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Clinical Laboratory Scientist

Class Specifications – H.20

Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist – 8938
Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist – 8939
Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist Per Diem – 8959
Clinical Laboratory Scientist – 8940
Clinical Laboratory Scientist Per Diem – 8956

August 2019, Updated August 2026

Series Concept

Clinical Laboratory Scientists perform a wide variety of chemical, microscopic, and bacteriologic tests in one or more clinical fields to provide data for use in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or research of human disease; and perform other related duties as required.

Incumbents may work in the general laboratory settings of chemistry, blood banking, hematology, microbiology or immunology, or be engaged in highly technical sub- specialty areas such as enzyme assay, steroid assay, radioimmunoassay, toxicology, electrophoresis, rheumatology, tissue typing, and virology.

Clinical Laboratory Scientists perform laboratory tests by manual methods or by using various mechanical or electronic devices; perform mathematical calculations; make minor repairs on laboratory instruments; provide quality control surveillance at various levels; prepare reports and maintain records of laboratory tests conducted; investigate specific procedural modifications and unexpected test results to determine the reasons for non-conformance to established patterns; prepare patient data through manual reporting or electronic data handling; utilize knowledge of the physiological significance of test results to describe the condition that causes diseases, but not the disease itself; assist in the training of pre-and postdoctoral trainees, scientist trainees, and various other licensed and unlicensed classes; and may supervise support staff.

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist series is distinguished from the Hospital Laboratory Technician series by licensure requirements. It is differentiated from the Staff Research Associate series by the data and its use. For the Clinical Laboratory Scientist series, data are used primarily for patient care and secondarily for research and teaching.

Class Concepts



Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist


Under direction, incumbents are the designated technical experts, consultants, or sources of knowledge within a major division of the clinic laboratory. Within the most complex technical areas, Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialists develop new procedures or modify standard methodologies, collect and extrapolate data on new methodologies to develop test criteria and standard’s; instruct other laboratory personnel in the performance of new/modified procedures; instruct postdoctoral trainees in a specialty area within the division; operate the most sophisticated equipment that requires in-depth subject matter knowledge; may discuss with physicians the merits of a particular test; may suggest alternate methods of verifying test results; answer the most difficult questions; coordinate a laboratory-wide quality control effort; and assist in laboratory research and design efforts.


At least 80% of the time is spent on non-routine assignments not found at the Clinical Laboratory Scientist level.


Without being absolutely limiting, an example of an assignment allocated to this level of difficulty and complexity is:


    

  • a Scientist specializing in new methods of analysis in endocrine chemistry (an expertise not adequately available among present faculty or technical experts) who his regularly developed and added new methodologies to this discipline; converted a new technology into a practical laboratory procedure for measuring hormones; provided consultation to other institutions on special problems; and co-authored scientific articles.
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Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist


Under general supervision, incumbents perform nonrepetitive technically complex procedures or tasks in a specialized area for at least 50% of the time, or perform journey level work in more than one department or functional area.


Clinical Laboratory Scientists Specialists perform nonrepetitive technically complex procedures; maintain surveillance of quality control of methodologies in use; troubleshoot errant data and equipment failures to assist Clinical Laboratory Scientists on problems they are unable to solve; and prepare and edit reports of laboratory procedures.


Without being absolutely limiting, examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and complexity are:


    

  • in addition to regular laboratory procedures a Scientist who spends a majority of the time in the differential identification of rarely encountered organisms and assists journey level Scientists on difficult problems.
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  • a night shift employee who is regularly assigned to work in both the chemistry and immunology departments.
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Clinical Laboratory Scientist


Under supervision, incumbents perform a wide variety of repetitive technical procedures of the kind described in the series concept, or a very limited number of specialized procedures. This is the journey level class in the series where a majority of the positions are allocated; incumbents perform the full range of duties from specimen procurement through data analysis and reporting.


Minimum Qualifications




Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist


Graduation from college with a major in an appropriate scientific field, possession of a clinical laboratory Scientist’s license or a similar license of equal or higher level issued by the State Department of Health, four years of experience as a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist within the designated subspecialty; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.


Clinical Laboratory Scientist Specialist


Graduation from college with a major in an appropriate scientific field, possession of a clinical laboratory Scientist’s license or a similar license of equal or higher level issued by the State Department of Health, and two years of experience as a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of duties assigned to the position.


Clinical Laboratory Scientist


Graduation from college with a major in an appropriate scientific field, possession of a clinical laboratory Scientist’s license or a similar license of equal or higher level issued by the State Department of Health and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of duties assigned to the position.