There are two (2) vacancies (1 Day Shift position and 1 Evening Shift position) located in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Columbia, MO. The Medical Technician is responsible for performing duties related to the receiving, accessioning, and specimen processing area including collecting chain of custody drug screens, reference laboratory specimen processing, clerical functions, patient testing, and phlebotomy.
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.
Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Verifying patient identity, reviewing laboratory orders, and consolidating requests to ensure accurate specimen collection Collecting routine and STAT blood specimens from inpatient, outpatient, and CBOC patients with varying medical conditions Applying aseptic techniques and selecting appropriate collection sites, needles, devices, and tubes to minimize contamination Labeling specimens accurately and ensuring appropriate volume, storage, handling, and specimen integrity Collecting blood bank specimens, blood cultures, urine drug screens, and respiratory swabs according to established procedures Monitoring patients during collections, recognizing adverse reactions, administering first aid, and initiating emergency procedures when necessary Maintaining clean, organized collection areas and adequately stocked supplies while following infection control and biohazard disposal requirements Documenting collection workload and turnaround times, reporting uncollected specimens, and performing redraws according to established procedures Providing collection guidance to trainees and staff while maintaining courteous patient interactions and appropriate patient education Receiving laboratory specimens, verifying orders, accessioning requests, and evaluating specimen acceptability according to established procedures Processing specimens through sorting, centrifugation, aliquoting, and plating while resolving and documenting pre-analytical discrepancies Operating laboratory equipment, including centrifuges, barcode readers, and automated analyzers, according to established procedures Performing CLIA-waived and point-of-care testing while documenting results and required quality control information Conducting quality control, proficiency testing, instrument maintenance, and reagent tracking while reporting unresolved discrepancies Reconciling clinic shipping manifests, verifying ordered tests, tracking pending results, and coordinating specimen transportation Monitoring storage temperatures, receiving laboratory supplies, maintaining inventory, and completing required safety records Instructing patients on 24-hour urine and stool collection procedures, containers, preservatives, and handling requirements Maintaining specimen rejection records, instrument printouts, quality assurance forms, and incomplete laboratory reports Assisting with microbiology processing and frozen-section procedures while following laboratory safety and infection control requirements.
Coordinating employee drug screens, maintaining chain of custody, completing required documentation, preparing shipments, retaining evidentiary records, and maintaining DHHS certification Maintaining laboratory documentation and electronic health records through scanning, data entry, record organization, and staff guidance Performing additional duties as assigned to support laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, specimen management, and patient care Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; Day Shift (07:00 a.m.
to 03:30 p.m.) & Evening Shift (01:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
VHANationalRecruitmentCenter@va.gov · (844)456-5208
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $52550 – $68315/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-23.
There are 2 openings for this position.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-17 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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