Clinical Pathology Technician

Fairview is looking for a Clinical Pathology Technician (CPT) in Acute Care Laboratory at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center-East Bank. This is a casual (0.01 FTE) day shift position. Shift hours are 5:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and include 10-hour shifts. This position requires working 3 out of every 6 weekends and occasional holidays. Please note that this position does not have a fixed weekly schedule. Candidates must be flexible and available to work varying days of the week based on departmental staffing and operational needs. Flexibility in scheduling is essential to support patient care and department coverage requirements.

Fairview is proud to be the 2025 recipient of the Foster G. McGaw Prize, a prestigious award granted each year to one hospital or healthcare system in the nation to recognize excellence in community partnerships and service. M Health Fairview’s University of Minnesota Medical Center was also ranked No.1 hospital in the Twin Cities Metro for 2025 by U.S News & World Report, a testament to the expertise and dedication of our team and our collective commitment to innovation, clinical leadership and high-quality patient care.

The Clinical Pathology Technician (CPT) performs all work processes necessary for the preparation or procurement and transport of specimens used for waived, moderate, or high complexity testing as defined by CLIA '88. The CPT possesses knowledge of all departments within the clinical laboratory (Chemistry, Blood Bank, Urinalysis, Hematology, Coagulation, and Microbiology), performs routine and specialty procedures, recognizes problems, identifies basic causes, and makes corrections using established protocols. The CPT processes data based on knowledge of technical and instrumental conditions affecting diagnostic test results and performs procedures within established parameters. The CPT collaborates with the customers of the laboratory to promote customer satisfaction and works independently under general supervision.

Responsibilities

• Specimen procurement and processing:
• Participates in specimen collection (bone marrow, blood, and body fluids) following established guidelines.
• Assists physicians and residents in obtaining specimens from patients of all ages and degrees of physical and/or mental disability.
• Properly verifies patient identity and “pauses for cause” in the collection of bone marrow.
• Coordinates and ensures adequate documentation of specimen drop-offs.
• Processes specimens, including centrifugation, aliquoting, preparation for transport to various reference labs, and storage at proper temperatures.
• Assesses integrity and acceptability of all specimens.
• Verifies correct labeling of specimens and handles all deviations following standard operating procedures.
• Follows established guidelines for determining priority of specimen testing/processing and procurement.
• Professionally communicates collection instructions, including minimum volume requirements, to nursing staff and other providers.
• Performs phlebotomy and possesses knowledge of basic anatomy.
• Understands clinical laboratory processes and their significance in human physiology.
• Collaborates with researchers to ensure suitable specimen processing, storage, and transport.
• Follows established guidelines and procedures to accession/order or enter specimens/tests into the computer system:
• Enters correct information required by the LIS computer system.
• Verifies patient identification, demographics, ordering physician and tests ordered.
• Demonstrates an understanding of diagnosis codes in the billing and ordering processes.
• Works carefully, incorporating key reliability behaviors, to eliminate data entry errors.
• Performs all work processes necessary to produce specimens used for waived, moderate, or high complexity testing as defined by CLIA'88:
• Demonstrates working knowledge of the clinical laboratory and performs routine and specialty procedures.
• Assists providers and residents in specimen preparation.
• Operates laboratory instrumentation and information systems according to written procedures.
• Works independently under general supervision.
• Completes specified maintenance on instruments according to written procedures.
• Documents maintenance of laboratory instruments.
• Orders and maintains adequate laboratory supply volumes.
• Maintains a clean and organized working environment.
• Accurately describes the appearance of blood and body fluids or other specimens upon receipt.
• Accurately time/date stamp specimens upon receipt following departmental guidelines.
• Recognizes problems and takes appropriate measures to resolve them:
• Identifies basic causes of problems and makes corrections using established protocols.
• Initiates proper safety or emergency responses.
• Obtains assistance from supervisor or others if unable to resolve issues.
• Evaluates diagnostic preparations for quality and initiates interventions as needed:
• Identifies unacceptable quality and initiates action steps when parameters are out of compliance.
• Takes appropriate action to recheck abnormal, discrepant, or unexpected results.
• Directly communicates abnormal and critical results to caregivers.
• Complies with Laboratory Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, and Laboratory Compliance Programs:
• Documents deviations and action taken.
• Documents reagent, test kit and calibrator checks.
• Recognizes and communicates values that exceed the QC decision levels.
• Reports unresolved QC trends to supervisor.
• Complies with laboratory procedures needed for regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrates knowledge of laboratory policies and procedures that are based on CAP regulations, HIPAA, and JCAHO standards, as appropriate to the work setting.

Required Qualifications

• 24 credits of college coursework with at least 12 credits in chemistry or biological sciences • Transcript must be provided or
• 24 credits of college coursework plus 2 years of clinical laboratory experience • Transcript must be provided
• 0 to 1 year of experience in a clinical or anatomic diagnostic laboratory.
• Demonstrates the ability to work under stress in a variety of situations.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Demonstrate manual dexterity.
• Basic computer and keyboarding skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. or
• Medical Assistant Degree
• 1-2 years of experience in a clinical laboratory.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.