The only qualifications for an entry-level position as a specimen collector are a high school diploma or equivalent and fundamental data entry abilities. A current driver’s license might also be necessary.
However, additional credentials or training can be required for more senior positions. A certification course specific to that agency may be required for work as a specimen processor inside several government agencies.
For instance, phlebotomist certification may be required for jobs involving the collection of blood samples. It may be necessary for more specialized specimen collectors to obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field to properly prepare tissue samples for laboratory analysis.
So with that being said, the most popular related job searches with the most openings are listed below if you’re looking for a job related to specimen collection.
1. Specimen processor data entry
Even if it’s a less common search term, Specimen Processor Data Entry may nonetheless return relevant job results. Most Specimen Processor Data Entry positions pay an annual salary between $27,500 (25th percentile) as well as $36,500 (75th percentile). In the nationwide job market for Specimen Processor Data Entry, there are many open vacancies.
2. Specimen processor
As a specimen processor or specimen accession, one of your responsibilities is to arrange as well as categorize the medical specimen sample materials. You often work in a clinical setting, such as a lab for healthcare.
Beyond collecting as well as documenting patient samples, your duties can also include keeping the samples secure and following predetermined procedures, as well as performing any other tasks required to get the samples ready for examination by doctors or medical technicians.
Some occupations require specimen processors to perform preliminary work like centrifuging blood samples in addition to sample collection as well as other preparation activities.
These tasks may call for further training and education. It is worth mentioning that you can easily take Specimen Collector Training online and learn all the necessary information required to be a qualified specimen collector. The salary also ranges from $29,500 up to 37,500 per year.
3. Specimen management
The handling of specimens is a multi-step process that requires a large number of medical professionals. Errors with specimens are frequently avoidable and can happen at any stage of the specimen management process.
Before specimens are brought to the lab for analysis, preoperative nurses monitor samples during the pre-analytical stage. Pre-analytical errors can occur during labeling, communication, specimen loss, incorrect specimen fixation, as well as transport difficulties.
It is also worth mentioning that the average yearly income for Specimen Management positions ranges from $32,000 (25th percentile) to $46,000 (75th percentile).
4. Specimen technician
To evaluate medical conditions and determine treatment options, a specimen technician is in charge of processing a person’s medical sample as well as a specimen in a laboratory setting.
Specimen technicians use a variety of laboratory instruments as well as gear. Thus they must closely follow safety regulations and protocols to prevent potential risks, including disease contamination.
Additionally, they carefully document test results and produce thorough reports for the patients’ as well as doctors’ references.
To get a second opinion or conduct additional research before publishing results, a specimen technician may transfer test results to other organizations. The salary of a specimen technician ranges from $31,000 up to $38,000 per year.
5. Specimen delivery
You transport a variety of things in this line of work, including prescription drugs, lab samples including specimens, test findings, as well as medical images. Carrying goods into and out of labs is one job that you may do in a particular hospital and medical facility.
Others deliver goods between separate clinics as well as medical offices. Delivering blood samples from a doctor’s office to the blood lab or an x-ray from a hospital to an orthopedic clinic are examples of common tasks. The salary for this job ranges from $27,000 for the 25th percentile up to $37,000 for the 75th percentile.
6. Specimen transport
You can probably figure out what a specimen transported is needed to do. Transporting samples is necessary for further processing and testing. For long as well as small journeys, different transportation modes may be used.
There are a variety of rules that clinics, practices, and laboratories must follow when posting or transferring samples by air, sea, train, as well as road between local, regional, or reference laboratories or even between laboratories in other countries.
These rules are intended to handle transportation-related spills and accidents, lessen biohazards, as well as preserve samples for testing. The salary ranges between $28,000 to $45,500 per year.
7. Specimen processing technician
A specimen processor accepts and processes samples in a lab, such as blood or urine samples, records data, and responds to queries from patients and medical professionals.
Also referred to as a specimen accession as well as a laboratory specimen processor. You must stick to protocols and guarantee data correctness if you want to succeed in this role. The best applicants are well-organized, flexible, as well as perform with great accuracy.
The duties of a specimen processor include checking the accuracy of a client or even specimen information, examining samples for sufficiency and appropriateness, electronically recording client and specimen data, sanitizing bench tops, labeling and numbering samples, as well as creating aliquots.
8. Urine specimen collector
A patient’s urine sample is taken through a method called urine specimen collection. The sample is utilized in diagnostic procedures. Obtaining a urine sample is done to check for any potential irregularities, such as germs, ketones, as well as drugs.
A urine specimen is a way of gathering a quantity of urine for testing and is also referred to as a clean-catch, urine culture, as well as midstream specimen of urine. The average yearly wage for a Urine Specimen Collector is anywhere between $27,000 (25th percentile) to $38,500 (75th percentile).
9. Lab specimen collector
The duties of the laboratory specimen processor include receiving as well as sorting the specimens, providing lab support, and entering test results. Flexibility, accuracy, plus attention to detail are crucial skills for this job.
Their duties and responsibilities include receiving and opening specimen bags, entering computer systems with inventory, patient data, and test codes, preparing samples for lab examination and analysis, ensuring that samples and requests are properly labeled, before entering the system, and checking the requisitions against the samples.
They will be accountable for potential cross-contamination and also make sure that the laboratory, as well as all equipment, must be kept clean. The salary will range between $29,500 to $37,500 per year.
Conclusion
There you go; now that you know the top most popular specimen collector jobs, it will be pretty easy for you to decide which career path you would like to follow. I also made sure to include the salaries for all the jobs so it will be a lot easier for you.