Specimen Management Technician - Referral Lab

UCLA Health and David Geffen School of Medicine; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Disability & Retirement

Health Savings Plan

Education support

Generous PTO

Job summary

UVA Health in Charlottesville seeks a Specimen Management Technician to act as the essential link between collection sites, providers, and reference laboratories. You will manage specimen flow, ensure accurate result reporting, and support complex diagnostic workflows in a fast-paced environment.

You will work on a day shift in a collaborative lab setting, with structured onboarding and opportunities to contribute to process improvements within a nationally recognized academic medical center.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• No prior experience required.
• Ability to handle specimens and maintain logs.

Responsibilities

• Review emails, voicemails, and specimen queues to prioritize time-sensitive work.
• Prepare and package specimens (blood, tissue, plasma, slides, bone marrow).
• Ensure compliance with shipping requirements including temperature control and dry ice handling.
• Track outgoing specimens and confirm receipt and turnaround times.
• Process incoming results via EMR integration or Epic entry when needed.
• Communicate with providers to resolve missing information and support ordering workflows.
• Maintain logs, binders, and tracking systems for specimen accountability.
• Close out the day with follow-ups and handoffs for continuity.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

High School Diploma or equivalen

Tools

Epic

Job description

UOVUNIUSR0084116EXTERNALENUS

In a healthcare system where many clinical decisions are driven by laboratory data, this role is a critical force behind timely, accurate diagnosis. As a Specimen Management Technician within the Referral Lab, you are the essential link connecting patients, providers, and advanced diagnostic testing happening across the country.

This is a high-impact, operationally vital position supporting specialized testing including genetics, oncology, and complex diagnostics that extend beyond in-house laboratory capabilities. If you are detail-driven, thrive in structured environments, and want your work to directly support life-changing clinical decisions, this role offers both purpose and stability in a collaborative setting.

The Role

As a Specimen Management Technician, you will operate at the center of a fast-paced referral laboratory, ensuring that critical specimens move seamlessly from collection to result reporting. You will balance precision, urgency, and communication while managing a high volume of send-out testing across multiple reference laboratories.

On a typical day, you will:

• Review incoming emails, voicemails, and specimen queues to prioritize time-sensitive work

• Prepare and package a wide variety of specimens including blood, tissue, plasma, slides, and bone marrow

• Ensure compliance with complex, lab-specific shipping requirements including temperature control and dry ice handling

• Track outgoing specimens and confirm receipt and result turnaround

• Process incoming results through automated EMR integration or manual Epic entry when necessary

• Communicate directly with providers to resolve missing information, clarify test requirements, and support ordering workflows

• Maintain detailed logs, binders, and tracking systems to ensure full specimen accountability

• Close out the day with follow-ups, issue resolution, and clear handoffs to maintain continuity

Why UVA Health

UVA Health is an integrated academic health system recognized for advancing patient care through innovation, research, and clinical excellence.
As part of the laboratory and pathology team, you are directly contributing to a system where cutting-edge diagnostics and collaboration with physicians and researchers are part of everyday work.

This role offers the opportunity to be part of a mission-driven organization while gaining exposure to specialized and advanced testing workflows.

Academic Medical Center Excellence

• Work within a nationally recognized health system that includes a Level I trauma center and an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Contribute to diagnostic processes that support leading-edge care in oncology, genomics, and specialized medicine

Meaningful Impact on Patient Care

• Laboratory testing informs many clinical decisions, making your work foundational to treatment and diagnosis
• Serve as a key operational link ensuring accurate, timely results that providers depend on

Specialized Laboratory Exposure

• Engage with complex send-out testing across a wide network of reference laboratories
• Build expertise in specimen handling, logistics, and advanced diagnostic workflows

Supportive, Team-Oriented Environment

• Small, close-knit team with direct access to leadership
• Collaborative culture that values communication, reliability, and continuous learning

Professional Growth and Stability

• Structured training and onboarding with clear performance milestones
• Opportunities to contribute to process improvement and workflow optimization

Work-Life Balance

• Day shift schedule
• No weekends
• No holiday shifts

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

Why People Love Living in Charlottesville

Charlottesville offers an exceptional quality of life, combining the energy of a vibrant university town with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Residents enjoy access to hiking, wineries, and outdoor recreation alongside a thriving food and arts scene, including a nationally recognized downtown pedestrian mall. With a strong sense of community, highly rated schools, and a balance of urban and rural living options, the area provides an ideal setting for healthcare professionals seeking both career fulfillment and personal well-being.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: High School Graduate or Equivalent

Experience: No experience required

Licensure: None required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Job requires sitting, standing for prolonged periods, frequently traveling, and reaching (overhead, extensive, repetitive); Repetitive motion: computer data entry. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull 20 - 50lbs. May be exposed to fumes, chemicals, heat, cold, noise, blood/body fluids and infectious disease.

The pay range for this role is $18.37 - $28.47 hourly. Individual compensation will be determined by the selected candidate's qualifications, previous work experience, and/or education.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Paid Time Off, Long-term and Short-term Disability, Retirement Savings

• Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Certification and education support

• Generous Paid Time Off

UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as “High Performing” in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children’s is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.