The Medical Lab Technician (MLT) occupies a critical role in clinical diagnostics, ensuring that testing processes from specimen handling to result reporting are conducted with precision and adherence to laboratory protocols. The MLT is responsible for a suite of tasks that support the diagnosis and monitoring of patient health, operating within the scope of authority granted by the laboratory medical director and in line with their professional capabilities.
Responsibilities Regulatory Compliance and Quality: Employees are obligated to uphold strict compliance with all regulations and standards set by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA), College of American Pathologists (CAP), Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA), The Joint Commission (TJC), and other regulatory bodies. This includes active participation in quality assurance initiatives and adherence to best practices in laboratory testing.
Perform duties as assigned by the medical director. Compliance: Employees must complete the necessary initial orientation and training, obtain, and maintain relevant certifications, participate annually in mandatory training, competency assessments, and consistently demonstrate satisfactory job-specific performance assessments on on-going basis. Specimen Processing and Reporting: Process patient samples efficiently, perform authorized tests, and report results accurately, contributing to the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions.
Test Performance: Conduct only authorized tests, ensuring that each task aligns with the MLT's level of education, training, experience, and technical skills. Procedure Compliance: Adhere strictly to the laboratory’s standard operating procedures for specimen handling and processing, test analyses, and reporting. Maintain comprehensive records of patient test outcomes.
Quality Control: Implement and document the laboratory’s quality control protocols, including instrument calibrations and maintenance, ensuring consistent test accuracy and reliability. Proficiency Testing: Maintain records demonstrating that proficiency testing samples are processed with the same rigor and accuracy as patient samples. Corrective Action: Follow established policies for corrective action when test systems deviate from acceptable performance levels.
Identify and rectify or report any issues that may impact test performance or results. Problem Resolution: Detect and address problems that could negatively affect test performance. Escalate issues to the technical consultant, clinical consultant, or director when necessary.
Documentation: Keep detailed records of all corrective actions taken when test systems fall outside established specifications. Other Duties: Perform any additional duties as assigned or requested, as the job specifications may be modified or updated at any time. Education Minimum: Associates degree in a laboratory science (chemical or biological science) or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution, or equivalent laboratory training and experience per CLIA regulations Education Preferred: None Work Experience Minimum: None Work Experience Preferred: 1 year of experience as a MLT in an acute care hospital laboratory setting.
Licenses & Certification Minimum: MLT certification from American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or American Medical Technologists (AMT) or obtained withing one year of employment. Employees meeting CLIA regulations before April 24, 1995, do not require certification. Licenses & Certification Preferred: None