If you are curious about a specimen collector or are considering taking this as your career path but do not know much about it, then you have come to the right place. A specimen collector mainly collects different types of samples, such as blood or even urine, and gets them to the labs to get tested.
You should also know that various types of specimen collectors can also collect samples from plants, animals as well as various other subjects mainly for scientific study.
If you are interested in learning about them, then continue reading this article so that by the end, you can easily decide which path you are most interested in taking.
Job responsibilities of specimen collector
A specimen collector often performs a variety of duties, some of which include:
• Gathering information about the surroundings, including the humidity, light, as well as other elements that could have an impact on the specimen’s health.
• Collecting biological samples for laboratory examination, such as blood, tissue samples, or insect specimens.
• Obtaining liquids or other substances using tools like a water sampler as well as a hygroscope for testing in labs.
• Gathering trace evidence from crime scenes, such as fingerprints, hair, fibers, soil, or other traces, for a crime lab to examine.
• Collecting samples from animals for scientific research, such as insects and tiny mammals.
• Collecting plant samples for horticultural usage as well as a scientific study.
• Collecting human samples for testing, such as blood or urine samples. Speaking of which, if you are interested in becoming a urine specimen collector, then you should consider taking DOT Urine Specimen Collector Training to advance your skills more and have a much better understanding of the field as well as its related tasks.
• Collecting samples of insects for laboratory identification, such as mosquitoes and perhaps even ticks.
• Gathering samples from crime scenes, such as fingerprints, hair, fibers, soil, or even other traces of evidence, for a crime lab to analyze.
Salary and Outlook for Specimen Collectors
The educational background, years of experience, and employer all have an impact on a specimen collector’s pay. Depending on how many specimens they discover, certain collectors may also get incentives as well as commissions.
• $36,000 ($17.31/hour) is the median annual salary.
• $27,500 ($13.22/hour) is the top 10%’s annual salary.
Over the following ten years, there is a projected faster-than-average increase in the employment of specimen collectors.
The need for biological specimens, – for example, animals and plants will keep rising as researchers look into how climate change is affecting ecosystems.
Additionally, as researchers look for innovative ways to treat illnesses as well as enhance human health, the usage of biological specimens in medical analysis and experiments is anticipated to rise as well.
Job Requirements for Specimen Collectors
Typically, a specimen collector must meet the requirements listed below:
1. Education
Most jobs need specimen collectors to have a high school certificate or GED as a minimum requirement.
A bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or maybe even a similar subject is preferred by some jobs. Science graduates can use their education to help them in their responsibilities as specimen collectors.
2. Experience and Training
The majority of firms will teach new specimen collectors on the job. You will learn how to use the tools securely, how to collect samples correctly, as well as how to identify them throughout this session.
You might also be given instructions on how to disinfect as well as clean the equipment correctly.
3. Licenses and Certifications
Obtaining certificates can help boost your potential earnings plus make you extra competitive when searching for positions, however, you must keep in mind that they are not normally necessary to become a specimen collector.
Skills in Specimen Collection
To succeed, specimen collectors require the following abilities:
1. Observation of details
Correct specimen identification is essential for specimen collectors. This can involve being aware of the appropriate specimen’s location, method of collection, as well as technique of specimen storage.
Collectors of specimens can make sure they are following the proper procedure by paying attention to the little things.
2. Skills in communication
Collectors of specimens should also have good communication skills. These abilities let them communicate with their employers, customers, as well as other collectors.
These abilities are also used to describe the specimens they find as well as the environments in which they are found. This allows learners to appropriately identify the specimens and comprehend their significance.
3. Data entry
It is possible to enter data into the computer system through data entry. Data entry skills can be used by specimen collectors to document the locations of specimens, the time they were obtained, and so many other details.
Researchers that plan to use the specimens in their studies may find this information to be helpful.
4. Understanding of regional laws and regulations
Specimen collectors must comprehend the rules and regulations in their location because laws and regulations differ by state and region.
Specimen collectors need to be aware of what they may and cannot collect, as well as what they must do to comply with regional legislation.
This can assist them in avoiding legal problems and ensuring that they are gathering specimens in a responsible as well as moral manner.
5. Physical stamina
The capacity to work for extended periods as well as complete physically demanding jobs is referred to as physical stamina.
You could have to walk across difficult terrain as a specimen collector, carry hefty loads, as well as endure harsh weather.
You can carry out your job responsibilities more effectively and safely if you have a high level of physical endurance.
Environment for Specimen Collectors at Work
Work environments for specimen collectors include hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, including blood banks. Some may be on call around-the-clock, while others may work full or part-time.
Collectors of specimens must take steps to prevent exposure to blood-borne infections as well as deal with physically challenging tasks.
Additionally, they must be able to withstand the emotional strain that comes with working with sick as well as deceased patients.
Conclusion
To conclude, the job of a specimen collector can be fun and tiring but also challenging at the same time as they will have a lot of tasks that need to be looked at and completed on time. But this shouldn’t be the reason for you not to consider this job.
It is one of the most popular and highly demanded jobs, plus it doesn’t even require you to achieve such a difficult high level of education.
You can easily get the job after you accomplish all the simple requirements and pieces of training that I have mentioned above.
