The posting
MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN Day Shift
Location:
Columbia VA Healthcare System
William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center
6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209
- Clearance Requirements: National Agency Check and Inquiries with Fingerprints.
- Type of Employment: Full-Time, 40 hours per week with rotation on weekends and holidays.
- Total Compensation: $32.09 per hour.
- Shift Work: Day Shift (8:00 am – 4:30 pm).
- Benefits Offered: Health/Dental and Vision.
- Paid Time Off per Year: Up to 80 hours per year, starting on the day of hire.
- Sick Leave per Year: Up to 56 hours per year, starting on the day of hire.
- Paid Federal Holidays: Eleven (11) Paid Federal Holidays.
Work Schedule:
The Medical Laboratory Technician [Cytology and Histology] service is required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, including weekends and holidays, on an eight-hour shift basis to support testing in the Laboratory.
The positions require individuals to work either of the following shifts, depending on the laboratory's needs and requirements:
- Regular work hours are 8:00 am – 4:30 pm: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, including weekends and holidays.
Qualifications/Credentialing
The Medical Laboratory Technician will be certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), the American Medical Technologists (AMT), or an equivalent certification, such as Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), and will have appropriate training.
- Board Certification: Medical Laboratory Technicians are not required to be board certified; they are only certified as MLTs, MLSs, or CLSs by the ASCP or AMT.
- Associate degree from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory, or related science.
- Completion of a medical technology clinical practice program and having all licenses, permits, and certifications as required by law and this contract.
- Two years of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work, such as, but not limited to, a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician.
A generalist is a Medical Laboratory Technician who can perform testing in all areas of the Clinical Laboratory, including Chemistry, Blood Banking, Hematology, Urine Chemistry, and Microbiology.
Descriptions of Services
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- This position will be limited to Cytology and Histology processing only and will not involve any testing. Comprehensive training and competency assessment will be provided.
- Perform technical laboratory functions including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and immunology.
- Report test results following clinic protocols, alerting providers and/or nurses about abnormal results.
- Ensure quality control in collecting specimens, ensure appropriate sampling, and maintain accurate record-keeping.
- Maintain laboratory equipment and supplies. Set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test the sterility of medical laboratory equipment.
- Comply with all laboratory policies and OSHA regulations related to safety, cleanliness, and infection control.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Technical Knowledge: Hematology
- Assist with preanalytical processing, including accessioning, spinning, staining, and delivering slides to a cytologist or pathologist for screening, interpretation, and result entry.
- Conducts moderate‑ and high‑complexity hematology testing, including complete blood counts (CBCs), automated and manual differentials, reticulocyte counts, ESRs, and body fluid analyses.
- Operates, calibrates, and maintains automated hematology analyzers and associated equipment, ensuring proper function through daily QC, calibration verification, and troubleshooting.
- Reviews and validates hematology parameters, investigates abnormal or critical values, and performs manual smear reviews when indicated.
- Performs coagulation testing (PT/INR, aPTT, fibrinogen, D‑dimer) when required by the laboratory's organizational structure.
Technical Knowledge: Generalist
- Abides by all procedures and policies set forth by the Laboratory and Chemistry Department.
- Determines proper collection and timely submission of specimens.
- Processes specimens in a timely manner, following written guidance in Lab policy for specific turnaround time rates.
- Performs and reports all tests in accordance with established procedures, in an effort to meet specific turnaround-time criteria.
- Performs quality control procedures on assigned instruments and methods as per the Quality Control procedure.
- Analyzes and interprets test and control data.
- Reports results expediently for STAT analysis.
- Investigates inconsistent results and initiates corrective actions when warranted.
- Prepares and loads onto the instrument: reagents, calibrators, and quality control materials as needed.
Employees must have proof of the following tests:
- Tuberculosis Testing: A negative Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA). A negative chest radiographic report for active tuberculosis shall be provided in cases of positive TST or IGRA results. The TST or IGRA testing shall be repeated annually.
- Measles, Mumps, & Rubella Testing: Provide proof of immunity for all contract employees.
- Varicella: Proof of immunity for all contract employees.
- Acellular Pertussis: Provide proof of 1 dose of Tdap vaccination for all contract employees.
- Influenza: Proof that all contract employees have received the annual Influenza vaccine unless it is contraindicated. If the contract employee has a medical contraindication to the vaccine, they shall be required to wear a mask during the Influenza season.
- COVID-19: Proof that all contract employees have received the Covid 19 vaccine unless there is a medical or religious waiver. If the contract employee has an approved medical or religious waiver from the vaccine, they shall be required to provide a negative COVID test weekly at the contractor's expense and at the administration's expense.
