Specimen Processor to support pre-analytical workflow in the Laboratory. Shift Tuesday–Friday 9:00am–7:30pm, no weekends or holidays.

Responsibilities include handling specimens, answering inquiries, preparing testing-ready samples, maintaining instruments, QA/QC, and inventory control. Requires high school diploma with relevant lab experience or related degrees/certifications as described; this role offers growth through the Laboratory Career Ladder.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent with 2+ years experience as a Specimen Processor in a clinical lab
• Associate degree with biology and chemistry and 1+ year experience as a Specimen Processor in a clinical lab
• Phlebotomy or Medical Assistant certification with 1 year experience as a Specimen Processor in a clinical lab
• Successful completion of a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training course
• B.S. degree in a biological or clinical laboratory science; MLS program enrollment with 3 years college credits

Responsibilities

• Answers phone inquiries and investigates specimen status.
• Prepares and delivers testing-ready specimens to the appropriate work areas.
• Performs routine instrument maintenance and QA/QC procedures.
• Maintains storage and inventory; transports specimens as required.

Skills

Service orientation

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Associate degree (biology & chemistry)

Phlebotomy or Medical Assistant certification

B.S. in biological/clinical lab science

MLS training program enrollment

Job description

Shift: Tuesday - Friday 9:00am - 7:30pm no WKND or HOL

UPMC offers a robust Laboratory Career Ladder, where candidates will be placed into the correct level and status based on education and background.

Purpose: Works with Technical staff in the Laboratory to support analytic activities with tasks required prior to specimen analysis. Duties and responsibilities may vary by location and by services provided by the hiring department.

Responsibilities:

• All duties of a Specimen Processor including: Answers phone inquiries. Investigates specimen status and report disposition. Directs callers to additional resources as needed. Receives, sorts, prepares and delivers testing-ready specimens for analysis to work areas. - Demonstrates service orientation approach by conveying courtesy, respect, enthusiasm and a positive attitude in work situations.
• Additional duties: Performs routine and basic instrument maintenance according to established protocols. Records temperatures if required. Assists with restocking supplies to maintain an optimal inventory. Maintains clean and orderly storage spaces for room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen supplies. Prepares and replenishes instrument reagents and consumables as needed. - Performs QA / QC procedures as assigned. Assists with specimen/slide storage and retrieval. Checks pending work lists. Investigates and resolves any unprocessed work. - Decontaminates work area, keeping a neat and clean working environment. - Keeps any glassware clean and dry, including tests for residue removal as needed. Tests and cleans emergency eyewashes and showers as assigned. Sorts laboratory waste as needed and ensures that proper disposal occurs. Transports specimens off-site and delivers supplies where required.
• Additional duties (Pennsylvania locations only): Prepares specimens at workstations for testing. Includes building worklists, checking specimens for acceptability (clots, QNS), aliquoting specimens, loading/unloading specimens onto instruments. - Prepares microscopic slides and plants specimens in microbiologic growth media where required.

High School diploma or equivalent, and at least 2yrs experience as a Specimen Processor (or equivalent) required in a clinical lab, OR Associate degree (with biology and chemistry courses) and at least 1yr of experience as a Specimen Processor (or equivalent) in a clinical lab, OR Phlebotomy or Medical Assistant certification and 1yr of experience as a Specimen Processor (or equivalent) in a clinical lab, OR Successful completion of a 50wk U.S. military medical laboratory training course, ORB.S. degree from an accredited institution with a major in a biological or clinical laboratory science OR Currently enrolled in a MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist) or equivalent training program, with 3 yrs college credits required.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances: Medical Laboratory Assistant MLA (ASCP) or equivalent certification preferred. Valid driver's license if one is departmentally required.

• Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran