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 a variety of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical laboratory tasks with precision and care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prioritize and process incoming specimens following strict safety protocols.
• 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 urgent (STAT) orders to meet or exceed turnaround times.
• Resolve order conflicts, coordinate re-collections when necessary, and manage workload priorities effectively.
• Perform microbiology setups during second or third shifts as assigned.
• Handle specimen processing inquiries via phone, providing status updates or relaying messages.
• Conduct quality control checks and report any irregularities to supervisors.
• Collect chain of custody drug screens and follow glucose tolerance testing protocols.
• Review and accession specimens for proper 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 receipt from outreach laboratories.
• Keep work areas clean and organized, including equipment and phlebotomy carts, while adhering to safety and hygiene standards.
• Collect specimens using venipuncture, capillary puncture, or arterial methods with minimal patient discomfort, following strict identification and collection protocols.
• Ensure blood culture contamination rates remain below 3% and accurately enter specimen comments as needed.
• Provide clear instructions to patients regarding urine collection and dietary restrictions.
• Foster a respectful and supportive 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. The work environment is air-conditioned with moderate noise levels. Flexibility to work various shifts is required.