Medical Laboratory Technician

Description:

The Medical Laboratory Technician work performed is in a variety of laboratory disciplines such as Hematology, Chemistry, Coagulation, Blood Bank, Toxicology, Urinalysis and Microbiology at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System.

Requirements:

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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 with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• 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).
• 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:

• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
  • ASCP, Board of Certification, OR,
  • ASCP, Board of Registry.
• American Medical Technologists.
• 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.

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.

Grade Determinations Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), GS-07 : Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level. Experience at the GS-06 grade level includes, but is not limited to: (1) use independent judgment to perform the full range of duties in the laboratory, from sample collection to evaluating and communicating test results; (2) perform day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision while ensuring testing accuracy and quality of proper patient care; (3) provide pre-analytic instructions to patients, VA staff and other external entities related to collection and processing of laboratory specimens; (4) use processing techniques such as centrifugation, aliquoting, storage and packaging (considering stability factors), and they accurately label and sort patient specimens; (5) operate and maintain all instrumentation in assigned areas to deliver precise, timely and accurate laboratory results when analyzing body fluids such as blood, urine and tissue samples; and (5) analyze laboratory findings and issue necessary reports and discuss results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures with supervisors, pathologists and other medical professionals as needed.

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:

• Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests.
• Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing.
• Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes.
• Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment.
• *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.
• *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.
• *Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards.
• *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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS07.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.