Job Summary

Medical Laboratory Technician is responsible for the provision of the overall support to the VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS), Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS), the community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) and rural clinics. The incumbent aids as a technical, specialized and support nature to health and medical personnel in the diagnosis and treatment of a patient's illness or medical condition.

Job Description

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. OR 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-05. Specialized Experience: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled. Assignment. This is an entry-level developmental MLT position. MLTs will typically receive guidance from experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. MLTs at this level perform testing in one or more of the following areas: Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived testing, phlebotomy, hematology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, immunology, toxicology, urinalysis, referral laboratory, microbiology and specimen processing. MLTs recognize data with life-threatening (critical) implications and understand the importance of immediately bringing the data to the attention of the patient's physician and/or nursing staff Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-06. Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of MLT principles, practices, concepts and theories for sound independent work. Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures to manage reagents and supply inventories using document control systems. Ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. Ability to work as a team member in a laboratory setting to effectively complete assignments. Ability to use technical judgment to interpret laboratory results. Ability to apply complex written laboratory instructions. Ability to consult with other members of the health care team, patients and external customers. Selective Placement Factor: Fluent in English and Spanish language written and spoken. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires manual dexterity and exceptional hand/eye coordination, visual acuity, some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, bending, sitting, and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time while accessioning and standing for several consecutive hours during the preparation of specimens. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of the workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests, walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center. Requires use of fingers; both hands required; intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations. Incumbents will be required to wear protective clothing and take safety precautions. A physical examination prior to placement will be required. Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g., working around moving parts, carts, or machines, with contagious diseases or irritating chemicals. Employees are required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, ear plugs, lab coats, boots, goggles, gloves, shields to moderate risks, or to follow procedures for minimizing risk. Adherence to safety and universal precautions and use of protective gear are mandatory to reduce occupations risk factors.