Senior Clinical Laboratory Technologist
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
Under general medical direction to be responsible for and to do technical work in a small clinical laboratory or under the direction of a supervisory clinical laboratory technologist; to provide technical supervision to and work with a group of technologists in a large clinical laboratory; and to do other work as required.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The classes in the Clinical Laboratory Technologist series differ in the following respects: Employees in the entering level class of Clinical Laboratory Technologist are fully qualified journeyperson workers performing all technical phases of the clinical laboratory work, but ordinarily without responsibility for the laboratory program of the institution or clinic or for the supervision of other technical workers. They work under the supervision of technologists of a higher grade.
The next higher class of Senior Clinical Laboratory Technologist includes those employees under general medical direction who are in charge of and perform technical work in a small clinical laboratory. Employees in this class may also work in a large clinical laboratory under the direction of a supervisory clinical laboratory technologist. Such employees are in charge of a specialized laboratory unit or act as general assistant to the supervisor and give technical supervision to other technologists.
The class of Supervising Clinical Laboratory Technologist includes employees who supervise a large laboratory, have program responsibility, direct the work of a technical staff, and perform the most difficult technical work.
Typical Tasks
As head of a small laboratory: Confers with medical personnel, coordinates laboratory operations with medical staff requirements, and plans and is responsible for the technical clinical laboratory program; develops and installs necessary changes in laboratory procedures; estimates and orders necessary laboratory supplies, materials, and equipment.
Under direction of a Supervisory Clinical Laboratory Technologist in a large laboratory: Provides technical direction to and works with a staff of technologists; recommends necessary changes in laboratory procedures.
In either position: Performs special research work; keeps informed on current developments in the clinical laboratory fields; makes bacteriological analyses of specimens for suspected communicable diseases, such as diphtheria, typhoid, paratyphoid, tuberculosis, malaria, and syphilis; makes chemical analyses of blood and urine; makes smears; makes and examines cultures; prepares culture media, stains, reagents, and stock solutions; prepares solutions for intravenous injections; mounts and stains specimens for microscopic examinations; makes blood counts; assists in the performance of autopsies; sets up, cleans, and cares for laboratory equipment and apparatus; sterilizes glassware, tubes, and instruments; prepares animals for experimentation; cares for or directs the care of laboratory animals; charts, tabulates, and keeps a record of tests.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a clinical laboratory technologist's license or a similar license of equal or higher level issued by the State Department of Health Services. and One year of experience in comprehensive clinical laboratory work which has involved making pathological analyses.
Knowledges and Abilities
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of clinical laboratory work and the use and care of laboratory equipment; preparing, mounting, and staining specimens, reading tests and recognizing the normal and the abnormal, setting up laboratory apparatus, and making quick and accurate serological, bacteriological, and biochemical tests and analyses, including Wassermann and Widal tests; current literature in the clinical laboratory field.
Skill in: Preparing, mounting, and staining specimens, reading tests and recognizing the normal and the abnormal, setting up laboratory apparatus, and making quick and accurate serological, bacteriological, and biochemical tests and analyses, including Wassermann and Widal tests.
Ability to: Follow directions.
Special Personal Characteristics
Keenness of observation; ability to stand for several hours at a time; normal color vision; tact; and freedom from communicable diseases.
