Specimen Processing Technician

United States·Wake Countymid

OtherProcessing Technician

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Quick Summary

Key Responsibilities

- Perform daily Central Accessioning receiving tasks to prioritize specimens according to required turnaround times and advance them through pre‑analytical steps.

Technical Tools

OtherProcessing Technician

Dept of Health and Human Services

Public Health

Medical Laboratory Technician (S)

60041257

MH06

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

This position serves as a Specimen Processing Technician within the Central Accessioning Unit of the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, performing routine, standardized pre‑analytical tasks for clinical and environmental specimens submitted for testing. The technician ensures specimens meet regulatory requirements and NCSLPH acceptance guidelines and accurately accession them using both the Lab Web Portal—an online system used for submitting, tracking, and accessing laboratory test requests and results—and LIMS, the internal system used to manage sample data, testing workflows, and reporting within the laboratory.

The Specimen Processing Technician supports timely and accurate documentation by monitoring specimen movement in these systems and communicating with internal units and submitters to maintain efficient workflow. The position functions under supervision in a structured laboratory environment and performs work aligned with the Medical Laboratory Technician role, emphasizing standardized procedures and quality expectations in pre‑analytical operations.

Key Duties Include:
- Perform daily Central Accessioning receiving tasks to prioritize specimens according to required turnaround times and advance them through pre‑analytical steps.

- Monitor unit logs using the Lab Web Portal and LIMS to confirm all received specimens move to the next processing stage in a timely manner.

- Check specimen acceptability against established requirements and accurately accession high‑volume specimens for multiple tests.

- Document specimen discrepancies and communicate with providers, clinical staff, and couriers to resolve issues and maintain data integrity.

- Operate, troubleshoot, and perform basic maintenance on pre‑analytical instruments, including label printers and automated bulk‑loaders.

- Follow PPE requirements, safety protocols, and standard operating procedures to ensure compliant pre‑analytical workflows.

- Participate in training sessions and support quality improvement activities consistent with CLIA and SLPH quality practices.

- Collaborate with clerical/data entry, customer service, mailroom/receiving, and laboratory units to maintain accurate specimen routing and efficient operations.

- Maintain a clean, organized, and properly stocked work area to support continuous unit throughput and readiness.

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

Requirements

~1 min read

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Associate’s degree in medical technology from an appropriately accredited institution or completion of a certified laboratory assistant course in medical technology or a comparable course from an accredited institution

High school or General Educational Development diploma and two years of medical laboratory experience

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Tresha Walker

talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov