Cytogenetic Technologist

at  UPMC

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is excited to be hiring a Cytogenetic Technologist to support the UPMC Cytogenetic Laboratory (UCL)! We are looking for individuals interested in working a daylight shift of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with rotating weekend and voluntary holiday responsibilities as needed.
The UCL is a state-of-the-art facility where you will have the opportunity to impact life-changing medicine. Using both traditional cytogenetic techniques as well as molecular cytogenetics by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and genome-wide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), the UCL performs chromosome studies on a wide variety of specimens, giving our patients the best opportunity to get the answers they need.

• Initiate cultures using sterile techniques following procedures to ensure optimal growth of samples.
• Participate in the organization and direction of ancillary work performed by support, service personnel, and volunteers.
• Monitor growth of subcultures and determine when cultures are ready for harvest.
• Follow mandatory reporting procedures for any incident or serious event that did affect or potentially could have affected the clinical care of any patient.
• Adjust harvesting procedures daily based on environmental conditions and the appearance of other recent harvests.
• Choose the correct culture media and places in appropriate incubator.
• Place slides on microscope and determine and record the location of appropriate cells for analysis.
• Participate in a rotating weekend and holiday standby on-call schedule and carry a pager.
• Prepare karyograms for each case on the imaging system and analyze them for the presence of chromosomal defects.
• Perform specimen harvesting, slide making, and/or banding as needed when on-call.
• Determine number of cultures to be set up based on size of sample and clinical diagnosis.
• Determine when subcultures should be performed on non-primary cultures.
• Change media in cultures according to established schedules.
• Harvest primary and subcultures when ready.
• Perform techniques necessary to acquire preliminary cytogenetic diagnosis on STAT newborns.
• Clean and maintain supplies and equipment.
• Perform subcultures when necessary and determines number of subcultures to be initiated from original cultures based on amount of cell growth present.
• Perform appropriate banding and staining procedures to ensure optimal visibility of chromosome structure.
• Count the number of chromosomes and analyze the structure of each chromosome to determine if a genetic defect is present.
• Monitor temperature and carbon dioxide levels in incubators to ensure growth of cultures.
• Prepare slides from harvested cells.
• Image capture appropriate number of cells on each case on the department’s computerized imaging system.
• Retrieve and set up specimens as required.
• Maintain records of culture initiation, growth, manipulation, and harvests on all specimens.
• Retrieve samples to process for analysis.
• Assist with the teaching and training of students and various hospital professionals.
• Monitor growth of specimens and determine when primary cultures should be harvested.
• Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology, Biology, or Chemistry required.
• 1-year job or college lab experience required.
• Analytical ability to perform advanced genetic tests, interpret and analyze test results noting abnormalities and discrepancies including determination of causality, and troubleshoot and maintain instruments.
• Ability to prepare cultures using sterile techniques, and to prepare and analyze slides and karyotypes.Interpersonal ability to interact with hospital staff, students and outside laboratories.
• Interpersonal ability to appropriately answer telephone inquiries from physicians, nurses, patients and other outside laboratories concerning specimens.