NEEDED: Medical (Laboratory) Technologist

LOCATION(S): VA Palo Alto, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304

• VA Public Health National Program Office, national Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL),

SCHEDULE : 40 hours per week,

• Shift 1: Hours will be between 8am to 5pm (with one-hour lunch) Monday through Friday including holidays.
• Shift 2: Hours will be between 8am to 5pm (with one-hour lunch) Tuesday through Saturday including holidays.
• No overtime authorized.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Technologists will perform high complex molecular laboratory testing such as pathogen agnostic whole genome sequencing (for diagnosis of unknown or emerging pathogens) or pathogen specific testing such as antibody/antigen; RT-PCR, Multilocus sequence typing (MLST); or whole genome sequencing for diagnosis and treatment decision-making in support of the Whole-of-government USG National Biodefense Strategy-Diagnostics Joint Capabilities Plan; CDC Laboratory Response Network (LRN); and VA Public Health preparedness and response requirements (including laboratory surveillance, lookback and outbreak investigations and VA response to high consequence infections such as Ebola, mpox or H5N1 avian influenza). These complex laboratory tests are not available in VHA clinical laboratories. In addition, technologists will perform laboratory information management (LIM) services that connect all VA medical center laboratories with PHRL, given PHRL supports all 150 VA medical centers (VAMC) to provide these services.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE:

• *Serve as an expert to perform and provide authoritative advice to staff and troubleshooting ability for more difficult or unique molecular assays; and provide information, guidance, or test results regarding complex molecular laboratory testing to VHA clinical laboratory personnel; county/state/CDC public health officials; and other VA or USG stakeholders.
• *Perform validations of new methods to determine accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, normal ranges and interfering substances. This includes experience with vendor supplied reagents and testing platforms approved by US FDA or PHRL laboratory developed tests (LDT) that must undergo the same rigorous evaluation prior to performing clinical testing.
• Conduct evaluations and analyses and recommend changes to correct deficiencies that improves laboratory test performance. In addition, must be able to troubleshoot complex laboratory test platform malfunctions, including mechanical or software issues, and if required, work with vendor technical personnel to resolve problems.
• Design workflows for laboratory testing that incorporates considerations for laboratory space, personnel protective equipment and proper containment if required; appropriate test methodology, testing equipment platform, reagents and consumables; test result structure for electronic reporting; and proficiency testing.
• Advise supervisor and clinical providers on aspects of the requested testing, including the appropriateness of specific tests. Advise on alternate laboratory testing to overcome ambiguities in clinical diagnoses. This requires a higher level of knowledge and understanding of infectious disease pathogenesis, natural history, and temporality for when certain tests should be used.
• Identify training needs for the laboratory services provided, which include but are not limited to vendor-associated in-service or hands on training for laboratory platforms; all required VA training; The Joint Commission laboratory criteria; continuing education requirements to maintain Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) certification.
• *Identify, define, and resolve issues with complex data or unique or controversial aspects of the testing where no direct precedent exists. For example, use of unique bioanalytic electronic pipelines for analysis of pathogen nucleotide sequences for pathogen species identification or detection of antimicrobial drug resistance where conventional analysis tools do not exist.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must possess familiarity and experience with clinical laboratory accreditation, inspection policies and procedures and laboratory result reporting requirements including but not limited to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA); CDC Laboratory Response Network (LRN); College of American Pathologists (CAP); The Joint Commission (TJC); VA National Enforcement Office (NEO); and state and federal regulations, requirements and policies for reporting communicable diseases to public health entities.
• *Must have experience in handling and testing clinical or environmental samples and/or pathogen isolates that result from high consequence infections or are defined as category A biological agents (i.e., Ebola virus, anthrax, smallpox, etc.) which require handling in a high containment laboratory (biosafety level, BSL 3).
• *Must have experience in VA Laboratory Information Management (LIM) systems, in particular VistA/CPRS laboratory module in order to troubleshoot and build and maintain new laboratory test orders, result reporting and transmission capabilities via the Laboratory Electronic Data Interchange (LEDI); and similar connectivity with VAMCs that have the Oracle-Cerner electronic health record.
• Must currently possess the appropriate certification as a Medical Technologist (MT) or Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) given by the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR).
• B.S. degree in a Biological Sciences-related field and 2-5 years of laboratory experience (especially molecular assays).
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair instrumentation.
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex written instructions.
• Ability to communicate, consult, and interact with Laboratory Director, Laboratory Supervisor, and other members of the healthcare team.
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory operations and their relationship to the organization enough to solve testing, quality or customer service problems.
• English Language Proficiency.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis, requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained.
• Selects, performs, evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents, and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports.
• Calibrate, standardizes, adjusts and maintains instruments on which trained. Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs.
• *Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures. Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e., history, medications) to verify results.
• Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results. Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly.
• Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system.
• *Responsible for LIM services to build or maintain connectivity between PHRL and all VAMC clinical laboratories.

BENEFITS : Competitive hourly pay rate, accrued vacation, accrued sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays, 401K opportunity, and healthcare benefits contributions.