Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Specimen Processor, Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine: UTIA

The College of Veterinary Medicine invites applicants to apply for the position of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Specimen Processor. This position performs administrative and logistical tasks in support of veterinary diagnostic laboratory services (DLS) at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM). The main job responsibility is to manage veterinary diagnostic laboratory testing sent to other diagnostic laboratories outside UTCVM (“send-out testing”). Additionally, this position will help intercept and distribute shipped packages (from outside UTCVM) addressed to the DLS and will monitor and maintain diagnostic laboratory sample drop areas within the Veterinary Medical Center that are used by clinical services and external DLS clients. This position requires biosafety and chemical safety training and compliance with required biosafety and chemical safety regulations, including use of proper personal protective equipment, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, etc. when necessary. The position requires regular in-person and remote (e.g., email, text, Teams) communication with clinical and laboratory personnel of varying ranks and roles as well as other college personnel (e.g., bookkeeping, maintenance, health information, etc.).

The Veterinary Medical Center is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year. Occasional weekend, evening, or holiday work may be required of this position.

Handling veterinary diagnostic laboratory samples:

• Receiving veterinary laboratory samples for send-out testing
• Accessioning, ordering, and logging send-out tests
• Preparing send-out test specimens and paperwork for shipment, which may include centrifugation of whole blood samples with harvesting of serum or plasma and/or splitting of samples
• Conveying packaged send-out samples/paperwork to shipment areas
• Receiving packages for the Diagnostic Laboratory Services: opening boxes, ascertaining contents, verifying specimen integrity, and conveying samples to the appropriate laboratory unit
• Regularly checking Veterinary Medical Center sample drop stations for delivered specimens and distributing these specimens to the appropriate laboratory unit

Administrative functions related to send-out testing:

• Conveying received invoices to UTCVM bookkeepers
• Working with send-out labs and UTCVM bookkeepers to ensure UTCVM account information is up-to-date
• Maintain a directory of send-out laboratories used
• Working with the laboratory information system (LIS) IT administrator to troubleshoot LIS issues related to send-out testing as needed
• Providing the DLS director with analytics data concerning send-out testing as needed (e.g., test counts, test types, etc.)
• If needed, correction of incorrect send-out test orders, working with bookkeepers to adjust billing as needed

Education/Communication:

• Communication with and education of clinical personnel submitting specimens for send-out testing
• Communication with send-out laboratories and in-house laboratories as needed
• Organizing and disseminating received patient results for send-out testing
• Notifying clinical personnel and UTCVM Health Information of received send-out test results as needed

Maintaining Veterinary Medical Center laboratory sample drop areas:

• Ensuring the sample drop areas are in good condition, including keeping these areas clean/tidy and stocked with supplies.
• Ensuring sample drop areas adhere to UTIA and UTK environmental health and safety standards and regulations
• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor

Required Qualifications:

• Education: 
  • High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience: 
  • At least 1 year of relevant experience working in a veterinary or human medical practice or pharmacy or a veterinary or human diagnostic laboratory setting.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Excellent computer skills
  • Helpful, committed to excellent customer service
  • Committed to patient confidentiality
  • Committed to quality, including quality of daily work and timely reporting of errors and problems
  • Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
  • Strong time-management and organizational skills
  • Self-starter and ability to work independently