CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES

LABORATORY ASSISTANT SERIES

CLASSES IN THE SERIES

Class Code	Class Title

05165	Laboratory Assistant 1
05166	Laboratory Assistant 2
05167	Laboratory Assistant 3

SERIES CONCEPT

This series is for positions that perform non-professional technical work in the biological or physical sciences fields such as testing dairy products, eggs, meat, bakery products, seeds, animal feeds, fertilizers, and blood samples from livestock or collecting urine and other bodily fluid samples from race horses and dogs.

EXCLUSIONS

Positions performing tests and examinations of fluids, tissues and other bodily substances used in the diagnosis, care and treatment of patients. Such positions would be classified in the Medical Laboratory series.

CLASS DISTINCTIONS

Laboratory Assistant 1

Employees at this level act as helpers to higher level Laboratory Assistants and professionals by cleaning and sterilizing testing equipment and collecting and preparing samples to be tested. Some routine simple testing is done by employees at the direction of higher level technicians or professionals.

Laboratory Assistant 2

Employees at this level perform repetitive tests that require the operation of scientific instruments, chemicals and related materials in performing laboratory examinations of a variety of materials used primarily by the general public. Employees normally perform the same basic tests with a large volume of samples following standard procedures. The test results are documented (i.e., positive, negative or a number denoting levels such as percentages and given to a supervisor.

Laboratory Assistant 3

Employees at this level perform a variety of tests varying from routine to the more complex. Employees will perform the more complex tests a majority of the time. Examinations may require several determinations be made or conducted several times to insure accuracy. Employees will move step-to-step in the testing process at their own discretion. Employees operate the more technical equipment such as spectrographs and gas chromatograph to analyze substances. Upon completion of testing, the findings are consolidated, the data analyzed and a report of the findings is given to the supervisor.

Effective Date: 7/01 GR