Join a dedicated healthcare team in the heart of the Midwest region, where your role as a Laboratory Assistant I is vital to supporting life-saving diagnostics. This position involves performing specific pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical tasks with precision and care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prioritize and process incoming specimens following strict safety guidelines.
• Review pending logs throughout shifts to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Verify physician orders and specimen integrity, generating and attaching labels correctly.
• Distribute specimens promptly, alerting technologists to STAT orders and ensuring turnaround times are met or exceeded.
• Resolve processing conflicts, coordinate re-collections when necessary, and manage workload priorities effectively.
• Perform microbiology setups during evening or weekend shifts as assigned.
• Handle specimen processing inquiries via phone, providing timely updates or relaying messages.
• Conduct quality control checks and report any irregularities to supervisors.
• Collect chain of custody drug screens and follow protocols for glucose tolerance testing.
• Review and accession specimens according to type, volume, storage, and processing requirements.
• Maintain inventory of reference laboratory supplies and coordinate reordering to ensure adequate stock.
• Manage specimen batches for pickup and reception from outreach laboratories.
• Keep work areas clean and organized, including equipment and phlebotomy carts, discarding expired supplies appropriately.
• Collect specimens using venipuncture, capillary puncture, or arterial methods with minimal patient discomfort, adhering to strict identification and collection protocols.
• Ensure blood culture contamination rates remain below 3% and document specimen comments as needed.
• Follow safety practices and hand hygiene protocols consistently.
• Provide clear instructions to patients regarding urine collection and dietary restrictions.
• Foster a respectful and dignified environment for patients and coworkers alike.

Education

High school diploma or GED is required.

Experience

At least one year of experience as a phlebotomist or laboratory assistant is necessary.

Certification/License

Certification is not mandatory, but PBT (ASCP) certification is preferred.

Mental and Physical Requirements

Requires close mental and visual attention for short periods. Approximately 50% of the time is spent standing and walking throughout the department and facility. Must be capable of lifting or carrying up to 20 pounds.

Working Conditions

Exposure to infectious materials is constant. Work environment is air-conditioned with moderate noise levels. Flexibility to work various shifts, including evenings and weekends, is required.