The Andrology Laboratory Technician supports reproductive medicine and fertility-care services by performing routine and specialized semen analyses, sperm preparation, cryopreservation, and related laboratory procedures. This position is responsible for accurately processing and documenting patient specimens; maintaining strict specimen identification, quality-control, and chain-of-custody practices; and ensuring all work is completed in accordance with laboratory SOPs, applicable regulations, and patient confidentiality requirements.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, technically proficient, comfortable handling human specimens, and able to work effectively in a time-sensitive clinical environment.
Essential Duties
- Receive, verify, accession, label, and process semen and other andrology specimens in accordance with established identification and witnessing procedures.
- Perform routine semen analysis, including assessment of volume, pH, concentration, motility, morphology, vitality, agglutination, and round cells, as applicable.
- Prepare sperm specimens for intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and other assisted reproductive technology procedures.
- Perform sperm preparation techniques such as density-gradient centrifugation, swim-up, washing, and concentration adjustments.
- Assist with sperm cryopreservation, thawing, post-thaw assessment, storage inventory, and release documentation.
- Perform post-vasectomy semen analyses in accordance with laboratory procedures and reporting criteria.
- Conduct quality-control checks, reagent and media preparation, equipment maintenance, temperature monitoring, and inventory management.
- Maintain complete, timely, legible, and accurate laboratory records in the laboratory information system and/or paper documentation system.
- Follow all requirements for specimen traceability, patient confidentiality, infection control, biosafety, and waste disposal.
- Participate in proficiency testing, competency assessments, validations, corrective actions, and continuous quality-improvement activities.
- Identify specimen discrepancies, equipment malfunctions, out-of-range quality-control results, and deviations from SOPs; promptly escalate issues to the supervisor or laboratory director.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and contamination-controlled laboratory environment.
- Communicate professionally with physicians, embryologists, nurses, front-desk personnel, and patients regarding specimen collection instructions, timing, and status within the scope of the role.
- Support additional clinical laboratory or embryology operations as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, medical laboratory science, reproductive science, chemistry, or a related scientific field; an associate degree with relevant clinical laboratory experience may be considered.
- Two years of laboratory experience, preferably in andrology, embryology, fertility, clinical laboratory testing, semen analysis, or specimen processing.
- Demonstrated ability to follow detailed SOPs and maintain accurate laboratory documentation.
- Familiarity with light microscopy, pipetting, centrifugation, sterile technique, and basic laboratory calculations.
- Ability to work with human specimens while following applicable biosafety and bloodborne-pathogen precautions.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage time-sensitive specimen workflows.
- Proficiency with electronic medical records, laboratory information systems, and standard office software.
- Ability to maintain patient privacy and handle sensitive reproductive-health information with professionalism and discretion.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in an andrology, embryology, IVF, urology, donor-sperm, or reproductive endocrinology laboratory.
- Hands-on experience with semen analysis and sperm-preparation methods for IUI and IVF.
- Experience with sperm cryopreservation and liquid-nitrogen storage systems.
- ASCP certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Technician, or relevant andrology/embryology training or certification.
- Familiarity with CLIA, CAP, ASRM/SART, FDA tissue regulations, state laboratory requirements, and quality-management systems.
- Experience participating in assay validation, quality investigations, proficiency testing, or laboratory accreditation activities.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of basic reproductive physiology, semen parameters, and sperm-processing principles.
- Strong microscopy and visual-assessment skills.
- Excellent manual dexterity and ability to perform precise, repetitive pipetting and specimen-handling tasks.
- Ability to follow dual-witnessing, labeling, and chain-of-custody procedures without exception.
- Sound judgment in recognizing nonconforming specimens or test results requiring supervisory review.
- Ability to remain calm, accurate, and professional in a high-volume, patient-centered setting.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Physical and Work Requirements
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and perform repetitive fine-motor tasks.
- Ability to use microscopes, centrifuges, pipettes, refrigerators, freezers, and liquid-nitrogen storage equipment.
- Ability to lift and move laboratory supplies and containers weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Willingness to work variable hours, including early mornings, weekends, holidays, or on-call coverage, based on clinic and procedure schedules.
- Ability to comply with required vaccinations, PPE, occupational-health monitoring, and laboratory safety policies.
Performance Expectations
Success in this role is demonstrated by:
- Accurate specimen identification, processing, and documentation.
- Consistent adherence to SOPs, quality-control requirements, and witnessing procedures.
- Timely completion of semen analyses and sperm-preparation procedures.
- Maintenance of a clean, compliant, and inspection-ready laboratory.
- Professional, compassionate interaction with patients and interdisciplinary clinical staff.
- Prompt escalation and documentation of deviations, errors, and quality concerns.
Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
