Veterinary Lab Assistant

About the Role

At Pet Emergency & Specialty Center La Mesa, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, we are looking for a Veterinary Lab Assistant to join our Emergency and Critical Care Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform routine and specialized diagnostic testing, including hematology, clinical chemistry, electrolytes, urinalysis, cytology preparation, coagulation testing, and other laboratory procedures as assigned.
• Collect, receive, label, prepare, and process blood, urine, fecal, tissue, and other diagnostic specimens.
• Perform STAT testing and prioritize urgent diagnostic testing to support emergency stabilization and treatment decisions.
• Ensure accurate documentation, data entry, and timely communication of laboratory results to the appropriate medical team.
• Recognize abnormal or questionable results and promptly notify the appropriate veterinarian.
• Maintain quality assurance, perform quality control, troubleshoot analyzer errors, and ensure consistency and reliability of results.
• Maintain adequate laboratory supplies, monitor expiration dates, and communicate inventory needs.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment in accordance with hospital protocols and applicable safety standards.
• Use safe restraining techniques, follow standard protocols, and sustain clean, sterile, organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Coordinate with doctors and teams regarding specimen integrity, delayed results, and repeat testing.
• Maintain laboratory readiness and workflow during nights, weekends, and holidays, if applicable.
• Be willing to guide, mentor, and support fellow team members.
• Participate in staff training, competency assessments, and continuing education as appropriate.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and collaboration with the veterinary healthcare team.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• IV catheters placement
• Blood work
• IV, IM and SQ injections
• Various forms of veterinary software
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Qualifications

• Team player
• Eager to learn and self-motivated
• Enjoys a challenging and fast-paced environment
• Ability to multi-task under pressure
• Ability to stand and move throughout the workday.
• Ability to handle laboratory specimens, equipment, and supplies.
• Ability to perform repetitive fine motor tasks and work with microscopes and laboratory instruments.
• Ability to safely handle biological specimens, chemicals, and other laboratory materials using appropriate protective equipment.

Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience with an hourly pay rate starting at $20-28/hr.

4 Day Work Week (10 hour shifts): Sunday - Wednesday 10a - 8:30pm.