The Lab Technician performs an entry level role in the testing of clinical DNA specimens for the purpose of diagnosing genetic disease, using manual and automated methods in a team environment, and following established policies and procedures, in a professional manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Learns and follows the established standard operating procedures for specimen handling and processing, test analysis, reporting of results to team leads, supervisors and test managers, and record-keeping.
2. Adheres to quality control policies; document all quality control activities, instrument and procedural calibrations, reagent preparation and testing, and instrument maintenance performed.
3. Identifies problems that may adversely affect test performance, takes authorized corrective action, and notifies key individuals.
4. Detects when test performance is not within acceptable levels. Documents all corrective action.
5. Always be able to document that proficiency testing is performed in the same manner as patient testing.
6. Meets or exceeds target workload with high accuracy and attention to detail.
7. Specific tasks for this job in this section may include the following:
• Performs PCR on patient DNA samples
• Electrophoreses of PCR products on agarose and polyacrylamide gels
• Accurately records work and reports results to team leads, supervisors and senior analysts as necessary.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology, chemistry, biology, or related life science and meets CLIA and New York State personnel standards criteria.
• Experience not required since individuals with less than 1 year formal experience are classified as trainees by federal and state laboratory standards.
• Mathematical, computer, reasoning, and language skills at the college level.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently required to stand; sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Possible contact with water (hand washing and cleaning), biohazardous body fluids, and hazardous chemicals.

Sufficient noise and interruptions to cause distraction and stress.

Extended periods of stationary computer work.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.