State of Maryland

A Public Health Laboratory Assistant III is the full performance 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 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 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.  The Public Health Laboratory Assistant III is differentiated from the Public Health Laboratory Assistant Lead in that the Public Health Laboratory Assistant Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Public Health Laboratory Assistants.

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 specimen mailing assembles for transport of specimens to laboratory;

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

Maintains 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 Public Health Laboratory Technicians and Public Health Laboratory Scientists in setting up analytical equipment and tests;

Maintains records, files and reports as directed;

May assist in training lower-level Laboratory Assistants;

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 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: Two 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.

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.