Medical Laboratory Technician (Tacoma)

Venesco, LLC is a premier government contractor providing Healthcare, IT, Research & Development and other services to government agencies. Venesco prioritizes employee connectedness and work life balance. Venesco is recruiting highly motivated, skilled personnel to be part of our excellent team!

New openings exist for Medical Laboratory Technicians to provide services at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Tacoma and surrounding locations for the Armed Services Blood Bank Center.

Competitive pay and benefits offered including :

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription benefits
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Continuing Education / License Reimbursement
• Paid time off

Hours :

Normal hours will be established by the work center and will be a 40-hour week, with an 8-hour day scheduled between the hours of 5 : 00 am to 10 : 00 pm, Monday through Sunday, depending on the blood drive schedule, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch period. Some blood drives require longer workdays, up to 12-hour days; in these cases, the HCW will be scheduled to work during the peak work hours and be transported back to the donor center or lodging site as to not exceed the 40-hour work week.

Responsibilities :

1 Rotates through various sections of the Blood Donor Center and on blood drives in remote locations. Independently performs standardized clinical laboratory tests and procedures appropriate to blood banking. The majority of work performed is covered in established standard operating procedure (SOP) and instructions, though occasionally will perform more complex procedures which are not covered in detail by existing documents. Maintains a professional attitude and communicates effectively with donors, patients, physicians, and fellow employees.

2 Performs personal interviews to obtain medical histories and visual inspections of blood donors, ensuring donors meet all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria and current manufacturing practices. Determines eligibility of potential donors based on judgment and in accordance with SOP and regulatory guidelines. Screens subjects donating blood (e.g., volunteer blood donors, autologous and therapeutic patients) and exercises care to ensure their blood is at a safe level prior to being used. Takes vital signs (i.e., temperature, pulse, and blood pressure) and checks hemoglobin and / or hematocrit levels, ensuring prospective donors are eligible to donate blood.

3 Strips, segments, weighs, and stores whole blood units. Records information, such as time of started and stopped drawing blood. Prepares samples to be sent to testing laboratory. Receives and reviews test results, ensuring proper procedures are followed if irregularities or tests discrepancies are found. Enters results into the computer system to update the files of blood donors and follow up log for serological testing of blood donor units. Inputs all data on the blood products in the computer system to ensure proper release and inventory of products. Labels units for shipment or storage in accordance with SOP to ensure accuracy and appropriateness of the release and use of the blood product.

4 Manufactures packed red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and recovered plasma in accordance with SOP. Maintains records on component preparations. Performs quality control tests for red blood cells, platelets, and instrumentation in accordance with SOP.

5 Stocks blood donor, blood processing, and blood product manufacturing supplies and mobile equipment. Ensures stock levels are adequate. Participates in mobile blood drives to remote sites. Operates and performs daily preventive maintenance, repair, and quality control on blood bank equipment (e.g., centrifuges, automated apheresis, venipuncture instruments).

6 Performs specialized tests on platelets for quality control in accordance with standards. Works with hazardous materials (e.g., infectious biological material) and adheres to established safety procedures to minimize potential danger to self and others. Operates various computers and computer systems, to include the computer control blood bank management system. Uses computer hardware and software programs to enter or recall data of donor registration and history, complete blood and component preparation, maintain test result tables, label units, control inventory, and ship blood products to the transfusion service. Records donor deferrals in the computer system per SOP. Maintains legible and accurate records in accordance with regulatory requirements for all procedures (e.g., test results, collection, preparation, processing, inventory, shipping, quality control). Collects and maintains quality control data and records as required.

7 Provides input to the supervisor in evaluating new instrumentation, procedures, and products for possible future use. Keeps abreast of new developments in the field of immunohematology and of serological testing of donor units. Evaluates new techniques / equipment for use in the blood bank and provides recommendations. Participates in the training and orientation of new personnel (military and civilian), reserve military personnel, and students in blood banking theory and operations.

8 Phlebotomy Duties : Conducts second overall assessment of donors. Explains the procedures and prepares donor arm for phlebotomy. Screens candidates for autologous collections. Exercises independent judgment to ensure phlebotomy procedures will not harm the donor and that the collected blood is processed, tested, and available at the time of the patients needs. Monitors donor during donation process and observes for possible adverse reaction (e.g., light headache, passing out, convulsing). Administers first aid or calls for medical help depending on the circumstances.

9 Apheresis Procedures : Processes human volunteer apheresis donors. Takes donor history, temperature, pulse, blood pressure, hemoglobin, and collection of single donor plasma and single donor platelets using apheresis equipment and standard procedures.

Requirements

1. Degree / Education : Graduate from a medical laboratory technician training program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or educational program acceptable to the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

2 . Certifications : Basic Life Support from a course approved by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.

3. Board Certification : Certification / registration as Medical Laboratory Technician or equivalent by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), or American Medical Technologists (AMT), or other agency approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASDHA).

4. Experience : One year of experience in a clinical laboratory in any one or a combination of the following sections : hematology, chemistry, cytology, histology, urinalysis, serology, microbiology, and blood bank.

Venesco, LLC, is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Venesco is committed to administering all employment and personnel actions on the basis of merit and free of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or status as an individual with a disability. Consistent with this commitment, we are dedicated to the employment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, persons of all ethnic backgrounds and religions according to their abilities.