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What does an accessioner do?

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read

An accessioner works at laboratories where they are primarily in charge of managing and organizing specimens, assisting scientists as needed. Their responsibilities include receiving and verifying samples, labeling and preparing specimens according to its purpose, updating databases, disposing of waste properly, and examining samples for any contamination. They may also answer client and staff inquiries, providing them with accurate information such as timelines and results. Furthermore, as an accessioner, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff and adhere to the laboratory's rules and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.

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Accessioner responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real accessioner resumes:

  • Achieve PHLEBOTOMY duties utilizing proper infection control techniques and perform a variety of laboratory tests.
  • Manage microbiology processing, customer care accounts, frozen splits, send outs and cytology processing.
  • Detail data entry base on patients requisitions and assist with various administrative functions.
  • Prepare specimens for FedEx shipments.
  • Follow company policies and procedures, including OSHA guidelines.
  • Create doctors schedules daily through EMR and Microsoft applications.
  • Receive, sort, enter samples of human specimen into LIMS.
  • Accession routine, stat, send out orders & donor accounts.
  • Maintain cleanliness of lab station and perform QC checks on tests request.
  • File all paperwork in order and distribute to the appropriate QC bins.
  • Adhere to OSHA regulations, safety policies, and blood borne pathogen guidelines.
  • Receive, organize and labele samples to be ship to laboratory via FedEx.
  • Used centrifuges, autoclaves, electronic pipettes, flash freezers and electronic temperature graphs.
  • Verify patient information and enter ordered tests into the medical database in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
  • Follow the correct instruction to order in-house and send out tests, labeling and centrifugation specimens.

Accessioner skills and personality traits

We calculated that 26% of Accessioners are proficient in Laboratory Specimens, Laboratory Analysis, and Lab Tests.

We break down the percentage of Accessioners that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Laboratory Specimens, 26%

    Prepare laboratory specimens for designated departments/locations

  • Laboratory Analysis, 10%

    Prepared excess specimen samples for storage, resolved and documented problem specimens for designated departments/locations prior to laboratory analysis and testing.

  • Lab Tests, 7%

    Entered Lab tests into computer Labeled and Packaged specimens Provided General clerical support

  • Specimen Handling, 7%

    Received knowledge of medical terminology and safe specimen handling procedures.

  • Patients, 7%

    Detailed data entry based on patients requisitions and assist with various administrative functions.

  • Data Entry, 5%

    Conducted intensive data entry, utilizing various software programs, in accordance with Hospital/Laboratory protocol and HIPAA regulations.

Common skills that an accessioner uses to do their job include "laboratory specimens," "laboratory analysis," and "lab tests." You can find details on the most important accessioner responsibilities below.

All accessioner skills

The three companies that hire the most accessioners are:

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Compare different accessioners

Accessioner vs. Certified medical technician

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

If we compare the average accessioner annual salary with that of a certified medical technician, we find that certified medical technicians typically earn a $6,232 higher salary than accessioners make annually.Even though accessioners and certified medical technicians are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patients, hipaa, and medical terminology in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between accessioners and certified medical technician. For instance, accessioner responsibilities require skills such as "laboratory specimens," "laboratory analysis," "lab tests," and "specimen handling." Whereas a certified medical technician is skilled in "vital signs," "cpr," "administer medications," and "resident care." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Certified medical technicians tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,214. In contrast, accessioners make the biggest average salary, $32,962, in the health care industry.On average, certified medical technicians reach similar levels of education than accessioners. Certified medical technicians are 1.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Accessioner vs. Laboratory aide

A laboratory aide is primarily responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order in laboratories, all while performing support tasks for scientists. Their duties revolve around arranging specimens and samples, transporting materials from one laboratory to another, preparing apparatuses and machines, and storing them accordingly. A laboratory aide may also run errands, produce progress reports, sanitize areas and instruments, and properly dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste. Furthermore, it is crucial to implement the laboratory's safety policies and regulations, ensuring a safe and healthy laboratory environment for everyone.

Laboratory aide positions earn lower pay than accessioner roles. They earn a $4,544 lower salary than accessioners per year.A few skills overlap for accessioners and laboratory aides. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "specimen handling," "patients," and "data entry. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real accessioner resumes. While accessioner responsibilities can utilize skills like "laboratory specimens," "laboratory analysis," "lab tests," and "hipaa," laboratory aides use skills like "lab equipment," "phlebotomy," "cleanliness," and "test results."

Laboratory aides earn a lower average salary than accessioners. But laboratory aides earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $31,856. Additionally, accessioners earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $32,962 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Laboratory aides tend to reach similar levels of education than accessioners. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Accessioner vs. Laboratory technician/phlebotomist

The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.

On average, laboratory technician/phlebotomists earn higher salaries than accessioners, with a $3,616 difference per year.By looking over several accessioners and laboratory technician/phlebotomists resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "laboratory specimens," "lab tests," and "specimen handling." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an accessioner is likely to be skilled in "laboratory analysis," "blood smears," "osha," and "medical terminology," while a typical laboratory technician/phlebotomist is skilled in "specimen collection," "patient care," "lab tech," and "blood specimens."

When it comes to education, laboratory technician/phlebotomists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to accessioners. In fact, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Accessioner vs. Laboratory supervisor

Laboratory supervisors typically earn higher pay than accessioners. On average, laboratory supervisors earn a $34,734 higher salary per year.While both accessioners and laboratory supervisors complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like specimen handling, patients, and osha, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between accessioners and laboratory supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an accessioner might have more use for skills like "laboratory specimens," "laboratory analysis," "lab tests," and "data entry." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of laboratory supervisors require skills like "clinical laboratory," "chemistry," "patient care," and "lab equipment. "

Laboratory supervisors enjoy the best pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $77,667. For comparison, accessioners earn the highest salary in the health care industry.The average resume of laboratory supervisors showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to accessioners. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 8.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.1%.

Types of accessioner

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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