Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician

Full Job Description

An Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) serves as a laboratory generalist with responsibility for performing procedures in the areas of chemistry (including special chemistry and toxicology), hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, immunology, immunohematology (blood banking), microbiology, and specimen procurement and processing.

The incumbent at this level develops, performs, evaluates, interprets, correlates, and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. Citizenship.

Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education.

Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification. Certification.

Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations.

(a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP, Board of Certification. OR ii ASCP, Board of Registry. (b) American Medical Technologists. OR (c) American Association of Bioanalysts.

Exception.

Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may receive a temporary appointment up to the full performance level not to exceed two years as a graduate MLT under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

§ 7405(c)(2) without the option to extend. For grade levels above full performance level, the candidate must be certified in accordance with paragraph 4.c.(1) above. Loss of Certification.

Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff, must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the MLT occupation who fail to maintain the required certification, which may also result in separation from employment.

Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign MLT programs are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a current certification as described in subparagraph 4.c.

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. English Language Proficiency.

MLT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. Grade Determinations.

In addition to the basic requirements for appointments in paragraph 4, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-07. Experience.

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.

Assignment-specific KSAs are designated with an asterisk (*) and are only required if that task is required of the position, as indicated in part (c) below.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs i. - iv.

and the advanced KSA as identified by the corresponding asterisk(s) if MLTs are assigned advanced MLT duties: I Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.

ii Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories =to laboratory testing. iii Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes.

iv Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment.

v *Knowledge of laboratory information technology (IT) systems including troubleshooting systems issues, interface requirements between new instruments and existing IT infrastructure and laboratory IT test development.

vi *Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with continuing education and employee orientation to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements.

vii *Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards.

viii*Ability to assist with quality management activities in the laboratory, including monitoring and evaluating quality in accordance with CLIA and CAP, conducting quality improvement activities and communicating quality management results.

Assignments. MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

They are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks including, but not limited to, advanced blood banking (antibody titers, elutions), advanced microbiology (Mycobacterium (Acid Fast Bacillus) Identification and Sensitivities, Mycology Identification, Virology, Anaerobic Culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction testing), molecular testing, high complexity testing, recording workload statistics, quality management projects and obtaining data for validation studies.

Advanced MLTs may be expected to independently operate the full range of laboratory functions at remote sites.

Their duties consist of advanced operation, training and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems.

MLTs at this level may act as key operators for specific instrumentation. Advanced duties may also include one or more of the tasks identified below.

When these duties are required, advanced MLTs must also demonstrate corresponding KSA(s) as identified by the asterisk(s) below.

i *Laboratory Information Management: Carry out day-to-day operations related to laboratory information systems/computer use and system maintenance.

(KSA v) ii *Safety Coordination: Oversee safe handling of specimens, chemicals and equipment by all staff and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

(KSA vi) iii *Laboratory Education: Plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for laboratory staff to meet accreditation requirements.

(KSA vii) iv *Quality Management: Coordinate quality management activities within the laboratory and ensure compliance with required standards of quality. (KSA viii) Major Duties:

Functions: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level.

MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

They are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks including, but not limited to, advanced blood banking (antibody titers, elutions), advanced microbiology (Mycobacterium (Acid Fast Bacillus) Identification and Sensitivities, Mycology Identification, Virology, Anaerobic Culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction testing), molecular testing, high complexity testing, recording workload statistics, quality management projects and obtaining data for validation studies.

Advanced MLTs may be expected to independently operate the full range of laboratory functions at remote sites.

Their duties consist of advanced operation, training and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems.

MLTs at this level may act as key operators for specific instrumentation.

Duties/Tasks - Performs a variety of clinical laboratory tests (including moderate and high complexity) following established procedures, policies, and protocols.

- Carry out day-to-day operations related to the laboratory information system. - Safely handle biological specimens and operate all equipment in a safe manner as prescribed by the manufacturer.

Comply with all OSHA, VA, and Medical Center safety regulations. - Participate in an ongoing continuing education program required of all testing personnel in the clinical laboratory.

- Coordinate quality management activities within the laboratory and ensure compliance with required standards of quality. - Performs validation/method verification studies for new systems.

- Consults with healthcare providers on logical protocol to follow in attempting to confirm the diagnosis or risk assessment of a patient.

Preferred Experience: Three years' experience working as a lab generalist in a hospital setting. Experience, Education, and Certification.

Must have relevant experience as MLT and Performance Based Interview Tour Information: The incumbent must be flexible to work weekly tours (4-days/