Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) / Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) – Microbiology:
Springhill Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama
Department: Clinical Laboratory – Microbiology
Schedule: Full-Time Day Shift with 1 weekend every 3 weeks
Pay: Competitive, based on certification and experience
Springhill Medical Center is looking for a skilled, detail-oriented MLS or MLT to join our Microbiology team. Microbiology is where careful bench work, sharp observation, and good judgment come together – from reading a Gram stain on a positive blood culture to identifying an organism and getting susceptibility results to providers so patients get the right antibiotic sooner. If you enjoy the problem-solving side of the lab, take pride in your work, and want to make a real difference in patient care, we would like to meet you.
Position Summary
The Microbiology MLS/MLT performs specimen processing, culture work-up, organism identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and rapid and molecular testing in the Microbiology section. You will make sure results are accurate, timely, and clinically meaningful, communicate critical and significant findings, and help keep the section in compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards. MLT-level staff perform high-complexity testing under the supervision required by CLIA.
Key Responsibilities may include:
- Process and plate specimens (blood, urine, wound, respiratory, body fluid, CSF, stool, and others) using appropriate media and aseptic technique.
- Prepare, perform, and interpret Gram stains and other direct smears.
- Read and work up cultures; recognize normal flora versus potential pathogens; perform organism identification using automated ID systems and conventional methods.
- Perform and interpret antimicrobial susceptibility testing following current CLSI guidelines using [automated AST system / disk diffusion / gradient methods]
- Manage the blood culture system; promptly work up and report positive blood cultures.
- Perform rapid antigen and molecular testing, including [syndromic PCR panels / C. difficile / respiratory pathogen testing]
- Report critical values (e.g., positive blood culture and CSF Gram stains) to nursing and providers promptly; notify Infection Prevention of multidrug-resistant organisms (MRSA, VRE, CRE, C. auris) and other significant findings.
- Report notifiable conditions to the Alabama Department of Public Health; prepare and ship isolates and referral specimens to reference and public health laboratories following packaging and shipping requirements.
- Perform and document quality control (media, stains, reagents, ID/AST systems), proficiency testing, and preventive maintenance; troubleshoot instruments and take corrective action.
- Evaluate specimen acceptability and follow rejection and recollection procedures when needed.
- Use the Laboratory Information System (LIS) and the hospital EHR.
- Support antibiogram data collection and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.
- Help train new employees and students.
- Follow all biosafety (BSL-2), laboratory safety, infection control, and regulatory requirements (CLIA, CAP/TJC), including Sentinel Laboratory rule-out and referral protocols.
Qualifications:
Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)
- Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Technology, Microbiology, or a chemical, biological, or physical science, OR ASCP/AMT alternate-route eligibility
- MLS (ASCP), MT (AMT), M (ASCP), or equivalent national certification required or: must obtain within 12 months of hire.
Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
- Associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology or equivalent, OR qualifying military laboratory training
- MLT (ASCP), MLT (AMT), or equivalent national certification required or: must obtain within 12 months of hire.
Preferred:
- 1+ year of hospital clinical microbiology bench experience
- Experience with automated ID/AST systems, blood culture instruments, and/or molecular platforms
- Sentinel Laboratory and infectious substance shipping training a plus (training provided)
- New graduates with a microbiology clinical rotation welcome to apply.
Why Join Us?
- Competitive pay that reflects your certification and experience
- Modern, well-equipped laboratory with current technology
- A specialty role where your work directly guides antibiotic therapy and infection prevention.
- Team-oriented environment with close collaboration with providers, pharmacy, and Infection Prevention
- Opportunities for professional growth, including specialty certification.
- Shift differential in some positions.