Clinical Lab Scientist Generalist

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

• Evaluates and solves problems related to collection and processing of biological specimens for analysis taking into account physiologic processes and requirements.
• Maintains and documents the optimal functioning of laboratory equipment.
• Uses calibrates identifies malfunctions repairs and performs preventive maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Diagnoses deviations in test performance due to instrument malfunction.
• Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement.
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace.
• Maintains troubleshoots and repairs instrumentation.
• Identifies discrepancies solves problems and presents solutions.
• Answers inquiries regarding test results methodology test specificity test sensitivity and specific factors which influence test results.
• Interprets results and suggests follow-up test selection or procedures.
• Evaluates and implements new techniques and procedures in the laboratory in terms of equipment method comparison and establishment of reference intervals using statistical methods and theoretical knowledge.
• Interprets findings and makes recommendations.
• Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member.
• Provides excellent service as defined by the customer (healthcare providers patients and others).
• Gives direction and guidance using underlying principles of laboratory testing.
• Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.
• Performs testing procedures on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual and automated techniques.
• Requires competency in the areas of Blood Bank Hematology Chemistry Coagulation Microbiology Serology Special Chemistry and Urinalysis.
• Evaluates interprets correlates and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results.
• Prepares reagents and verifies correct instrument operation.
• Maintains validity of assay system by appropriate testing of reagents prior to use for patient testing.
• Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures. Incumbent possesses experience with regulatory licensing and accreditation agency requirements and statures governing clinical laboratory operations to plan implement or monitor laboratory programs and services.
• Correlates and integrates information and performs additional testing to confirm abnormal results.
• Collects venous blood samples from patients adhering to all safety and patient care requirements.
• Judges the acceptability of samples submitted for testing using a broad body of knowledge of pre-analytic sample requirements.
• Processes specimens and selects appropriate procedures based on knowledge of type of specimens patient information and resources available in the laboratory.
• Controls physical conditions and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiological state of the specimen is maintained.
• Possesses experience to maintain troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

***This is an open continuous announcement until April 30 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. ***

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship
You must be a citizen of the United States

English Language Proficiency
You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)

Education
A bachelors degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

Certification
Candidates must meet one of the certification options below.
(a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT.
(b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT.
(c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT.

NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held. Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including Ancillary Testing Coordinator Education Coordinator Laboratory Information Manager Quality Manager Laboratory Manager Regional Technical Specialist National Quality and Compliance Agent Regional Program Manager Regional Director Laboratory Director or National Quality and Compliance Officer).

Foreign Education
To be creditable education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program. OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination. NOTE: Possession of a certification identified in 4c above automatically determines the foreign education as creditable and no further documentation or proof of equivalency is needed.