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 during and at the end of shifts to ensure accuracy.
• 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.
• Perform microbiology setups during second or third shifts as assigned.
• Handle specimen processing inquiries via phone, relaying messages or providing status updates.
• Conduct quality control checks and report any discrepancies to supervisors.
• Collect chain of custody drug screens and follow protocols for glucose tolerance testing.
• Review specimens for proper type, volume, storage, and accession accordingly.
• Maintain inventory of reference laboratory supplies and coordinate reordering.
• Manage specimen batches for pickup and reception from outreach laboratories.
• Keep work areas clean and organized, including equipment and outpatient contact zones.
• Collect specimens using venipuncture, capillary puncture, or arterial methods with minimal patient trauma, adhering to collection protocols and safety practices.
• Ensure blood culture contamination rates remain below 3% and enter specimen comments as needed.
• 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 is performed in an air-conditioned environment with moderate noise levels. Flexibility to work any shift is required.