Blood Bank Medical Laboratory Specialist (MLS/MLT) | Location: East Texas
The Senior Blood Bank Medical Laboratory Scientist supports transfusion medicine and consultation services through advanced blood bank testing, antibody identification, patient investigations, hospital support, and donor services operations. This role serves as a technical resource for internal and external customers and participates in after-hours consultation and hospital support as needed. Phlebotomy and donor collection procedures will be taught during the onboarding and training process, making this an excellent opportunity for laboratory professionals interested in expanding their clinical skills.
Reporting to the Operations Manager, with a dotted-line relationship to the NDC Operations and Technical Services Manager, this position combines laboratory expertise, customer service, and operational support to ensure safe and timely delivery of blood products and consultation services.
Essential Responsibilities
Perform, interpret, and document patient and donor serological testing in SafeTraceTX.
Investigate and resolve complex antibody identification cases using advanced immunohematology techniques.
Prepare and maintain consultation reports for hospital and patient cases.
Perform and document quality control testing and quality assurance activities.
Prepare laboratory reagents and educational wet samples.
Maintain rare cell sample databases and records.
Ensure compliance with all laboratory policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Serve as a technical resource for hospitals, physicians, and healthcare partners.
Communicate test results and consultation information with internal and external customers.
Process incoming and outgoing hospital orders through BECS.
Record and manage antigen-negative blood product orders.
Support timely fulfillment of blood product requests and special transfusion needs.
Assist with loading, unloading, setup, and breakdown of mobile collection sites and donor center operations.
Conduct donor screening procedures according to established standards.
Perform venipuncture and donor blood collection procedures.
Provide post-donation care and donor support.
Help create exceptional donor experiences that encourage repeat donations.
Perform Driver I responsibilities as assigned.
Act as Shift Coordinator when necessary.
Participate in an on-call rotation to support after-hours consultation services and hospital needs.
Serve as backup support for hospital services operations.
Assist with onboarding, training, and mentoring of new staff members.
Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT): ASCP certification (or equivalent) is required at the time of hire.
Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS):
Candidates with relevant experience must hold ASCP certification (or equivalent) upon hire.
New graduate MLS candidates must be eligible to sit for the certification exam and obtain certification within six (6) months of employment. Failure to obtain certification within the required timeframe may result in termination of employment.
Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License and maintain an acceptable driving record.
Must meet all requirements of Gulf Coast Blood’s Vehicle Safety Program.
Preferred Qualifications
MLT (ASCP or equivalent) with a minimum of two years of recent, advanced blood bank and immunohematology experience (within the past 1–2 years); or
MLS (ASCP or equivalent) with recent blood bank and immunohematology experience (within the past 1–2 years); or
MLS new graduate who is eligible to take the certification examination, with certification obtained within six months of employment. Failure to obtain certification within the required timeframe may result in termination of employment.
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 regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds without team lift assistance. Employee must occasionally push and/or pull up to 150 pounds. Employees are required to be familiar with requirements as specified in the Safety Program in an effort to prevent bodily injury and for the health and safety of others. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, outside weather conditions, extreme cold or heat, toxic or caustic chemicals, and blood and/or blood components, as well as other bio-hazardous material. The employee is frequently exposed to risk of electrical shock. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, and risk of radiation. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Job duties involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood with a risk of exposure to Hepatitis and HIV.
Who We Are:
Since 1975, Gulf Coast Blood has been one of the nation’s largest community blood centers, serving 170 hospitals across 26 counties. Headquartered in Houston, we support the world’s largest medical complex—the Texas Medical Center—while operating 18 donor centers and hosting more than 7,000 mobile blood drives each year. As an FDA-accredited nonprofit, we provide high-quality human cellular material for both scientific and therapeutic use.
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EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT
Gulf Coast Blood is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants for positions are considered without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, military status, protected veteran status, disability status, genetic testing results, or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable law, statute, regulation or Executive Order.
