Laboratory Assistant

At Mahaska Health the primary role of the Laboratory Assistant is to support the laboratory by collecting and processing specimens. The Laboratory Assistant also performs specified waived and moderate complexity testing as trained and successfully demonstrating competency.

Essential job responsibilities include but are not limited to,

• Comply with regulations for all accrediting and regulatory bodies such as: Clinical Lab-oratory Improvement Act (CLIA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), The Joint Commission (TJC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
• Comply with CMS and MHP regulations and policies for ordering and billing of tests.
• Performs and reports waived complexity testing on blood, urine and feces under supervision and direction of Laboratory Director.
• Understand, perform, analyze, and record quality control tests for each procedure including action taken to correct problems.
• Evaluate results of testing and quality controls.
• Able to recognize deviations from expected results and alerts MLT, MT and/or Laboratory Director to the unexpected deviation.
• Performs initial setup of microbiology specimens onto appropriate culture media.
• Performs processing of specimens received from Mahaska Health providers, clinics and contracted facilities.
• Appropriately processes specimens within acceptable time frames for the test(s).
• Process specimens and reports to and from reference laboratories.
• Send out specimens including, cytology and tissues.
• Perform venipunctures and capillary blood (finger & heel) collections using proper patient identification, correct tubes or collection devices, handling and labeling
• Directs patients in the proper collection technique for non-blood specimens.
• Collect and prepare non-blood specimens for testing.
• Follow procedures and policies for handling infectious, chemical, and electrical hazards, including the use of personal protective equipment.
• Ability to read and understand Safety Data Sheets.
• Maintain equipment as designated; document sanitation/cleanliness as required.
• Assist other laboratory staff with patient drawings and distributing results.
• Check inventory of supplies, restock and communicate need to reorder.
• Follow policies for documentation of results, phoned/faxed orders and results, maintenance, performance improvement, manual updates, and other as designated by the supervisor/director.

Job Requirements include but are not limited to,

• High School diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Completion of a Clinical Laboratory Assistant, Phlebotomy, or Medical Laboratory Technician training program preferred.
• One (1) years’ experience in drawing blood specimens; or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
• Six months of experience in a medical or clinical laboratory setting, ideally in a rural or small‑facility environment.
• Required to be current in BLS (Basic Life Support) by the standards of the American Heart Association.