Technologist I

Formerly Puget Sound Blood Center and Lane Blood Center, Bloodworks is backed by more than 70 years of Northwest history and 250,000 donors. A national leader in transfusion medicine, Bloodworks has been chosen to serve more than 90 hospitals in Washington, Oregon and Alaska – partnering closely with local hospitals to deliver the highest level of patient care. Patients with traumatic injuries, undergoing surgeries or organ transplantation, or receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders all depend on our services, expertise, laboratories and research. We are local, nonprofit, independent, volunteer-supported and community-based.

We have an opening for an Immunogenetics Lab Technologist I to join the HLA/Immunogenetics Laboratory team at Bloodworks Northwest. The incumbent in this role will perform clinical laboratory testing and specimen processing for Solid Organ Transplantation and Diagnostic Services. The incumbent will begin to train for emergency testing for Transfusion Support, Deceased Donor Initial Workups, Final Crossmatching and Post-transplant Monitoring (bead assays).

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to:

• Comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements regarding patient and donor confidentiality.
• Review and demonstrate knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). Properly document errors.
• Perform procedures with emphasis on safety for self and others. Report safety issues to the Supervisor or designee.
• Communicate specimen and test issues with team members to maintain quality and expedite turn-around time (TAT). Assist team members in completing tasks when needed. Document when time expectations are not met.
• Follow instructions in SOPs, reference guides, charts, and job aids when performing laboratory processes.
• Perform Quality Control (QC) procedures for environment and equipment including cleaning and monitoring systems as needed. Observe all regulations including Post-PCR containment.
• Prepare reagents, including proper labeling; maintain adequate inventories of reagents and supplies. Restock and clean the workbench as needed and at the end of the shift.
• Perform manual temperature monitoring.
• Provide patient reports to customers (transplant programs, doctors, billing institutions, and others as appropriate) ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations. Ensure proper documentation for the distribution of reports.
• Receive orders for routine and emergency testing and respond to inquiries from physicians, nurses, transplant coordinators and other healthcare professionals. Evaluate specimen acceptability, following laboratory policies. Troubleshoot unacceptable specimens.

Use laboratory management software and internet databases to maintain data and produce reports.

• Retrieve specimens and orders for laboratory testing. Enter specimen receipts in databases and document on logs for audit-trail tracking.
• Accurately perform data entry for patients, donors, specimens, tests, and inventory into appropriate databases.
• Monitor patient database tracking queues to ensure test and report TAT is efficient and reflects our stated objectives.
• Use the appropriate screen, query or report to generate requested information from the database.
• Verify the accuracy of the database for each individual, sample and test in the completed workup. Make appropriate data corrections.

Prepare specimens for testing and storage.

• Perform procedures for recording consults and receiving and sending out samples.
• Review requisitions, database generated labels and/or Coordination forms for specimen preparation, processing and preservation requirements.
• Initiate appropriate processing logs and complete documentation accurately.
• Organize specimens and workflow to prevent sample switches.
• Prepare and process specimens (cell, DNA, serum and plasma), meeting goals for quality and quantity of preparation.
• Prepare complex mixtures of reagents. Understand properties of cell isolation procedures using immunomagnetic selection.
• Troubleshoot and document problem specimens. Consult with the Coordinator as appropriate.
• Route specimens for testing and/or storage according to the requirements of each patient/donor and workup type. Route charts/paperwork and processing logs appropriately.
• Review processing logs for accuracy, route to Coordinator to resolve discrepancies.

In training to perform HLA molecular biology testing, flow cytometry and bead assays according to SOP.

• Setup instruments and document instrument performance and maintenance.
• Organize and perform requested testing based on patient/donor category and organ specific protocols.
• Verify validity of tests according to specific requirements of assay performed.
• Analyze data, enter test results into the database and submit for review.
• Discuss unusual results with Technical Specialist, Technical Manager and/or Directors.
• Complete tracking documentation for test performance.

Preparation for ACHI Certification Examination.

• Meet eligibility requirements and provide all supporting documentation to gain admission to an examination.
• To qualify, one must have at least one year’s documented relevant full-time work experience in an approved laboratory performing histocompatibility testing, completed five years prior to the application date.
• Gain a sufficient level of knowledge to successfully pass the exam. Exam content includes General Laboratory Skills, Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Testing, Test Interpretation and Reporting, Testing Principles and Theory, and Quality Systems.

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Must qualify as Testing Personnel, High Complexity Testing, under CLIA personnel requirements found in Subpart M of the Code of Federal Regulations.
• Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science (or equivalent combination of education and experience). Education must be equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours of science courses that include a minimum of 6 semester hours of Chemistry, 6 semester hours of Biology, and 12 semester hours of Chemistry, Biology or Medical Laboratory Technology in any combination. Medical Technologist education and/or certification (ASCP) fulfills qualification requirement.
• 6 months of HLA experience is required to apply for this position.
• Current certification as an ACHI-Certified Histocompatibility Technologist (CHT) or immediate eligibility for CHT certification exam preferred.

SPECIFIC JOB SKILLS include, but are not limited to:

• Required mental activities involve the continuous use of discretion, and the ability to read, write, speak and comprehend English. Required mental activities also include interpersonal skills and teamwork (all used frequently); basic math skills and decision making (all used occasionally); creativity, customer service, problem analysis, performance of advanced math (all used rarely).
• Required physical activities include continuous handling of items, seeing, and hearing. Required physical activities also include standing, walking, stooping, sitting, talking, reaching and repetitive motions of hands/wrists (all used frequently); bending, feeling, and repetitive motions of feet (all used occasionally); and kneeling (used rarely).
• The ability to push up to 30 pounds is required, as is the ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.
• The ability to lift a 20-pound freezer rack from a liquid nitrogen freezer, using protective gloves, from a height of 3 feet to 6 feet is required.
• Keyboarding/data entry ability is required.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.), internet use and familiarity with database operations.
• Must be capable of performing independent work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to work under stress and demonstrate initiative.
• The position requires training for On-call work. Must begin to participate in a 24-hour On-call training schedule once training in all test methods is complete. This includes the ability to arrive in the lab within 45 minutes when On-call and during inclement weather. On-call Technologists are considered essential positions with direct responsibility to donors and patients. The incumbent should be prepared to work extended and/or consecutive shifts when On-call. Promotion to Technologist II is after incumbent completes On-call training and demonstrates independence while working On-call, and is typically representative of a minimum of 1-2 years of HLA experience.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• This is a highly regulated position and is subject to meeting various regulatory agency and accrediting body rules and regulations, including The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI), and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
• The work area utilizes powerful magnets. Pacemakers and other objects that respond to strong magnetic fields may be affected.
• Job conditions to be expected include On-call status (frequent), heavy lifting, constant standing, extensive computer, and close work and sleep deprivation (occasional).
• Ability to work weekends and holidays as assigned for "On-call".

Benefits and Perks:

Employees regularly scheduled for 24+ hours per week are covered by medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, with family coverage also available. Also able to participate in retirement plans (401a & 401b), consolidated paid leave program (4.8 – 6.8 weeks of time off accrued per year, based on length of service), subsidized back-up child care program, subsidized transit program, educational reimbursement. Candidates hired from outside of our service area may be eligible for a relocation assistance bonus.

Bloodworks Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.