Cytotechnologist

The incumbent serves as a Cytotechnologist in the Pathology and Laboratory Service within the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cytotechnologists are certified laboratory professionals performing highly complex laboratory diagnostic testing on human specimens for diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease in the laboratory specialty of Cytopathology.

Major duties include:

• Performs a broad spectrum of highly complex tests and procedures for the diagnosis of pathological diseases and dysfunctions and carries out various diagnostic evaluations from cellular samples of the human body.
• Develops, reviews and updates cytopathology laboratory procedures, systems, and guidelines for the department.
• Establishes and directs quality control/assurance activities and functions in keeping with current technology pertaining to this specialized area.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory and governing agencies.
• Performs testing and technical oversight of all procedures in the Cytopathology Lab.
• Performs highly complex testing on cellular material from all human body sites.
• Microscopically examines prepared cytological specimens and renders diagnoses.
• Develops differential diagnoses based on cellular evidence in conjunction with pertinent cognitive knowledge, clinical data, histological correlative material, review of previous patient material and knowledge of the various modes of treatment and their effect on the cytological interpretation.
• Functions as attending pathologist's assistant in FNA/core biopsy procedures in special radiologic procedures and clinics. In addition, independently prepares FNA specimens on­site, stains and microscopically examines to determine adequacy of cytological interpretation.
• Monitors workload and productivity and recommend improvements where needed.
• Determines, plans, and implements new procedures and technologies to achieve and maintain a state-of­-the-art cytopathology laboratory.
• Instructs cytopathology/anatomic pathology staff on processing of cytologic specimens, emphasizing proper patient safety issues, workflow and equipment operations.
• Has experience and knowledge in processing and preparation of specimens for cytopathology testing while controlling physical conditions and complying with time factors to ensure that the physiological state of the specimen is maintained.
• Develops procedures for new testing methods to include new molecular diagnostics technology.
• Maintains Quality Control procedures and workload reporting to assure reliability of data and measure productivity.
• Trains new employees in all tasks.
• Monitors and oversees the safety and infection control functions of the Cytopathology Lab assuring neatness and cleanliness of the work areas and insures that the equipment is in proper working condition.
• Enters final diagnosis for all cytology specimens into system with proper terminology, Procedural, Workload Recording, SNOMED and CPT codes.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 93529-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited cytotechnology program.
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess the Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) or Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification.
• English Language Proficiency: Cytotechnologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

GS-11:

The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that is directly related to the position to be filled which includes but not limited to:

• Ability to review clinical data of patients, relate data to microscopic findings, and evaluate all cytology preparations by light microscopy for the presence or absence of cellular patterns, presence of micro-organisms, inflammatory reactions, endocrinopathies, benign changes, pre-malignant changes, neoplasia, and cellular responses to therapeutic agents.
• Ability to make a preliminary cytodiagnosis to issue and verify the final diagnosis for gynecologic specimens interpreted to be negative.
• Knowledge of processes and procedures to prepare all specimens for cytodiagnostic and immunochemistry testing, as well as filtration methods, preparation, fixation, and staining of slides.
• Ability to instruct others on the proper collection methods and transportation of specimens, and to determine acceptability of patient samples for processing.
• Knowledge of the standards of regulatory agencies, such as those of Joint Commission (JC), College of American Pathologists (CAP), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to ensure compliance with requirements and guidelines.
• Ability to perform routine maintenance of laboratory equipment according to standard operating procedures.
• Skill in prioritizing workflow/specimen triage.

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to independently determine specimen adequacy using complex specialized testing methods or techniques during Endoscopic Ultrasound, Endobronchial Ultrasound, and other Fine Needle Aspiration procedures.
• Knowledge of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes to establish and monitor the overall laboratory quality management and quality control program, and initiate corrective action as needed.
• Skill in collecting, compiling, and analyzing data for quality assurance, statistics, trends and reports, and implementing quality improvement initiatives.
• Skill in researching, testing, validating, and implementing new procedures and equipment.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.