The Pittsburgh VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for one full time Medical Technologist (Microbiology/Immunology). This position may be eligible for recruitment/relocation incentives. 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 AND/OR EXPERIENCE COMBINATION: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, medical technology, clinical laboratory science or in a related science (e.g., laboratory sciences such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, immunology, etc.) AND completion of a medical technology clinical practice program. Clinical practice programs completed after 1974 must have been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, formerly CAHEA), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The professional curriculum may have consisted of a post-baccalaureate certificate program or be integrated into a four-year program of study that culminated in a baccalaureate degree. OR, A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND two years of post-certification clinical laboratory experience (e.g., blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology, clinical microscopy, etc.) within the last ten years as a certified Medical Laboratory Technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC), American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry (ASCP-BOR) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). This experience must include performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. OR, A bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, including 16 semester hours of biological science (with one course in microbiology), 16 semester hours of chemistry (with one course in organic or biochemistry) and one course in mathematics, AND five years of clinical laboratory experience within the last ten years performing moderate and/or high complexity testing in blood banking, chemistry, hematology, microbiology, immunology and clinical microscopy (or categorical experience which matches categorical certification) in a clinical laboratory. FOREIGN GRADUATES: Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational and/or experience requirements if the degree is found to be equivalent to degree programs recognized by the NAACLS or clinical laboratory experience as described in above paragraphs. This finding may be based on either of the following: (1) A letter from a college or university with a baccalaureate program recognized by the NAACLS stating that the individual's foreign degree has been evaluated and been found to be equivalent to its bachelor of medical technology degree. (2) A letter from ASCP-BOC or AMT stating that the individual is eligible for the certification examination. CERTIFICATION: Candidates must have either (1) or (2) below: (1) Candidates must currently possess the appropriate certification as a MT, MLS, or CLS given by the ASCP-BOC, ASCP-BOR, or AMT. (2) For positions up to the full performance level, candidates must currently possess the categorical or specialist technologist level certification from the certification agencies listed above, such as, but not limited to chemistry (C/SC), hematology (H/SH), microbiology (M/SM), molecular biology (MB/SMB) and blood bank (BB/SBB). Technologists with categorical or specialist certifications may only perform duties within the area of the laboratory specific to their categorical certification (e.g., an individual with a chemistry (C) certification can only perform duties in chemistry). GRADE REQUIREMENTS: CREDITABLE EXPERIENCE: (1) Knowledge of Current Professional Laboratory Practice. For positions at or above the full performance level, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills and abilities as a Medical Technologist (MT) and may be paid or non-paid employment.(2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level and is directly related to the position being filled.(3) Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a MT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MT would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work.(4) Graduate Education. Graduate education and graduate degrees may be substituted as specified at each grade level. Education must have been from an accredited college or university in a field related to MT (e.g., biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, immunology, hematology, immunohematology, biological science, physiology, allied health education, health systems administration, infection control and preventive medicine), which was accredited at the time the candidate completed the program. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates GS-9 (Full Performance Level): Experience: Must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled OR, Education: Must have Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or directly related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA's: 1. Comprehensive knowledge of professional MT principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work. 2. Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement in order to manage reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. 3. Knowledge of laboratory equipment and ability to maintain, troubleshoot and repair instrumentation. 4. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments. 5. Ability to use independent technical judgments to analyze and interpret laboratory results. 6. Ability to read, interpret and apply complex written instructions. 7. Skilled in informatics, laboratory data flow and the understanding of laboratory processes. 8. Ability to communicate, consult and interact with other members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Microbiology experience (reading culture plates, AST testing, gram stain reading) Positive blood culture workups Molecular testing experience References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G24 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: As established for the position by the facility per VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The VA Pittsburgh Health Care System is currently recruiting for a Medical Technologist (Microbiology/Immunopathology) to serve in the Immunopathology and Microbiology Section of the clinical laboratory. Procedures in the section include immunological methodologies, microbiological methodologies, and polymerase change reaction (PCR) for many infectious agents. The Medical Technologist performs technical and non-technical duties in accordance with regulatory agencies. Duties and Responsibilities of the Medical Technologist include but are not limited to: Performs a wide range of routine and specialized immunological, microbiological, and molecular test procedures Collects and processes specimens from a variety of sources; culture workups, electrophoresis, particle agglutination, immunoassays, organism isolation and identification techniques, gram and other staining procedures, biochemical reactions, rate nephelometry, immunofluorescence, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and serological grouping procedures Pre-analytical, and post analytical steps, which include the checking for pending specimens, monitoring and ordering of reagents and supplies, preparing reagents prior to analysis, and assessing the integrity of each specimen before, during, and after analysis. Verifies functions of analyzers, biochemicals, media, and all equipment throughout the testing of patient specimens Routine equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of instrument problems with the manufacturer's technical service Maintains inventory of reagents and supplies Recognizes and reacts to indicators of instrument malfunction Implements and documents corrective action and effectively communicates status of instruments/testing procedures to fellow coworkers and supervisor Performs daily, weekly, and monthly quality control to assure that all media, biochemical, reagents, equipment, and temperatures are within recommended guidelines Obtains, interprets, and verifies all analytical data in order to report their preliminary/final findings Participates in the established quality management program Work Schedule: Tour consists of 20 total hours per week. Shifts are comprised of two 10-hour night shifts per week rotating days/holidays. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized Learn more. EDRP Authorized: Contact cynthia.powell3@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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