Jobs › SSM Health

Clinical Laboratory Scientist - Microbiology

SSM Health · WI · Full time

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at SSM Health

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you caught an error before a result went out.

What they are checking: Attention to detail that stops a wrong result from reaching a physician and changing a patient's treatment.

How do you stay current with changes in microbiology methods?

What they are checking: Ongoing learning in a field where testing changes often.

What would you do

What do you do when you find a critical result, like a positive CSF culture?

What they are checking: Following critical value procedures and communicating quickly with the care team.

You're on evenings and several urgent specimens arrive at once. How do you prioritize?

What they are checking: Ordering work by clinical urgency, such as blood cultures and CSF first.

About the work

Walk me through how you work up a positive blood culture.

What they are checking: Fast, accurate workflow for a result that can change a septic patient's treatment.

How do you read a Gram stain, and what do you do when it's unclear?

What they are checking: Core microbiology skills and knowing when to ask for a second look.

How do you decide which organisms in a culture are clinically significant?

What they are checking: Judgment about contaminants versus real pathogens, which affects antibiotic decisions.

How do you handle antimicrobial susceptibility testing results that don't make sense?

What they are checking: Recognizing unusual patterns and checking for errors before reporting.

What biosafety practices do you follow in the micro lab?

What they are checking: Whether they protect themselves and coworkers from infectious organisms through consistent safety cabinet and PPE habits.

How do you document and troubleshoot instrument problems?

What they are checking: Keeping equipment reliable, which the posting lists among duties.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at SSM Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling WI-SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Madison Worker Type: Regular Job Highlights: Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. Clinical Laboratory Scientists perform complex laboratory testing that helps detect, diagnose, and monitor a wide range of medical conditions. Their work provides critical information that physicians rely on to make informed treatment decisions and deliver high-quality patient care. Department: Laboratory - Microbiology Schedule: Full time, 40 hours per week on the evening shift Apply today. SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, everyday. Job Summary: Under general direction, interpret and report test results. Perform routine and complex technical laboratory analyses using established procedures and protocols. Perform chemical, microscopic, and bacteriologic tests to obtain data for use in diagnosis and treatment of patients. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Performs a full range of laboratory tests from simple blood tests to more complex tests. • Interprets test reports and communicates findings to physicians. • Escalates unusual, critical or abnormal results. • Operates complex electronic equipment, computers and precision instruments. • Maintains accuracy of equipment and reagents by performing established preventive maintenance procedures. • Assists providers in choosing appropriate lab test. • Performs and evaluates quality control procedures. • Operates, maintains, calibrates and troubleshoots instruments. • Assists with the proper storage of hazardous materials. • Reviews current literature and attends meetings and seminars to keep informed of new developments in field. • Assists in the proficiency testing program in the lab. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Associate's degree or equivalent years of experience and education EXPERIENCE • No experience required PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. • Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. Ability to hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Frequent keyboard use/data entry. • Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting and gripping. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Rare climbing. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin • Blood Bank Technologist (BB) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Chemistry Technologist (C) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Clinical Chemist - California Department of Public Health • Or • Clinical Chemist Scientist - California Department of Public Health • Or • Clinical Hematologist Scientist - California Department of Public Health • Or • Clinical Laboratory Personnel - Florida Department of Health • Or • Clinical Laboratory Practitioners - West Virginia Department of Health • Or • Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Generalist) - California Department of Public Health • Or • Clinical Laboratory Specialist - ND Board of Clinical Laboratory Practice • Or • Clinical Laboratory Specialist - State of Hawaii Department of Health • Or • Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Clinical Laboratory Technician - New York State Education Department • Or • Clinical Microbiologist - California Department of Public Health • Or • Clinical Microbiologist Scientist - California Department of Public Health • Or • CLS – Clinical Laboratory Scientist License - Montana Department of Labor & Industry • Or • CLS – Clinical Laboratory Scientist - New York State Education Department • Or • CLS – Clinical Laboratory Specialist License - Montana Department of Labor & Industry • Or • CLS – Clinical Laboratory Technician License - Montana Department of Labor & Industry • Or • CLS - Generalist - Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners • Or • CLS - Specialist - Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners • Or • CLS - Technician - Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners • Or • Cytogenetics Technologist (CG) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Hematology Technologist (H) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Laboratory Personnel - TN Department of Health • Or • Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)/Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT) - ND Board of Clinical Laboratory Practice • Or • Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) - American Association for Bioanalysts (AAB) • Or • Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) - American Medical Technologists (AMT) • Or • Medical Laboratory Technician - California Department of Public Health • Or • Medical Laboratory Technician - State of Hawaii, Department of Health • Or • Medical Lab Personnel - Department of Health and Human Services Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) • Or • Medical Lab Scientist (MLS) - American Medical Technologists (AMT) • Or • Medical Technologist (MT)/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) - ND Board of Clinical Laboratory Practice • Or • Medical Technologist (MT) - American Association for Bioanalysts (AAB) • Or • Medical Technologist (MT) - American Medical Technologists (AMT) • Or • Medical Technologist (MT) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Medical Technologist - State of Hawaii, Department of Health • Or • Microbiology Technologist (M) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Molecular Biology Technologist (MB) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Specialist in Chemistry (SC) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Specialist in Cytology (SCT) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Specialist in Cytometry (SCYM) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Specialist in Microbiology (SM) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) • Or • Specialist in Molecular Biology (SMB) (International Included) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Work Shift: Evening Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 3405000007 Lab - Microbiology Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

Apply at SSM Health