Department: Accessioning
Reports To: Office Manager
Direct Reports: Accessioners
Position Type: Onsite
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Previous experience in laboratory accessioning or specimen handling preferred
- Experience with laboratory information systems preferred
Position Summary
The Accession Lead supervises the accessioning team, ensuring accurate and timely sample intake, documentation, and handoff to laboratory operations. This role maintains quality standards and resolves issues in the pre-analytical phase of testing.
Key Responsibilities
The following duties and responsibilities are assigned to this role. Tasks outside of this scope should be directed to the appropriate department or escalated to your supervisor.
- Supervise and schedule daily accessioning operations
- Train Accessioner staff on proper procedures
- Maintain accurate reports on accessioning metrics and productivity
- Identify discrepancies (shared responsibility with Lab Manager and Molecular Lab Technicians)
- Coordinate with Lab Manager on sample flow and priorities
- Ensure proper specimen labeling and documentation standards
- Log daily temperature readings
- Maintain daily count logs and sample run logs
- Manage accessioner timekeeping in coordination with Office Manager
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives
- Empty biohazard containers and position for pickup on scheduled days
- Escalate issues to Lab Manager and Office Manager as needed
Training & Competency
Accession Leads will receive training on all accessioning procedures, laboratory information systems, and supervisory responsibilities. Training will be documented and filed in personnel binder. Competency assessments are completed at initial hire, 6 months, and annually thereafter.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance in this role will be measured against the following metrics:
- Accessioning turnaround time (receipt to lab handoff)
- Sample rejection rate due to accessioning errors
- Discrepancy identification and resolution time
- Team productivity metrics
- Documentation accuracy rate
- Staff training completion rates
Compliance Requirements
- Ensure proper chain of custody documentation for all specimens
- Maintain HIPAA compliance in handling patient information
- Follow state-specific specimen handling requirements
- Document and report all sample discrepancies per SOP
- Complete required competency assessments (initial, 6-month, annual)