What does a Laboratory Coordinator do?
A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.
Laboratory coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real laboratory coordinator resumes:
- Lead a team to decide on an optimal LIS.
- Manage curriculum development, authore and publish lab manuals in physiology and ecology.
- Prepare and audit patient charts according to HIPAA compliance.
- Reject patient specimen samples that do not meet CLIA requirements.
- Maintain records and training for all CLIA waive testing for all practice employees.
- Follow EPA and OSHA mandates to ensure the proper and safe disposal of hazardous samples and waste.
- Apply expertise in GLP, study monitoring, data management, protocol review, quality, and HIPAA compliance.
- Design and maintain all LIS documentation of implementations and modifications of new and existing orderable procedures and LIS generate charges.
- Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory machinery, preventing and fixing major errors.
- Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions.
- Coordinate with the medical supervisor in conducting laboratory maintenance and QC certification.
- Interview and hire new employees.verse in HIPAA regulations to protect patient confidentiality.
- Monitor and maintain phlebotomy and general office supplies for adequate inventory as required.
- Develop and deliver comprehensive phlebotomy training which include pediatric, adult and geriatric.
- Handle patients withdraw notification to withdraw consent and specimens procedure is performed discard specimen protocol.
Laboratory coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Laboratory Coordinators are proficient in Lab Equipment, Patients, and Patient Care. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Problem-solving skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Laboratory Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lab Equipment, 15%
Coordinated all lab equipment, supplies, and cadaver utilization, monitoring student adherence to institutional and departmental safety policies.
- Patients, 13%
Served as laboratory trauma coordinator ensuring proper distribution and ordering of blood products for trauma patients.
- Patient Care, 8%
Collaborated with other departments to ensure standards for productivity, patient care, employee performance, and cost effectiveness.
- Chemistry, 6%
Create an electronic repository of assessments, implement e-Learning in General Chemistry, and edit/write General Chemistry Laboratory manuals.
- Laboratory Safety, 3%
Developed skills and gained practical experience in proper laboratory techniques for reagent preparation, waste management and laboratory safety.
- CLIA, 3%
Maintain compliance with SOP and regulatory requirements (CLIA, OSHA, FDA, Health Services).
"lab equipment," "patients," and "patient care" are among the most common skills that laboratory coordinators use at work. You can find even more laboratory coordinator responsibilities below, including:
Leadership skills. One of the key soft skills for a laboratory coordinator to have is leadership skills. You can see how this relates to what laboratory coordinators do because "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." Additionally, a laboratory coordinator resume shows how laboratory coordinators use leadership skills: "provide leadership and supervision of two laboratory technicians in the organic and general chemistry stockrooms. "
Problem-solving skills. Another essential skill to perform laboratory coordinator duties is problem-solving skills. Laboratory coordinators responsibilities require that "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." Laboratory coordinators also use problem-solving skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "prepared solutions for chemistry, microbiology and biology laboratories. "
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what laboratory coordinators do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to laboratory coordinator responsibilities because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical laboratory coordinator tasks: "provide high-end customer service utilizing strong interpersonal and communication skills. "
The three companies that hire the most laboratory coordinators are:
- Contra Costa College81 laboratory coordinators jobs
- Quest Diagnostics19 laboratory coordinators jobs
- The Research Foundation for SUNY8 laboratory coordinators jobs
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Compare different laboratory coordinators
Laboratory coordinator vs. Medical technologist, generalist
A Medical Technologist Generalist performs day-to-day operations in the laboratory such as routine testing, quality control, and maintenance of instruments. They also develop, perform, and evaluate the accuracy of laboratory procedures.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, laboratory coordinator responsibilities require skills like "chemistry," "laboratory safety," "lab procedures," and "equipment maintenance." Meanwhile a typical medical technologist, generalist has skills in areas such as "clinical laboratory," "hematology," "microbiology," and "blood bank." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Medical technologists, generalist earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $60,952. On the other hand, laboratory coordinators are paid more in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $57,789.The education levels that medical technologists, generalist earn slightly differ from laboratory coordinators. In particular, medical technologists, generalist are 8.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a laboratory coordinator. Additionally, they're 2.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory coordinator vs. Medical technologist
A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, laboratory coordinator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "chemistry," "laboratory safety," "lab procedures," and "equipment maintenance." Meanwhile, a medical technologist has duties that require skills in areas such as "clinical laboratory," "ascp," "customer service," and "microbiology." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Medical technologists may earn a higher salary than laboratory coordinators, but medical technologists earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $54,453. On the other hand, laboratory coordinators receive higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, where they earn an average salary of $57,789.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Medical technologists tend to reach lower levels of education than laboratory coordinators. In fact, they're 9.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory coordinator vs. Histologic technician
A Histologic Technician prepares tissue specimens for routine and special procedures to confirm a patient diagnosis. They work in hospital laboratories, government agencies, public health departments, and other institutions.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, laboratory coordinators are more likely to have skills like "patient care," "chemistry," "laboratory safety," and "lab procedures." But a histologic technician is more likely to have skills like "ascp," "tissue specimens," "ihc," and "microtome."
When it comes to education, histologic technicians tend to earn lower degree levels compared to laboratory coordinators. In fact, they're 8.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Laboratory coordinator vs. Certified pharmacist technician
A certified pharmacist technician is responsible for assisting patients by providing medicines based on their needs or their physicians' prescriptions. Certified pharmacist technicians must be able to supply the correct medications, including the right dosage to patients. They must also have a broad understanding of the medical industry, providing medicinal information to patients and referring them to the right health professionals as needed. Certified pharmacist technicians also monitor medicine inventories, manage supplies, and create sales reports.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between laboratory coordinators and certified pharmacist technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a laboratory coordinator might have more use for skills like "lab equipment," "chemistry," "laboratory safety," and "clia." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of certified pharmacist technicians require skills like "direct supervision," "math," "telephone calls," and "rx. "
Certified pharmacist technicians enjoy the best pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $37,078. For comparison, laboratory coordinators earn the highest salary in the pharmaceutical industry.The average resume of certified pharmacist technicians showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to laboratory coordinators. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 12.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 2.0%.Types of laboratory coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025
