Lab Assistant Specimen Processor Jobs in New Brunswick, NJ

Job Title: Lab Specimen Processor

Location: SBC Corporation

Department Name: Lab Ham Clinical Pathology

Req #: 0000262565

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $20.46 - $24.55 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Lab Specimen Processor – RWJBarnabas Health

At RWJBarnabas Health, Lab Specimen Processors become part of a purpose-driven environment where compassion, clinical excellence, and patient-centered care create meaningful opportunities to support medical diagnostic services. This Lab Specimen Processor role offers opportunities for professional growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a culture committed to quality, evidence-based laboratory practices, and continuous improvement. Reporting to the Laboratory Supervisor or Director, you will play an essential role in maintaining positive patient identification while processing laboratory specimens on all patients regardless of age on a routine and STAT basis. Joining RWJBarnabas Health means joining a community where every Lab Specimen Processor is encouraged to grow, contribute, and make a lasting impact on our patient community.

A typical day for a Lab Specimen Processor may include:

• Maintaining positive patient identification while processing routine and STAT laboratory specimens across all patient age demographics.
• Verifying medical orders from scripts and accurately executing procedure orders within both the Hospital Information System (HIS) and Laboratory Information System (LIS).
• Accurately accessioning specimens into the LIS, including the precise entry of patient demographics, specific test orders, and physician information.
• Cross-checking and verifying the accuracy of test orders against written scripts and provider data to eliminate errors and expedite clinical reporting.
• Reconciling patient identifiers between specimens and requisitions prior to processing, while proactively communicating, investigating, and resolving discrepancies.
• Unloading and unpacking incoming specimens, evaluating them against strict laboratory quality standards, and properly documenting or discarding unsuitable samples.
• Informing nursing, phlebotomy, and medical staff regarding inappropriate collections or rejected, unsuitable specimens to coordinate corrective action.
• Operating and supporting critical lab systems, including checking pending/collection lists, uploading blood culture specimens, and scanning or filing documents.
• Facilitating professional department communications by answering incoming phone inquiries and efficiently looking up or faxing reports to physician offices.
• Assisting with send-out logistics for reference laboratory testing and carefully maintaining proper regulatory records as time allows.
• Maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing basic laboratory equipment and instruments to ensure continuous operational workflows.
• Mentoring students and new employees, serving as a positive role model, and performing other duties as required to support the team.

This role might be for you if:

• Compassion and empathy guide your interactions with patients, families, and your clinical laboratory colleagues.
• You possess a patient-focused work attitude that consistently supports and improves patient satisfaction for all customer groups.
• A proactive work ethic and teamwork mindset drive you to assist coworkers across departments and shifts to complete the patient workload efficiently.
• Strong organizational and critical thinking skills allow you to apply necessary knowledge to assess data reflective of each patient's status in a timely manner.
• You communicate confidently and collaborate effectively with external medical staff, nursing personnel, and physician offices.
• You enjoy executing precise technical instructions while upholding exceptional professional standards and corporate codes of behavior.
• You are comfortable working with complex information networks and possess excellent computer skills to navigate modern HIS and LIS frameworks.
• Continuous learning, strict safety compliance, and professional development within an acute care laboratory framework are important to you.

To be considered for this Lab Specimen Processor opportunity, you will have:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Phlebotomy certificate from a nationally recognized program is preferred.
• Six (6) months of experience in a laboratory OR specimen processing environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated competence in utilizing information systems to accession, input patient information, and verify/modify lab orders as needed.
• Proven ability to correctly and accurately register patients into a hospital registration system.
• Effective organizational and communication skills, with the ability to express complex operational details clearly both verbally and via fax/written format.
• Strong technical acumen with a history of cross-checking written scripts against electronic laboratory records to ensure clinical accuracy.
• Proven ability and willingness to maintain a strict level of data privacy and confidentiality regarding sensitive medical results.
• Physical capability and comfort to safely unload, unpack, and handle biohazard specimens within a dynamic laboratory environment.
• Schedule Details: Full-Time Day Shift, 40 hours per week. Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM – 2:30 PM.
• Holiday rotation requires working one winter holiday and one summer holiday annually.