Lab Assistant

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

Job Description:

Position Summary: Under the general supervision of the Laboratory Manager accepts, processes, identifies and labels specimens according to protocol. The Lab Assistant is familiar with the patient and specimen requirements, stores and transports specimens according to protocol and ensures specimen integrity is preserved at all times.  They will operate automated instrumentation and assist in the upkeep that comes along with instrumentation. Coverage may include rotating weekends and holidays. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities including but are not limited to:

General Laboratory

Ensures proper labeling and identification of specimens and requisition forms. Brings discrepancies to the attention of the supervisor or senior staff. Records discrepancies and resolutions for quality monitoring. Inventories and maintains adequate supplies in an organized fashion for various laboratories.  Restocks workstations. Monitors reagent and supplies and communicates need to the appropriate person to maintain adequate inventory and timely purchasing of necessary supplies. Responsible for receiving, archiving, and discarding specimens according to established procedures. Prepares benches and work stations for each day’s specimen workload. Organizes and reloads instruments and supplies for each station appropriate to its service. Properly prepares infectious biohazardous waste for transport in a manner that meets the requirements of Lahey Clinic Environmental Safety and Health Policy. Helps to monitor laboratory equipment temperature and humidity readings. Maintains equipment temperature charts. Initiates corrective action and brings to the attention of team lead. Organizes and files specimens in an established, organized specimen storage system. Assists Senior Staff in specimen retrieval to permit additional diagnostic testing. Perform send out tasks, including packing lists, scanning requisitions and other administrative duties. Assists with specimen receipt and specimen triage, ensuring proper quality monitoring methods are followed. Discrepancies are immediately brought to the attention of the supervisor or senior staff and properly documented. Responsible for equipment maintenance and upkeep, including troubleshooting and correcting basic problems. Brings to the attention of appropriate staff when needed. Monitor Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAA) within the laboratory. Transport chemical waste in compliance with MWRA and hospital regulations. Transfer hazardous waste from work benches to SAA. Assists staff as appropriate with routine and special projects. Maintains established department policies, procedures and objectives, including the areas of quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control. Follows all JCAHO Patient Safety Goals and related Laboratory and Hospital Policies.

Location Specific- Clinical Laboratory

Train in Phlebotomy -drawing blood from patients and collecting and documenting specimens based on physician orders.  This clinical staff position is the face of the lab and their effort starts the whole laboratory process, providing phlebotomy draws with attention to patient comfort and the physician orders. 

Location Specific- Anatomic Pathology Laboratory

Collects, documents, and transports surgical pathology specimens from on campus clinical sites to the grossing rooms. Assigns Cases to pathologists following the proper protocol. Transports routine and special specimens within the hospital, maintaining diagnostic viability and specimen integrity for each case. Daily exposure to formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals and fixatives, all under controlled conditions. Minimal risk when proper protocols are observed and followed.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities: 

• Ability to identify and evaluate proper specimen collection and storage.
• Manual dexterity and acuity necessary to prepare specimens, screen specimens, prepare solutions, and operate instrumentation and a computer.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time, utilize good judgment, work accurately under pressure and handle stress to meet deadlines.
• Interpersonal verbal and written English language skills sufficient to exchange information with physicians and other colleagues.
• Work requires the ability to perform venipuncture techniques.
• Skill in the use of personal computers and related software applications.

Experience: 1-year related laboratory experience preferred, but not required.

Pay Range:

The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law.  Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled