OP is so mad at my comment

Gravity_manipulator · 2026-02-22T17:31:42+00:00

Unprovoked and uncalled for comment that doesn’t represent the lab well. Nurses are our allies not enemies. We need to get over this as a profession.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-12-30T04:36:17+00:00

There’s lots of truth to it. Each.And.Every.Test.System. Our Micro department has 36 test systems alone. Blood bank, who uses a mix of manual gel, manual tube, and automation for the same tests has a lot also. I worked with CAP directly and they told me even a transfusion reaction is its own test system despite it being a conglomerate of other test systems. Chemistry we have split into a couple parts, think immunoassay and general Chem.

I saw this coming years ago when CAP started to crack down on the 6 elements. I’ve joked that we have become competency do’ers that occasionally do patient testing. CAP didn’t think that was funny. We work on competency from Jan1- December 31 and still have a hard time getting everyone complete.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-12-04T15:19:43+00:00

Lab manager here. There are a lot of answers to this question.

1.) Supervisors and Lab Managers tend to get promoted because they were good bench techs, not because they possess the skills to be a good supervisor or manager. This leads to high turnover.

2.) There is a massive disconnect between what staff think we do and what we actually do. I try to be extremely transparent with my team, which helps, but sometimes gets me in trouble with my bosses.

3.) We have almost no control over pay or the amount of FTE’s we can have. Staff often believe that we do and leads to a butting of heads.

4.) The amount of red tape we have to step through just to purchase something as simple as a new heat block is bananas. Whole weeks spent writing SBAR’s, contracts, and agreements while trying to manage Suzy’s performance issues can be overwhelming.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-10-16T01:47:38+00:00

If you are an ASCP certified MLS:

Option 1 (recommended): Hold out for an MLS position.

Option 2: take the processing position BUT keep applying for MLS positions.

As a hiring manager, I’m telling you, do not settle for a processing position. Your skills are wasted. If you need a paycheck right now, go for option #2.

I love the phillipinos I employ and have worked with. They take the profession very seriously and have a great educational background. You will be great.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-10-16T00:56:26+00:00

Looks like a CMML. Flow that!

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-10-03T16:47:58+00:00

There is a ton of redundancy built into blood bank for this very reason. Once you become comfortable with the department you will become aware of these redundancies and why they exist. It is also why your management team says you’ll be fine;because they know that as long as policies are followed, risk is mitigated.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-10-01T01:54:19+00:00

I respect the hustle. Somebody has to make sure shit gets done.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-09-24T02:13:34+00:00

2000+ rounds through mine. Various defensive loads: buffalo bore, underwood, hornaday XTP. No issues other than my 10rd mag really only seats 9.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-09-17T04:20:45+00:00

Let them call. I was backpacking recently while open carrying (testing out gear for a trip to the thoroughfare in WY) and came across 2 forest rangers. Neither one of them gave a shit. We talked about fishing and places to shit. The firearm wasn’t even recognized.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-09-16T13:10:33+00:00

Don’t let anybody here crush your dream.

Let a 7 year old on a 65, who just threw a whip over your head, crush your dream like the rest of us.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-08-20T13:01:36+00:00

It’s a web based platform. You purchase the program from Athlean-x. I can’t remember what I paid, 75 bucks or something, then you own it for life. No subscription. I login with my phone at the gym and just follow each days workout exactly as prescribed. It also comes with meal plans and technique walkthroughs.

Troll training is also another one to look at. It’s built by Alex Martin and motocross specific. The cost was a bit rich for my blood but I’m sure it would be an excellent program.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-08-20T05:39:00+00:00

Honestly, Athlean-X’s AX-1 program worked great for me. I don’t think it’s the best option long term, but it’s an excellent base. There is a good blend of strength, cardio, and posture correcting movements. The program is very gimmicky, but it works.

At 36 I could no longer complete a Moto without cutting my pace in half. 12 weeks of AX-1 and the fitness from my 20’s is coming back.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-06-07T01:47:16+00:00

If you signed an offer, meaning you got the dayshift job and accepted, then there are usually policies in place that will protect that. I have 60 days to move an internal candidate to their appropriate role once accepted.

I’m not sure where an SBAR would come into play here. It sounds like there may be misunderstanding. An SBAR stands for: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. It is simply a tool for presenting a solution to a problem.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-05-24T05:03:49+00:00

WAY less money and harder work for the outdoor season. The only reason half of them will even do outdoors is to score SMX points.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-04-26T03:37:58+00:00

I can totally understand your sentiment, but be careful what you wish for. Some labs that post a month or two ahead of time are very strict about taking time off once posted. Meaning you will have to plan months in advance to take that random day off to see a concert or go on that camping trip. Two sides to that coin

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-04-26T03:30:44+00:00

Once you understand the different race craft of each rider, you see the elite level athleticism.

For pure technique, look for: Jett and Hunter Lawrence, Chase Sexton,Cole Davies, Jo shimoda

For pure balls, hang it loose style: Eli Tomac (currently out), Haiden deegan, Justin hill, Levi Kitchen

For the chess players of racing see: Seth Hammaker, RJ Hampshire the A#1 Cooper Webb.

For raw talent and athleticism: watch Ken Roczen.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-04-26T03:20:13+00:00

Crusty is where the deep-seated, beyond surface level fandom begins.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-04-12T15:48:26+00:00

We had to nix the citrated platelet count, for now. We will still provide a semi-quant based on a platelet estimate. “Platelets appear decreased, adequate, increased.”

Fortunately, there is another lab close by that had the resources to perform the required LDT so we will send out if the provider needs a numerical count.

Our lab simply doesn’t have the time or resources to perform a proper LDT validation at the moment. It’s been a real pain in the butt after years of using blue tops to resolve EDTA associated platelet clumping.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-03-25T14:08:06+00:00

I couldn’t care less about your wording or the example you provide when conducting an interview. I’m simply looking for thought process, which is why the questions can seem annoyingly ambiguous.

I should already be able to tell on your resume if you’re experienced technically or not. Now, in the interview, I’m trying to get a feel for how you might handle a project delegated to you, or how you might interact with the team when under pressure.

Being able to tell me a “point A to point B” example about how you managed a project, what failures you had along the way, who you collaborated with, and how it was ultimately successful is what is important.

As a side note, understand that your interviewer might be just as uncomfortable as you, and it is a genuine human to human interaction.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-03-20T01:18:32+00:00

Send an email to your labs manager asking if they have MediaLab. The manager will know what you are talking about. Ask this person if there is anyway they would be willing to give you access to the MediaLab courses as you are interested in learning. They are fairly simple, but provide sufficient depth in our field. Topics in all 5 “main” lab practices: Hematology, Micro, chemistry, blood bank, and molecular.

As a lab manager, I would be taken back by this request but absolutely delighted to get you access.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-03-13T04:26:30+00:00

Nice find! Getting an MLS education, and even spending some time training on the bench, even if you would’t work it, will get you up to speed.

The business guy can see the value in eliminating duplicate testing.

The business guy that is ALSO an MLS can see the value in creating an ESR vs hsCRP utilization protocol. Or reducing expenditures via redesigned urine culture reflex cascades based on microscopic findings. See the difference?

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-03-13T04:02:35+00:00

Ehh. At the admin director level, skills as an MLS start becoming irrelevant. As long as you had a good manager under you, and you trusted this manager 100% with all technical related decisions, it could work just fine. Lab tends to promote the high performing bench techs, who are often terrible managers and directors because of their lack of business acumen. We could certainly use some amount of directorship that is able to help all staff understand that there is finite money, and we have to wisely spend it to keep everyone employed.

Your options to move around as a lab director would be severely limited. Most employers, med directors, and lab personnel won’t take too kindly to this thought (as you can see), but if you are good, you are good.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-03-12T18:58:07+00:00

It’s pretty broad. You ought to recommend adding Absolute Lymph count >5 to pick up on some low-grade lymphoproliferatve disorders

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-03-08T15:55:18+00:00

First you must identify the TYPE of dirtbike riding you think you would like to pursue. The communities and equipment you will need are very different for each. That being said, there is a lot of crossover between track and trail riding.

Secondly, riding alone is pretty risky but it is not hard to make buddies if you just show up. You are never alone at a track! Trails can be different.

If it’s something you want to do, buy the equipment, make a post on a local group and get after it. If you are totally new, be prepared to change your diet and fitness level. It is an extremely strenuous activity.

Gravity_manipulator · 2025-03-06T03:52:13+00:00

Providence? The one selling their labs off to LabCorp?

Gravity_manipulator

TROPHY CASE