State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Assistant Lead is the lead 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 but do have lead responsibility for lower-level Public Health Laboratory Assistants.

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

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

Trains lower-level Public Health Laboratory Assistants;

Reviews completed work in order to assure compliance with established standards;

Recommends procedures, new or updated equipment, and supplies;

Cleans, sterilizes and sorts glassware and ancillary equipment;

Prepares bacteriological media;

Performs analytical testing processes including centrifuging tubes of blood and inoculating petri dishes;

Prepares reagents;

Prepares specimen mailing assembles for transport of specimens to laboratory;

Operates sterilization equipment, dishwashers, water stills, pipettes and other lab equipment;

Orders supplies to maintain stock levels and distributes various laboratory supplies;

Collects special medical wastes, decontaminating or disposing of matter and liquids;

Selects and prepares samples for examination;

Handles, contains, and disposes of hazardous chemicals and uses protective equipment;

Follows universal precautions for biological pathogens and the chemical hygiene plan for chemical compounds;

Answers routine telephone inquiries from lab customers and Physicians;

Assists lower-level Public Health Laboratory Technicians and Public Health Laboratory Scientists in setting up analytical equipment and tests;

Maintains records, files and reports as directed;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the care and use of laboratory equipment;

Knowledge of routine laboratory methods and procedures;

Knowledge of handling infectious materials;

Skill in preparing laboratory specimens;

Skill in setting up technical tests and applying laboratory techniques;

Skill in reading measurements accurately and reporting on test results;

Skill in preparing reports and maintaining accurate records;

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

Ability to train lower-level Public Health Laboratory Assistants;

Ability to follow directions;

Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a group;

Ability to communicate effectively in order to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and clients.

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

Experience: Three years of experience performing technical support in a biological, chemical, medical or public health laboratory.

Notes:

1. 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.

2. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university on a year-for-year basis for up to two years of the required experience.

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 experience.