Summary Serves as a Health Technician in the Laboratory Section of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department. Responsible for performing multiple duties in accessioning, specimen processing, reference laboratory specimen processing, clerical functions, patient testing, quality control review, lab information systems reviews, manual entry reviews, and phlebotomy as necessary. Responsibilities The duties of the Health Technician GS-0640 includes but is not limited to: Patient Care Testing Duties 40% Prepares the specimen or patient for testing. Prepares reagents (if necessary); performs test procedure, verifies the accuracy of the results and report in VISTA. Performs established quality control procedures to check the accuracy and validity of the test results; takes action to correct the quality control deviations, if required. Correlates quantitative, biochemical, and physiologic data with other laboratory data to verify the test results. Identifies instrument malfunctions, if applicable, and takes appropriate action to correct them. Follows established safety and infection control procedures while performing patient testing. Assists with inventory management of point of care testing. Phlebotomy Duties 35% Draws blood from patients for requested laboratory tests, if required. Applies special drawing techniques, assuring that proper tubes are used, and the correct amount of blood is drawn. Draws all but the most difficult patients and follows proper procedures for redrawing blood; develops the essential speed required to complete the blood drawing duties. Collects glucose tolerance specimens and instructs patients on the procedures to be followed prior, during, and after tests; establishes schedules for a patient to follow in order to obtain the correct blood specimens at the required time. Prepares the collection site and drawing blood cultures. Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing blood. Drug, Specimen and Lab Information System Duties 25% Receives and prepares requests for testing and specimens into the clinical laboratory and verifies the accuracy and completeness of the request. Separates and routes the specimens to the specific laboratory section that performs the testing. Follows detailed instructions to operate various types of laboratory equipment. Receives all specimens that are sent to commercial reference laboratories for testing. Applies knowledge about the specimen requirement for each reference laboratory test and the test ordering procedures for each of the reference laboratories. Verifies proper patient preparation, specimen collection, and specimen transport requirements for all reference laboratory tests. Serves as a reference for other healthcare professionals on the collection and processing of reference laboratory testing. Packages specimens with various temperature requirements to meet the federal guidelines for shipping diagnostic specimens and biohazardous materials. Maintains a record of all specimens submitted to the reference laboratories by printing accessioning forms and shipping manifests. Reviews various lab information systems for items such as quality control entry, critical value documentation, and tests rejected. Work Schedules: Monday - Friday 6:45am - 3:15pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD91900A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/09/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GRADE DETERMINATION GS-6 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experiences must include all of the following: performs phlebotomy (i.e glucose tolerance testing, blood cultures); accessions and or processes laboratory specimens; operates laboratory equipment; and utilizes laboratory computer systems to maintain laboratory records and perform clerical functions. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Specimen Collection Technical Competence Technology Application Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures. Work involves traveling to and from patient wards; prolonged periods of standing and bending over patients and/or control panels of analytic instruments; reaching, stooping and bending for supplies; carrying light to moderately heavy loads (specimen collection trays, reagents and supplies), entering patient information, test orders, and data in a computer. Work Environment: The work involves moderate risks or discomfort associated with working in a clinical laboratory with regular and recurring exposure to hazards such as infectious materials, chemicals, electrical appliances. The incumbent takes special safety precautions and must use protective clothing and devises such as gloves, face shields, eye protection, and safety shields in accordance with OSHA guidelines. The incumbent's dress and personal appearance should reflect the professional image of a healthcare worker. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06. Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY. This position is being filled using the approved Direct Hire Authority (DHA) VA-001 based on a continuing critical hiring need in support of the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017. Individuals can be appointed under this authority without regard to provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 3309-3318 or 5 C.F.R. part 211 and part 337, subpart A.