State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Technician I is the entry level of work performing medical and environmental testing in a public health laboratory setting.  Employees in this classification perform a variety of tests on specimens in various fields, such as bacteriology, serology, environmental chemistry, clinical chemistry, environmental microbiology, histology and agricultural chemistry.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Public Health Laboratory Scientist. Work is performed in a laboratory setting.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Public Health Laboratory Technician I, Public Health Laboratory Technician II and Public Health Laboratory Technician III are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Public Health Laboratory Technician I learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The Public Health Laboratory Technician II performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending upon the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Public Health Laboratory Technician III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to perform medical, public health and environmental analytical testing laboratory work in compliance with State and federal regulations;

Learns to use quality control standards to produce consistently accurate and valid test results;

Learns to generate test data, perform mathematical calculations, interpret test data, and compile test results;

Learns to conducts preliminary investigations of test result problems and review corrective action reports;

Learns to use protective equipment, follow universal precautions for biological pathogens and maintain and follow chemical hygiene plan;

Learns to operate and conduct routine preventive maintenance on specialized laboratory instruments and equipment;

Learns to handle, contain and dispose of hazardous chemical and medical waste;

Learns to monitor and record inventory supply; order, date, label, and store supplies and reagents; verify accuracy of incoming deliveries; and check expiration dates and lot numbers;

May learn to isolate and culture medical and environmental bacteria in prescribed or standard inhibitory media or cell cultures and control factors such as moisture, aeration, and temperature;

May learn to identify microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi) by microscopic examination and by physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics;

May learn to conduct immunological analysis of human blood and other body tissues to detect the presence of pathogenic microorganisms;

May learn to conduct chemical analysis of food, water, air and pharmaceutical and industrial effluents for purity, potency and for environmental hazards and pollutants;

May learn to perform bio-immunological and biochemical assays to screen populations for genetic disorders;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of medical and chemical laboratory terminology;

Knowledge of biology and basic inorganic and organic chemistry applicable to public health laboratory practice in environmental chemistry, microbiology, virology, biochemistry and immunology;

Knowledge of mathematics including algebra and basic statistics;

Knowledge of the basic theory and operation of common laboratory equipment and instrumentation;

Knowledge of universal precautions in handling potentially hazardous biological and chemical materials;

Ability to learn to use basic laboratory equipment and instrumentation;

Ability to learn to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and clients;

Ability to learn to perform analytical tests of protocols and procedures;

Ability to learn to maintain records as required.

Education:   An Associate of Arts degree in Laboratory Science or Medical Laboratory Technology from an accredited college or university.

Experience: None.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the completion of 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university including 24 credit hours in medical laboratory technology or 24 credit hours of science courses, including 6 credit hours in chemistry, 6 credit hours in biology, and 12 credit hours in any combination of chemistry, biology or medical technology, and the completion of an approved clinical laboratory training program or at least three months of laboratory training performing high complexity testing for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s or a Doctorate degree in chemical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology from an accredited college or university for the required for the above specific education or training.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Health Science Research Officer classifications or Medical Laboratory Specialists specialty codes in the Science related field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B- Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.