LABORATORY ASSISTANT

Position/Program Information

EXAMINATION NUMBER:
PH4976D

FIRST DAY OF FILING: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (PT)

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:
Open Competitive Job Opportunity

No out-of-class Experience will be accepted .


DEFINITION:
Assists laboratory personnel in the performance of standard laboratory tests on human and other specimens or assigns, trains, and reviews the work of a group of lower-level laboratory positions.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:

Positions allocable to this class work under the technical and administrative direction of higher-level laboratory personnel. Positions are found in a laboratory setting and perform a variety of tasks such as logging in patient specimens, adding fixatives and preservatives to specimens, smearing specimens onto microscopic glass slides, transcribing laboratory tests results into a computer, preparing media and reagents, or assigning, training, and reviewing the work of a group of lower-level laboratory positions.

Essential Job Functions

• Receives patient specimens such as blood, urine, feces, pulmonary fluids, gastro-intestinal fluids, body carry fluids, and sputum slides with standard laboratory request forms providing information such as patient's name and tests to be performed by licensed personnel; verifies patient's name and permanent file number by matching information on request form and specimen container.
• Logs in specimen information such as patient's name, permanent file number, and hospital ward number in laboratory log, worksheet or computer; routes specimen to appropriate work station or laboratory for the standard tests to be performed.
• Prepares specimens for laboratory testing by adding fixatives or preservatives utilizing a prescribed technique/instrument appropriate to the type of specimen.
• Processes specimens for subsequent analysis by licensed personnel by performing duties such as making primary inoculations of test material to be cultured, and smearing and staining test specimens on laboratory glass slides and/or plates.
• Operates semi-and fully-automatic laboratory equipment pre-calibrated by licensed laboratory personnel to perform specific tests; loads specimen on machine, and records machine-derived test results portrayed in the form of a digital read-out, and alerts supervisor before proceeding if test result or procedure outcome falls outside a specific range.
• Transcribes laboratory test results from laboratory reports/worksheets into a permanent log or computer; routes laboratory reports to patients' ward so medical personnel will be informed of laboratory findings.
• Prepares specific quantities of media, reagents (including acids) and other solutions and compounds by mixing components to standard ratios using laboratory apparatus such as balances, volumetric and graduated cylinders following written procedures; lifts and moves containers holding several gallons or other substantial quantity of constituent parts or compounds produced.
• Performs scheduled routine maintenance on miscellaneous devices such as microscopes, centrifuges, and knife sharpeners.
• Maintains laboratory supplies and equipment by cleaning stain set-ups and filters; refresh or replace solutions according to department policies and procedures.
• Provides technical direction to a group of lower-level laboratory positions by assigning and reviewing their work to ensure efficient unit operation, and informs supervisor of their performance; trains personnel in the performance of lower-level laboratory work, and resolves scheduling, work assignment, technical and operational problems within established guidelines.
• Responds to telephone inquiries regarding laboratory test results and routes technical inquiries to higher level personnel.

Requirements

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

Six months' experience in laboratory work* in a public health, medical or biological laboratory.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
III - Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*Laboratory work is defined as experience accessioning and/or processing specimens for diagnostic testing using general laboratory equipment (e.g., centrifuge, autoclave, scale, etc.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Credit will be given to applicants who possess the following desirable qualifications.

• Additional points will be awarded for additional experience beyond the Selection Requirements.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of an evaluation of experience and desirable qualifications based upon application information and supplemental questionnaire at the time of filing weighted 100%.

Applicants must meet the Selection Requirements and must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added on the Eligible Register.


Passing this examination and being added on the Eligible Register does not guarantee an offer of employment.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
The names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be added to the

Eligible Register in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of eligibility.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS .

Complete applications will be processed on an as received basis and promulgated to the Eligible Register accordingly.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The Eligible Register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Public Health as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT :

Any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted ONLINE ONLY. Applications submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 pm deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button located on this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Any required documents and/or additional information, if any, must be received with your application at the time of filing online or within fifteen (15) calendar days from application submission to HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov.

The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements. Fill out your application and supplemental questionnaire completely and correctly to receive full credit for any relevant education, training, and job experience you include. In the space provided for education, include the names and addresses of schools attended, dates attended, degree received, and degree major. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job/position title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and detailed description of work and duties performed. If the application and/or Supplemental Questionnaire is/are incomplete, the application will be REJECTED.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please note that ALL information supplied by applicants and included in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made.
• Applications may be rejected at any stage of the examination and selection process.
• FALSIFICATION of any information may result in DISQUALIFICATION or RESCISSION OF APPOINTMENT .
• Utilizing VERBIAGE from Class Specification(s) and/or Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. In doing so your application will be dispositioned as INCOMPLETE and will not be accepted.
• Comments such as "SEE RESUME" or "SEE APPLICATION" will not be considered a valid response; therefore, using such statements will also result in your application being rejected as INCOMPLETE .

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:
It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will follow all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at https://lacountylibrary.org.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
ADA Coordinator Phone: (323) 659-6546
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077

Department Contact Name: Exam Analyst
Department Contact Phone: (323) 659-6546
Department Contact E-mail: HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

• 

• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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