Lab Assistant
Schedule: Shift: Wednesday-Saturday 3:00am - 11:30am; Sunday 5pm-1:30am
The Lab Assistant supports Reference Lab operations by receiving, accessioning, labeling, and preparing biological specimens for testing while ensuring adherence to standard operating procedures, quality requirements, and safety protocols. This role is responsible for timely unpacking, verification, and routing of specimens to appropriate laboratory departments, accurate data entry into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and appropriate handling, storage, and/or shipment of specimens. The position maintains clean, organized work areas and completes required logs and documentation to support compliance and traceability. The role also supports inventory activities, secondary equipment operation, and other lab operations tasks as assigned, executing responsibilities with minimal to no oversight.
Key Responsibilities
Accessioning & data integrity
- Understand and follow laboratory SOPs, quality control processes, and safety rules.
- Receive and accession specimens and requisitions (integrated and/or manual) against company targets.
- Perform accurate data entry and order verification in the LIMS.
- Organize work by matching computer orders with specimen labeling; verify specimen identification and labeling accuracy.
Specimen receiving, triage, and routing
- Receive, unpack, and process biological specimens in a timely manner.
- Route specimens by type to appropriate staging areas and transport samples to relevant departments with urgency.
- Prepare specimens for testing across departments including (but not limited to) hematology, urinalysis, serology, chemistry, endocrinology, parasitology, cytology, and coagulation.
- Centrifuge and stage specimens as required by workflow.
Specimen handling
- Handle and store biological specimens in accordance with SOPs.
- Prepare excess specimens for storage; organize and maintain specimen storage.
- Resolve, document, and escalate problem specimens per SOP.
Equipment, workspace, and safety compliance
- Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant laboratory workspace and work surfaces.
- Properly handle and dispose of medical and biohazardous waste in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
- Participate in all required safety trainings; correctly use applicable safety equipment and PPE.
- Operate and maintain secondary laboratory equipment including (but not limited to) centrifuges, pipettes, heating blocks, slide stainers.
Documentation, logs, and records
- Consistently and properly complete laboratory logs (e.g., maintenance, environmental, cleaning) as required.
- Maintain required records including (but not limited to) medical records, courier logs, and manifests.
Shipping, supplies, and inventory support
- Prepare specimens for shipment to offsite testing facilities in accordance with regulatory standards, including DOT requirements.
- Receive, store, and log laboratory and office supplies in designated locations.
- Monitor and organize lab supplies to maintain appropriate inventory levels.
Training and continuous support
- Understand and complete training modules set forth by Zoetis Reference Laboratories.
- Assist and facilitate training of Lab Assistant duties and responsibilities as requested.
- Perform ad-hoc projects or tasks as assigned by management/supervisor.
Required Education and Experience:
- Minimum Education Requirement: High School Diploma or equivalent
- 1+ years in a clinical laboratory setting preferred
- 1–2 years of data entry experience preferred
- Medical background or experience with laboratory testing terminology (or strong aptitude to learn terminology) preferred
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong attention to detail; high accuracy in labeling and data entry
- Excellent data entry and typing skills
- Strong computer skills; ability to work within a Windows environment
- Proficiency in Microsoft platforms (Teams, Outlook, Word, etc.)
- Team-oriented with strong collaboration skills
- Organizational and time management skills; ability to handle multiple tasks/systems
- Effective verbal and written communication, including listening skills
- Ability to work productively and independently in a fast-paced environment with target productivity rates
- Ability to complete tasks with minimal supervision
- Fluency in English
Physical Position Requirements
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to bend, kneel, stoop, and crouch
- Ability to walk, sit, or stand for extended periods
- Ability to use tools such as boxcutters
Ability to wear PPE for extended periods of time
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Full time
Regular
Colleague
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