Summary

A Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) at the GS-12 level carries out all of the testing responsibilities of the full performance level but has higher levels of professional responsibilities - expertise - and authority for a specific department (i.e. Core Lab - Microbiology - or Blood Bank) and will rotate with other CLS's within the department.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Certification: (1) Candidates must meet one of the certification options below Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
• Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
• Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT
• Exception for Non-Certified
• (a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency
• GS-12 Experience- Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist Assignments: For all GS-12 assignments above the FPL - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the CLS at least 25% of the time
• Candidates at this grade level are in one of the following assignments
• Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level is required for all GS-12 assignments
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (A) Knowledge of medical technology applicable to a wide range of duties to solve complex problems involving diverse aspects of clinical laboratory practice
• (B) Skill to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair laboratory instrumentation
• (C) Ability to develop procedures for new tests - and modify existing procedures and methods to resolve problems relative to complex and difficult situations
• (D) Ability to manage and coordinate daily work activities and assignments in a section
• (E) Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training
• (F) Ability to provide guidance and technical direction to a wide variety of individuals including physicians - nurses - and other clinical staff regarding technical aspects of testing - specimen requirements and results
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing - sitting - transporting samples between work areas - stretching - reaching - bending and lifting of reagents/supplies for instruments
• Moderate risks of discomfort associated with working in a clinical laboratory with regular and recurrent possible exposure to hazards such as infectious - chemical and/or environmental agents
• Safety guidelines on safe equipment operation must be adhered to
• There is possibility of constant stress and mental pressure to complete all testing in an accurate and timely manner for quality patient care.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Functions: The duties and responsibilities of the Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist includes but is not limited to the following: 1
• Core Laboratory: Performs all of the duties outlined in this functional statement in the Hematology and Chemistry department at the Medical Center and Health Care Centers
• 2
• Microbiology/Blood Bank: Performs all of the duties outlined in this functional statement in the Microbiology and Blood Bank departments at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center
• 3
• Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis - requesting new specimen if determined to be unusable
• Prepares specimen for analysis - ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained
• 4
• Performs review of manually entered laboratory results in the VISTA system
• 5
• 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
• 6
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment - reagents - and products and documents/maintains proper records for quality control reports
• 7
• Calibrates - standardizes - adjusts and maintains instruments
• Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring
• Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs
• 8
• Documents and maintain all quality control - maintenance - and corrective action logs
• performs instrument to instrument correlations - new reagents and control validations and all other technical procedures required to maintain laboratory compliance
• 9
• 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
• 10.Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results
• Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly
• Tracks down \"missing\" tubes - samples and follows protocol for reordering tests with appropriate documentation
• 11.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
• 12.Successfully performs CAP surveys - linearity studies and other intra-laboratory proficiency activities to maintain competency which is rotated through all technical staff performing the test
• Reviews proficiency testing results prior to submitting to CAP
• 13.When equipment - control and/or calibrator problems present themselves - is able to troubleshoot and work with the manufacturer's hotline technicians to correct repairable problems
• Documents corrective action in \"corrective action logs\"
• Performs and documents daily - weekly - and monthly maintenance on analyzers
• Performs other related duties within technical capacity as assigned by the supervisor
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 10:00a.m-6:30p.m - rotating weekends and holidays Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized