Job Description
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.
Work Performed
LEVEL III PERSONNEL IN ALL LABORATORIES
- Perform complex technical work involved in preparing human biological material for specialized microscopic, cellular, serologic, molecular, genetic, andimage or flow cytometric analysis. This may
include any of the following operations, singly or in combination on submitted fluieds (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 sample for analysis.
- Operate complex and/or computerized microscopic, molecular, and /or cytometric equipment to analyze prepared biologic specimens, to calibrate instrumentation, and to validate quality of assay.
Perform cleaning, maintenance, alignment procedures, quality assurance assays, and troubleshooting on complex and/or computerized microscopic, cellular, molecular, and/or serological testing
equipment.
- 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.
- Prepare stock solutions and reagents following standard operating procedures and quality control procedures. Record quality control of reagent preparation. Perform monthly review of quality
control reagent charts. Recognize and resolve problems or report to supervisor/manager. Record and/or review, and maintain files of monitor quality control records of temperature charts and equipment
maintenance in accordance with internal and external regulatory agencies. Notify supervisor or manager of instrument malfunctions or unusual or unexpected data. Notify Clinical Engineering or Vendor
for appropriate yearly preventative maintenance or repairs.
- Validate correct ordering and billing of tests. Interact with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to resolve issues. Follow up counseling with level I or II personnel as
appropriate. Notify supervisor or manager as necessary.
- Perform proficiency testing to maintain compliance with internal and external regulatory agencies. Recognize trends, discrepancies, resolve and/or report to supervisor/manager.
- Compile, analyze, and document procedures performed and results obtained to include making case specific descriptions and comments. Identify diagnostic and prognostic features of specimens such
as malignant, viral, or abnormal cytologic or genetic abnormalities and/or evaluate all aspects of histocompatibility testing through interpretation and /or judgement which makes experience a
necessary facet of this level.
- Develop or assist in the development of clinical assays and the validation of those assays including performance of testing or analysis and written documentation of recommendations and findings
in FADE (focus, analyze, develop, and execute) format. Maintain appropriate documentation of initial and ongoing validations in compliance with internal and external regulatory agencies.
- Provide technical guidance, instruction, and consultation to faculty, students, and staff members as assigned including training of new personnel. Attend staff meetings, continuing education,
safety and compliance training. Write and maintain current standard operating procedures for clinical assays. Remain current, knowledgable, and informed on all tests in the laboratory. Document
knowledge by reviewing and signing the standard operating procedure manual annually. Follow departmental and DUHS policies and procedures such as attendance and time reporting policies.
- Prioritize daily workload for self and assigned Molecular Technologist level I and II personnel. Review completed work ofassigned Molecular Technologists level I and II personnel including
quality of prepared specimens or validation of controls.
- Conduct annual competency assessment of assigned Molecular Technologists level I and II personnel and contribute to the annual pay and performance evaluation of assigned Molecular Technologists
level I and II personnel.
- Remain competent in all areas of laboratory.
- Maintain and analyze turnaround time data, recommend, perform and analyze quality improvement initiatives and reports to include providing documentation and reports in a timely manner to the
manager and director of the laboratory as well as the quality improvement department.
- Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
LEVEL III PERSONNEL WILL PERFORM ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING DEPENDING UPON SPECIALTY LABORATORY:
Molecular Diagnostics and Histocompatibility Laboratories:
- Extract nucleic acids, set up PCR and digestion, prepare and run electrophoretic gels, transfer and hybridize including the preparation of oligonucleotide probes.
Histocompatibility, Molecular Diagnostics, and Immunopathology Laboratories:
- Perform histocompatibility testing using serological, cellular, molecular, electrophoretic, and flow cytometric methodologies, including assessing the quality of the sample for analysis.
- Perform transplant donor and recipient, pre- and post-transplantation analysis to determine eligibility for transplantation or to determine acceptance or rejection of transplantation by any of
the following methods: HLA typing, engraftment-PCR analysis, myeloid/lymphoid fractionation, immunofluorescence staining, or flow cytometric analysis.
Electron Microscopy Laboratory:
- Perform specialized microscopic analysis of subcellular components and identify viral particles in samples prepared using histologic or cytologic procedures designed for electron microscopy.
Level Characteristics
- Act as a General Supervisor (in the absence of a Supervisor/Manager) by providing 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 supervisor include:
- 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
- Participate in the Orientation of all employees
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.