MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST ALL JURISDICTIONS

Definition

Under supervision of a Physician or other appropriate administrative or clinical supervisor, performs work within various scientific disciplines of medical technology, including technology associated with clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, parasitology, hematology, immunology, and histology; assists in performing research work in area of clinical laboratory medicine; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Performs a wide variety of clinical laboratory procedures in the areas of clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, immunology, hematology, and immunohematology employing both classical and contemporary techniques.
• Maintains a close surveillance of all pertinent literature, trends of thought, and new developments in field of Medical Technology.
• Assists in conducting formal laboratory courses and workshops designed to provide didactic training to technical personnel from private, public health and hospital laboratories throughout state.
• Supervises packing, unpacking, storage, and classification of clinical specimens to be tested in laboratory.
• Sets up and makes necessary adjustments to laboratory equipment and apparatus and lays out supplies.
• Assigns and instructs laboratory technical and other employees and supervises performance of their work.
• Makes qualitative and quantitative analyses of urine for the Determination of sugar and albumin; performs tests to detect the presence of acetone bodies, blood, bile derivatives, Bruce-Jones protein and drugs and poisons in urine, using a urinometer, and determines specific gravity of urine.
• Prepares, sterilizes, and stores culture media according to established procedure; prepares standard reagents, solutions, and stains.
• Makes platelet and total and differential cell counts; determines quantity of hemoglobin; groups or types of blood; cross-matches blood to determine compatibility of a donor's blood with that of a patient; determines the Rh factor in blood.
• Makes blood determinations for urea nitrogen, glucose, and carbon dioxide content of blood and blood tests to determine possible liver impairment.
• Is responsible for independently performing repetition of tests to determine accuracy and reliability of results, and for reproducing analyses and quality controls.
• Initials results of tests and examinations performed and enter in a laboratory report or journal.
• As requested by supervisor, may render assistance to technicians in lower grades and may participate in training programs but does not carry full supervisory responsibilities or responsibility for developing training plan.
• Is responsible for determining cause of unforeseen complications in the performance of tests and for handling situation properly, utilizing knowledge of the theoretical as well as practical phases of work.
• Analyzes submitted specimens using radioimmunoassay and other current technology.
• Maintains laboratory procedure manual, making additions, deletions, and revisions as required.
• Reviews and evaluates current procedures, makes recommendations for change, and implements approved changes.
• Performs coagulation, clot retraction, bleeding and prothrombin time tests; determines sedimentation rates and blood cell fragility.
• Sees that laboratory areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, safe and orderly condition at all times; sees that laboratory equipment is maintained in proper condition.
• Requisitions, stores, safeguards, records, and supervises proper use of laboratory equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Maintains detailed, accurate charts and records pertaining to all work done in laboratory; prepares necessary reports.
• Maintains essential laboratory records, reports, and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology.

Experience

One (1) year of bio-analytical laboratory experience in a certified private, public health or hospital clinical laboratory which shall have included work in one or more of the following areas: hematology, immunohematology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry, serology, bacteriology, and parasitology.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of principles of bacteriology, chemistry, blood chemistry, biochemistry, immunology, parasitology, histology, hematology, mycology, or other scientific field of knowledge involving extensive laboratory analyses and techniques and use of standard laboratory equipment, supplies, and reagents.
• Knowledge of purposes of and the varied tests likely to be made in a hospital and/or research laboratory.
• Knowledge of function and proper use of laboratory apparatus including autoclave, balance, basal metabolism apparatus, centrifuge, colorimeter, incubator, microscope, nephelometer, pH meter, photometer, and spectroscope.
• Knowledge of precautions to be taken in receiving, preserving, identifying, labeling, and when required, shipping specimens of varied kinds sent to laboratory for analysis.
• Ability to analyze technical medical laboratory problems, organize assigned work, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to assign and instruct individuals and groups of professional and sub-professional laboratory employees and supervise performance of their work.
• Ability to organize, analyze, and evaluate test results in terms of laboratory controls and methods.
• Ability to utilize any applicable scientific or medical technology principles and techniques found in literature as possible alternatives to established standard analytical methods.
• Ability to make and supervise laboratory analyses and tests of varied types in accordance with standard and prescribed procedures.
• Ability to review analyses and reports prepared by others and to give such training to new employees as required.
• Ability to observe and enforce adequate and realistic safety precautions.
• Ability to see that laboratory equipment, utensils, materials, and supplies are used in such a manner as to avoid unnecessary breakage, deterioration, and loss.
• Ability to prepare and supervise preparation of clear, scientifically sound, and accurate laboratory reports of tests and analyses containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to supervise maintenance of essential reports, records, and files.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: 19/P18- DJ 3/23/00 LG-
• This specification is for state and local government use. .

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Certification as a Medical Technologist by a certifying agency approved by the National Commission for Health Certifying Agencies, may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology.

Possession of the qualifications of a Medical Technologist as required under Federal Medicare Regulations Subpart M Part 405:1315, Chapter 3, Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations for coverage of services of independent laboratories or under the New Jersey State Administrative Code NJAC 8:44-2.6, may be substituted for the Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology.

A Master's degree in Medical Technology or a related field from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of the experience as indicated above.