WHAT DOES A LABORATORY COORDINATOR DO?
Published: Jan 08, 2026 - The Laboratory Coordinator maintains training records, monitors equipment and systems monthly, and responds to out-of-range quality control results. This role ensures point-of-care testing quality by maintaining documentation, overseeing device and supply use, and meeting CLIA Waived and Joint Commission standards. The coordinator also manages emergency preparedness for controls and specimens and coordinates health center enrollment or disenrollment with lab vendors.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Laboratory Coordinator
1. Laboratory Coordinator Duties
- Mission Promotion: Promotes the mission, vision, and values of Clinica Sierra Vista
- Immunization Training: Deploys a world-class immunization curriculum, content and programs to both Kern and Fresno counties
- Staff Orientation: Collaborates with the orientation of clinical and non-clinical staff on all lab and CLIA Waived processes
- Program Development: Participates in the development, coordination, facilitation, and evaluation of CLIA Waived Testing and Lab programs
- Gap Assessment: Assesses and makes recommendations regarding gaps in development related to CLIA Waived Testing, lab ordering, overdue lab results, and pending lab orders
- Patient Care: Promotes safe, high-quality and compassionate patient care
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensures CLIA Waived Testing meets federal, state and local regulatory requirements
- Learning Culture: Participates in and fosters a climate of learning
2. Laboratory Coordinator Details
- Professional Communication: Communicates professionally with an emphasis on a culture of development
- Director Partnership: Partners with the departmental directors to evaluate cost and performance metrics
- Curriculum Adjustment: Assesses and adjusts curriculum and delivery methods based on findings
- Lifelong Learning: Participates in and fosters lifelong learning
- CLIA Lab Oversight: Responsible for all aspects of the CLIA Waived labs
- Policy Deployment: Oversees the deployment of new policies, procedures, and protocols related to CLIA Waived Testing and the lab program
- Data Monitoring: Monitors lab vendor electronic trailers to ensure completion and submission of required data
- Invoice Reconciliation: Responsible for the reconciliation of reference lab invoices for laboratory services provided to employees and patients
- Log Maintenance: Maintains laboratory logs of CLIA Waived tests in accordance with generally accepted practices, policies, procedures, and protocols established
- Quality Control: Participates in a quality control program
3. Laboratory Coordinator Responsibilities
- Supply Management: Maintains reagents and supplies, performs ordering, inventory, and inspection of materials to ensure valid dates of use
- Expired Disposal: Destroys outdated supplies as required by state licenses, general practices, and procedures
- Reference Coordination: Coordinates all functions required by the reference laboratories and ensures proper collection of information for billing purposes
- Specimen Processing: Assists in receiving, identifying, accessioning, processing, and transporting specimens
- Aseptic Practices: Maintains the work area in a safe, aseptic, and organized manner
- Performance Analysis: Collects information for departmental directors and managers about gaps in employee performance compared to expected work standards related to CLIA Waived Testing and the lab program
- Training Analysis: Conducts training needs analysis as directed by the Senior Director of Nursing
- Training Delivery: Conducts one-on-one and classroom training using methods such as group discussion, facilitation, behavior modeling, demonstrations, simulations, and lecture methods
- Program Updates: Communicates the need for CLIA Waived Testing and lab program updates to the CSV Training program
- Regulation Knowledge: Keeps current with methods, trends, technology, and other topics related to local, state, and federal CLIA Waived Testing and lab requirements
4. Laboratory Coordinator Accountabilities
- CPT Coding: Works closely with the Electronic Health Record Project Lead and the Billing Director to ensure appropriate Lab CPT codes in the system
- Data Analysis: Reviews and analyzes lab data at least weekly for any shifts in documentation of CLIA Waived Testing results, lab pools, and orders pending results
- Stock Rotation: Ensures rotation of stock at least weekly so lab supplies with the earliest expiration dates are used first
- Control Monitoring: Ensures controls used for CLIA Waived Testing devices are removed from storage units if near expiration
- Result Reconciliation: Reconciles labs ordered versus labs resulted
- Training Program: Develops and maintains an up-to-date CLIA Waived Training Program for Medical Assistants and Nurses
- Training Coordination: Coordinates CLIA Waived Lab Testing trainings for newly hired staff and annually or as requested by the Senior Director of Nursing
- Requisition Completion: Completes lab requisitions with correct information
- CLIA Testing: Performs CLIA Waived Testing
5. Laboratory Coordinator Functions
- Training Records: Maintains training records in coordination with Human Resources and Learning and Development
- Control Response: Responds to out-of-range controls
- Documentation Control: Maintains all documentation, such as device inventory and quality control logs
- Equipment Monitoring: Monitors the operation of equipment and systems at least monthly
- QC Monitoring: Monitors and ensures quality controls for all point-of-care testing at least monthly
- Standards Compliance: Ensures compliance with CLIA Waived Joint Commission standards and elements of performance
- Device Oversight: Oversees proper use of CLIA Waived Testing devices and lab supplies
- Emergency Planning: Oversees emergency preparations, including plans for ensuring the safety of controls and lab specimens during emergencies
- Disaster Handling: Ensures appropriate handling of controls and lab specimens during a disaster or power outage
- Vendor Enrollment: Enrolls or dis-enrolls new CSV health centers with lab vendor(s)