Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification
• Certification
• (1) Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations
• (a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP, Board of Certification
• ii ASCP, Board of Registry
• (b) American Medical Technologists
• OR (c) American Association of Bioanalysts May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician, GS-07
• (a) Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below
• Assignment-specific KSAs are designated with an asterisk (*) and are only required if that task is required of the position, as indicated in part (c) below
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs i
• - iv
• and the advanced KSA as identified by the corresponding asterisk(s) if MLTs are assigned advanced MLT duties: i Knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology of medical laboratory technology, regulatory and accrediting agency requirements and medicolegal requirements sufficient to perform complex diagnostic tests
• ii Skill in applying new scientific/technical developments and theories to laboratory testing
• iii Ability to work independently on a broad range of complex laboratory processes
• iv Ability to troubleshoot and repair specific/advanced complex laboratory equipment
• v *Knowledge of laboratory information technology (IT) systems including troubleshooting systems issues, interface requirements between new instruments and existing IT infrastructure and laboratory IT test development
• vi *Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with continuing education and employee orientation to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements
• vii *Ability to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards
• viii*Ability to assist with quality management activities in the laboratory, including monitoring and evaluating quality in accordance with CLIA and CAP, conducting quality improvement activities and communicating quality management results (c)
• Assignment: MLTs at this level have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight and are expected to independently carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• They are responsible for performing difficult specialized tasks including, but not limited to, advanced blood banking (antibody titers, elutions), advanced microbiology (Mycobacterium (Acid Fast Bacillus) Identification and Sensitivities, Mycology Identification, Virology, Anaerobic Culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction testing), molecular testing, high complexity testing, recording workload statistics, quality management projects and obtaining data for validation studies
• Advanced MLTs may be expected to independently operate the full range of laboratory functions at remote sites
• Their duties consist of advanced operation, training and comprehensive troubleshooting of laboratory instruments and resolving any problems
• MLTs at this level may act as key operators for specific instrumentation
• Advanced duties may also include one or more of the tasks identified below
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-7. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing, sitting, transporting samples between work areas, stretching, reaching, bending and lifting of reagents/supplies for instruments
• Moderate risks of discomfort associated with working in a clinical laboratory with regular and recurrent possible exposure to hazards such as infectious, chemical and/or environmental agents
• Safety guidelines on safe equipment operation must be adhered to
• There is possibility of constant stress and mental pressure to complete all testing in an accurate and timely manner for quality patient care
• Normal color vision is required.