State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Technician Lead is the lead 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 assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Public Health Laboratory Technicians and may provide advice and guidance to support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general 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 Lead is differentiated from the Public Health Laboratory Technician III in that the Public Health Laboratory Technician Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Public Health Laboratory Technicians while the Public Health Technician III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Public Health Laboratory Technicians; Trains lower-level Public Health Laboratory Technicians;

Collects data in the development and validation of new analytical procedures and services;

Writes or updates protocols, procedure manuals and reports for review and validation;

Maintains the integrity of the laboratory testing environment as directed by a Public Health Laboratory Scientist;

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

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

Generates test data, performs mathematical calculations, interprets test data and compiles test results;

Conducts preliminary investigations of test result problems and reviews corrective action reports;

Uses protective equipment, follows universal precautions for biological pathogens, maintains and follows chemical hygiene plan;

Operates and conducts routine preventive maintenance on specialized laboratory instruments and equipment;

Handles, contains and disposes of hazardous chemical and medical waste;

Monitors and records supply inventory; orders, dates, labels and stores supplies and reagents; verifies accuracy of incoming deliveries; and checks expiration dates and lot numbers;

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

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

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

May 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;

Skill in the use of basic laboratory equipment and instrumentation;

Skill in the application of universal precautions sufficient to safely handle potentially hazardous biological and chemical materials;

Skill in performing analytical tests of protocols and procedures;

Ability to assign, review and approve the work of and to train lower-level Public Health Laboratory Technicians;

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

Ability to recognize, document and solve problems affecting the high performance standards of a public health laboratory;

Ability to handle hazardous chemical and biological materials;

Ability to maintain records as required;

Ability to coordinate work with colleagues sufficient to meet the requirements of a public health laboratory.

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

Experience: Three years of experience performing public health, medical or environmental laboratory testing.

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 degree or a Doctorate degree in chemical, biological or clinical laboratory science or medical technology 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.