Cytogenetic Technologist

at  UPMC

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is excited to be hiring a Cytogenetic Technologist or Specialty Cytogenetic Technologist to help support the UPMC Cytogenetic Laboratory (UCL)! This role will be scheduled daylight hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with rotating Saturday responsibilities.
The UCL is a state-of-the-art facility where you will have the opportunity to make an impact on 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.
• 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 appearance of other recent harvests.
• Choose correct culture media and places in appropriate incubator.
• Place slides on microscope and determine and record the location of appropriate cells for analysis.
• 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.
• 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.