Senior Technician

Senior Technician

Key responsibilities for the position include:

Specimen accessioning & receipt, receive, log, and accessioning clinical specimens into HistoTrac and EPIC Beaker, ensuring accurate patient identification and test selection

Coordinate and document specimen pickup and receipt from hospital, dialysis centers, and other outreach locations

Verify specimen labeling, integrity, collection date/time, and transport conditions; escalate discrepancies according to laboratory SOPs. Track specimens from receipt through testing completion, ensuring correct linkage between physical specimens and electronic records

Responsibilities

• 55% Data Entry & Order Processing

Enter and verify test orders, specimen information, and status updates in HistoTrac and EPIC Beaker

Correct data entry errors, process order cancellations, and update specimen records in coordination with laboratory leadership

• 20% Communication & Coordination

Communicate with laboratory staff, transplant coordinators, and clinical teams to resolve specimen or order issues

Serve as a point of contact for accessioning and outreach-related questions

Ensure clear documentation and handoff of specimen-related issues

• 20% Quality & Compliance Support

Maintain data accuracy, traceability, and confidentiality in accordance with ASHI, CAP, CLIA, NYSDOH, UNOS/OPTN, and institutional policies

Follow established SOPs for specimen handling, accessioning, and outreach workflows

Support audits and inspections by providing accession records and documentation as needed

• 5% - Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, Medical Laboratory Science, Health Informatics, or a related field and and one-half years of related experience or equivalent in education, training and experience.
• Experience with specimen accessioning, order entry, and laboratory information systems
• Strong attention to detail and understanding of patient identification and specimen integrity

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years of experience in a clinical laboratory or healthcare environment
• Experience working with the clinical specimens accessioning process and familiarize with the EPIC medical information system

Other Requirements

• Skills and Competencies:

  • High accuracy in specimen tracking and data entry
  • Strong organizational and communication skills
  • Ability to manage multiple specimens and priorities in a time-sensitive clinical setting
  • Working knowledge of laboratory compliance and confidentiality requirements
  • Frequent interaction with laboratory technologists, the laboratory management team, and transplant coordinators
  • Ability to work in a high-volume clinical histocompatibility and immunogenetics laboratory with frequent interaction with laboratory technologists, the laboratory management team, and transplant coordinators

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.