State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Assistant I is the entry level of work providing technical support in the areas of glassware and transport outfit preparation, medical waste collection and decontamination, and analytical testing processes in a medico-public health laboratory setting.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Public Health Laboratory Scientist or an administrative official.  The 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.  The work may require the lifting and moving of laboratory equipment and materials.

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 Assistant I, Public Health Laboratory Assistant II, and Public Health Laboratory Assistant III are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Public Health Laboratory Assistant I performs duties under close supervision.  The Public Health Laboratory Assistant 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 Assistant III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. 

Learns to clean, sterilize and sort glassware and ancillary equipment;

Learns to prepare bacteriological media;

Learns to perform analytical testing processes including centrifuging tubes of blood and inoculating petri dishes;

Learns to prepare specimen mailing assembles for transport of specimens to laboratory;

Learns to handle, contain, and dispose of hazardous chemicals and use protective equipment;

Learns to follow universal precautions for biological pathogens and the chemical hygiene plan for chemical compounds;

Learns to operate sterilization equipment, dishwashers, water stills, pipettes and other lab equipment;

Learns to maintain stock levels and distribute various laboratory supplies;

Learns to collect special medical wastes, decontaminating or disposing of matter and liquids;

Learns to select and prepare samples for examination;

Learns to answer routine telephone inquiries from lab customers and Physicians;

Learns to assist Public Health Laboratory Technicians and Public Health Laboratory Scientists in setting up analytical equipment and tests;

Learns to maintain records, files and reports as directed;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn to care for and use laboratory equipment;

Ability to learn routine laboratory methods and procedures;

Ability to learn how to handle infectious materials;

Ability to learn how to prepare laboratory specimens;

Ability to learn how set up technical tests and apply laboratory techniques;

Ability to learn how to read measurements accurately and report on test results;

Ability to learn how to prepare reports and maintain accurate records;

Ability to follow directions;

Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a group.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None.

Note: Candidates may substitute experience performing technical support in the areas of glassware and transport outfit preparation, medical waste collection and decontamination, or analytical testing processes in a laboratory setting 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   PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY ASSISTANT I Page 4   specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.