Supervising Clinical Laboratory Technologist
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
Under general medical direction, to plan the work and supervise the staff of a large clinical laboratory; to do difficult technical clinical laboratory work; and to do other related work.
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 journey workers performing all technical phases of 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 technician. Such employees are in charge of a specialized laboratory unit or act as general assistant to the supervisor and give technical supervision of 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
Supervises the work of a large clinical laboratory; assigns, directs, and checks the work of laboratory personnel, including technologists and nontechnical assistants; confers with medical personnel, coordinates laboratory operation with medical staff requirements and plans and is responsible for the technical clinical laboratory program; arranges for and conducts special research projects; keeps informed on current developments in the clinical laboratory field; reviews laboratory procedures and develops and installs necessary changes; instructs workers in laboratory principles and practices, evaluates their work, and takes appropriate action with respect to their work performance; supervises and 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; prepares animals for experimentation; directs the care of laboratory animals; directs the charting, tabulating, and recording of tests; estimates needs and orders supplies, materials, and equipment for the laboratory.
Minimum Qualifications
Either I
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
Three years of experience in comprehensive clinical laboratory work which has involved making pathological analyses. Or IIPossession of a clinical laboratory bioanalyst's license issued by the State Department of Health Services.
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; principles of effective supervision and directing, training, and evaluating the work of others; current literature in the clinical laboratory field; department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.
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: Direct, train, and evaluate the work of others; perform and direct difficult and unusual research and analyses; effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives.
Special Personal Characteristics
Keenness of observation; ability to distinguish colors; tact; and freedom from communicable diseases.
