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 and completeness.
• Verify physician orders and specimen integrity, generating and attaching labels accurately.
• 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 second or third shifts as assigned.
• Handle specimen processing inquiries via phone, relaying messages or providing status updates.
• 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 daily review of pending reference tests and resolve issues with overdue or missing specimens.
• Prepare and receive specimen batches for outreach laboratories.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of work areas, equipment, and supplies, including phlebotomy carts and outpatient contact areas.
• Collect specimens using venipuncture, capillary puncture, or arterial collections with minimal patient discomfort, adhering to protocols for patient identification and order of draw.
• Ensure blood culture contamination rates remain below 3% and enter specimen comments as needed.
• Adhere to 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 alike.

Education

High school diploma or GED is required.

Experience

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

Certification/License

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

Mental and Physical Requirements

This role requires close mental and visual attention for short periods. Approximately 50% of the time is spent standing and walking throughout the department and facility. Ability to lift or carry up to 20 pounds is necessary.

Working Conditions

Expect constant exposure to infectious materials in an air-conditioned environment with moderate noise levels. Flexibility to work various shifts is required.