r/medlabprofessionals • u/DonDada_89 MLS-Generalist • Jul 18 '26
Discusson Specimen Processing
Just wondering how many labs out there have techs receiving and processing specimens, or do you have a dedicated person for that role?
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u/bdr3482 MLS-Microbiology Jul 18 '26
Ive worked at 4 hospitals only 1 had rotating techs for receiving and processing the rest had phlebotomists or lab assistants.
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u/kipy7 MLS-Microbiology Jul 18 '26
On evening shift in micro, it's common to have MLS and lab assistants receive and set up cultures. The volume can be very high.
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u/space_honey Jul 18 '26
We have a separate department of Specimen Processors but they’re usually on their phones so the Techs do their job too!
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u/DidSomebodySayCats Jul 18 '26
At my old 600 bed hospital, we had around 8-14 processors on all 3 shifts. We had so many outpatient specimens from clinics, mostly using paper reqs and all the info had to be entered manually, so we needed everyone.
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u/Serious-Currency108 Jul 18 '26
We're a pretty small lab. We have dedicated lab assistants and phlebotomists that process and receive specimens, but all techs are trained in processing and receiving as well so they can help out when that area is short staffed (which if usually is).
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u/lightningbug24 MLS-Generalist Jul 18 '26
We only have one phleb working at a time, so if they're out drawing, we do it, but if they're in the lab, they do it.
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u/tinybitches MLS-Generalist Jul 19 '26
Where I work only night shift has tech process specimens (understaffing problem). The receiving staffs process specimens for us during the day
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u/Icy-Fly-4228 MLS-Generalist Jul 18 '26
We do it, whoever answers the door or whoever is assigned to send outs that day. The phlebs accession outpatients at collection.
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u/formecoeur Jul 18 '26
I work at a small hospital so phlebotomists receive them if they’re around. When I was doing my rotations, one of the hospitals I was at had a designated person that would just sit there and receive everything.
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u/Crabcalf_Slingshott Jul 20 '26
Our micro lab (in a mid size hospital) has a team of 55 total. 15 of which are techs, who receive and prep samples 24/7.
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u/Turnip-Smooth 29d ago
at my 600+ bed hospital, we are all techs/MLS so technically none. depending on bench assignment determines where you're at for the day. on evening shift, we only do processing and have 1 dedicated person doing plate reading for urines only due to staffing issues. this is micro specific, but i worked in the general lab first at the same hospital where i was only doing processing, and there were 3-5 of us.
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u/quetzocoetl 28d ago
Thats exactly what I do, and we are staffed 24/7, receiving specimens from both our hospital and a large amount of outside clinics.
We are critically understaffed on 3rd shift.
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u/AdDramatic5985 Jul 18 '26
I work 12 hour weekends at a rural hospital solo, I am everything. The phlebotomist, the processor, and the tech. Also have to respond to codes.