Job Description
Preference given to candidates with Medical Technology certification. Molecular experience is a plus.
Occupational Summary
Perform complex technical work involving molecular analysis of human biological material in a variety of specialized laboratories. Job duties will depend upon the specialty laboratory and may be
composed of a combination of the following duties and responsibilities related to the specialization. Steps are extensive and complex requiring manual manipulation, close monitoring and control,
extensive calculations, plus careful and accurate work. Training periods are long and will require reading literature related to the specialty tomaintain current knowledge in these dynamic, rapidly
evolving, fields. Perform complex technical work involving molecular analysis of human biological material in a variety of specialized laboratories.
Job duties will depend upon the specialty laboratory and may be composed of a combination of the following duties and responsibilities related to the specialization. Steps are extensive and
complex requiring manual manipulation, close monitoring and control, extensive calculations, plus careful and accurate work. Training periods are long and will require reading literature related to
the specialty to maintain current knowledge in these dynamic, rapidly evolving, fields.
Work Performed
LEVEL I PERSONNEL IN ALL LABORATORIES:
- Perform complex technical work involved in preparing human biological material for specialized microscopic, cellular, serologic, molecular, genetic, and image or flow cytometric analysis. This
may include any of the following operations, singly or in combination on submitted fluids (including blood or body fluids), cytological specimens, or fixed and unfixed tissues: freeze, fix,
dehydrate, embed, section, centrifuge, culture, harvest, cytospin, immunohistochemical stain, immunofluorescent stain, hybridization of cytologic sections or suspensions and/or isolation of
lymphocyte subpopulations and/or genomic DNA.
- Perform histocompatibility, cytogenetic, histologic, cytometric, immunohistochemical, immunofluorescent, serological, cellular, molecular, and/or cytologic procedures related to specialized
microscopic, molecular, genetic, cellular, serological, electrophoretic, or cytometric analysis including assessing the quality of the samplefor analysis.
- Maintain files of any/all of the following as appropriate: slides, frozen specimens, blocks, cell preparations, micrographs, typing and antibody screening trays, DNA preparations, electrophoresis
gel photos, results, and reports. Maintain neat and clean laboratory workspace.
- Participate in routine equipment and reagent quality control according to standard operating procedures. Recognize instrument malfunctions and report to upper level personnel.
- Participate in inventory maintenance by notifying upper level personnel of low inventory.
- Prepare stock solutions and reagents following standard operating procedures and quality control procedures. Record quality control of reagent preparation. Report problems to upperlevel
personnel.
- Maintain logbook or database; accession samples, order tests, and bill cases. Interact with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
- As appropriate, perform proficiency testing to maintain compliance with internal and external regulatory agencies.
- Attend staff meetings, continuing education, safety and compliance training. Remain current on standard operating procedures by reviewing and signing the laboratory manual annually. Follow
departmental and DUHS policies and procedures such as attendance and time reporting policies.
- Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
LEVEL 1 PERSONNEL MAY BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES DEPENDING UPON SPECIALTY LABORATORY:
- Flow Cytometry, Cytogenetics, Molecular Diagnostics, and Histocompatibility Laboratories: Operate complex and/or computerized microscopic, molecular, and/or cytometric equipment to analyze
prepared cellular and molecular specimens, calibrate instrumentation, and validate quality of assay.
- As appropriate, enter preliminary results and addendums to reports including making case specific comments pertaining to quality of specimens.
- As appropriate, participate in the development of clinical assays and the validation of those assays including performance of testing or analysis.
- Histocompatibility and Cytogenetics Laboratories: Participate in on-call or Saturday rotation as training is completed and competency is documented.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
General scientific knowledge obtained during the course of obtaining a bachelor of science degree and general skills / experience obtained during the course of working in a laboratory
environment.
Level Characteristics
- Act as the PIC (person in charge aka General Supervisor in the absence of the Supervisor/Manager/Tech III) after attaining 1 yr of high complexity laboratory experience post scientific
baccalaureate degree or 2 years high complexity experience post scientific associate degree.
- Provide daily supervision and/or oversight of the laboratory operation and personnel performing testing and reporting test results.
- Provide direct supervision of all high complexity testing.
- Monitor testing to ensure that acceptable levels of analytic performance are maintained.
- Responsibilities delegated from the director or technical supervisorinclude:
- Assure remedial action is taken and documented whenever tests systems deviate from established performance specifications
- Ensure that patient testing results are not reported until corrective action has been taken and the test system is functioning properly
Working at Duke
Duke employees are part of a premiere organization dedicated to excellence in education, research, and patient care. By working at Duke, we gain the opportunity and the responsibility to make a
real difference in the world. Take a closer look to find out why and whether you can help contribute to the legacy of great achievement and even greater promise at Duke.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
BS degree in Biological Science or related field is required for the Histocompatibility, Flow Cytometry, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories. A BS
degree in Biological Science or related field is preferred for the Immunopathology and Image Cytometry Laboratories. Those people without BS degrees who are working at this level in Immunopathology,
Electron Microscopy, or Image Cytometry as of December 31, 2004 will be grandfathered. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience will be considered in Electron Microscopy. Equivalent
qualifications would include: 2 year post-high school education including science courses and 3 years of general laboratory experience.
Experience
One minimum of one year general laboratory experience is required for those with a BS degree. Proof of laboratory experience during college work will be accepted.
Degrees, Licensures, Certifications
MT(ASCP) desirable and preferred in the Histocompatibility Laboratory although it is not required.