Description
Perform complex clinical microbiology testing on patient specimens to detect, isolate, identify, and characterize infectious agents, guiding diagnosis, therapy, and infection prevention. Operate and maintain microbiology instruments, ensure quality and biosafety, and may train or supervise staff.
- • Verify and interpret microbiology test results for accuracy and clinical relevance.
- • Receive and process clinical specimens (blood, urine, respiratory, wound, stool, CSF) using aseptic technique.
- • Culture, isolate, and identify bacteria, fungi, and parasites from patient specimens.
- • Perform and interpret direct stains and microscopic exams (Gram, AFB, KOH, trichrome).
- • Conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing (disk diffusion, MIC, or automated systems) and report per CLSI.
- • Operate, calibrate, and maintain microbiology instruments and systems (incubators, biosafety cabinets, blood culture systems, MALDI-TOF, PCR).
- • Prepare and quality-control culture media, reagents, and antisera.
- • Perform rapid antigen, serologic, and molecular assays (e.g., PCR) for pathogen detection.
- • Enter, verify, and release results in the laboratory information system with appropriate comments.
- • Communicate critical results, organism identification, and resistance patterns to providers and infection prevention.
- • Develop, validate, or optimize microbiology procedures; author and maintain SOPs.
- • Monitor quality control and quality assurance programs to ensure result accuracy and regulatory compliance.
- • Enforce biosafety practices (BSL-2/BSL-3 as applicable) and handle hazardous specimens safely.
- • Troubleshoot assay, instrument, contamination, or culture issues and initiate corrective actions.
- • Train, mentor, or supervise laboratory staff in microbiology methods and safety.
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Healthcare & Human Services
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
