Join a dedicated healthcare team serving the heart of the Midwest region. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to life-saving care by supporting laboratory operations with precision and care.

General Summary

The Laboratory Assistant I is responsible for performing specific pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical tasks to ensure accurate and timely processing of specimens.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prioritize incoming specimens and process them following department safety guidelines.
• Review pending logs during and at the end of shifts to ensure all orders are accurate and specimens are properly collected.
• Generate and attach labels accurately to specimens, verifying patient information carefully.
• Distribute specimens promptly, notifying technologists of any STAT orders and ensuring turnaround times are met or exceeded.
• Resolve processing conflicts, coordinate re-draws when necessary, and manage workload to prioritize testing requests.
• Perform microbiology setups during second or third shifts as assigned.
• Answer specimen processing inquiries and relay messages to technologists.
• Conduct quality control procedures and report any irregularities 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 to ensure adequate stock.
• Manage specimen batches for pickup and receipt from outreach laboratories.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of work areas, equipment, and supplies.
• Collect specimens using venipuncture, capillary puncture, or arterial collections with minimal patient trauma, adhering to protocols for patient identification and order of draw.
• Ensure blood culture contamination rates remain below 3% and enter specimen comments as needed.
• Follow safety practices and hand hygiene protocols consistently.
• Provide appropriate instructions to patients regarding urine collection and dietary restrictions.
• Foster a respectful and dignified environment for patients and coworkers.

Education

High school diploma or GED required.

Experience

Minimum of one year experience as a phlebotomist or laboratory assistant is required.

Certification/License

Certification is not required; however, PBT (ASCP) certification is preferred.

Mental/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 able to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

Working Conditions

Constant exposure to infectious materials. Work environment is air-conditioned with moderate noise levels. Flexibility to work any shift as needed.