Flow Cytometry Scientist

Role Overview

Flow Cytometry Scientist at American Hospital Dubai. The role performs and supports high-complexity flow cytometry testing for diagnostic, prognostic, and disease-monitoring applications within the approved laboratory scope of practice.

Role Purpose

Deliver accurate, reliable, and timely flow cytometry results through specimen assessment, panel preparation, staining, instrument setup, data acquisition, quality control, analysis, technical validation, and troubleshooting. Support patient care and clinical decision-making in collaboration with Pathology, Hematopathology, and laboratory teams while ensuring compliance with American Hospital Dubai policies, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulations, College of American Pathologists (CAP) requirements, Joint Commission International (JCI) standards, and applicable laboratory quality and safety practices.

Key Responsibilities

Testing & Analysis

• Perform high-complexity flow cytometry testing within the approved test menu, including hematolymphoid immunophenotyping, lymphocyte subset analysis, CD34 enumeration, PNH testing, immune monitoring, Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) and other validated assays.
• Review specimen identification, clinical information, suitability, anticoagulant, transport, storage, viability, and cellularity; escalate inadequate, compromised, or discrepant specimens in accordance with laboratory policy.
• Advise outreach laboratories on correct specimen/test order as applicable.
• Prepare specimens and antibody panels; perform staining and washing procedures.
• Apply validated controls, compensation, fluorescence settings, and acquisition parameters to achieve reliable and reproducible results.
• Analyze flow cytometry data using validated gating strategies and software.
• Identify abnormal or technically significant patterns within authorized scope and escalate cases requiring clinical interpretation to the responsible Pathologist/Hematopathologist.

Instrument & Equipment Management

• Operate, standardize, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot flow cytometers and related equipment.
• Document daily performance checks, maintenance, reagent status, and corrective actions.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Perform and evaluate quality control, calibration, calibration verification, proficiency testing, external quality assessment activities, and other quality indicators to ensure analytical reliability and accuracy.
• Investigate quality control failures, instrument performance issues, and non-conforming events; implement corrective actions and document outcomes in accordance with laboratory procedures.
• Ensure compliance with patient identification, traceability, confidentiality, data integrity, and document control requirements.
• Support investigation, documentation, and resolution of incidents, non-conformities, corrective actions, preventive actions, and risk management activities.
• Participate in internal audits, quality improvement initiatives, competency assessments, accreditation activities, and regulatory inspections to maintain continuous compliance with CAP, DHA, JCI, and other applicable standards.

Assay Development & Validation

• Support verification and validation of new assays, antibody panels, instruments, software, reagents, reference ranges, and methodology changes.
• Document analytical performance, carryover, sensitivity, reproducibility, and assigned documentation.

Documentation & Inventory

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the Laboratory Information System and approved analysis platforms, ensuring patient identification, specimen traceability, data integrity, confidentiality, controlled access, and retention of raw and analyzed data.
• Maintain adequate stocks of antibodies, reagents, controls, calibrators, consumables, and test materials through receiving, lot verification, storage, expiry monitoring, inventory control, and timely escalation of supply risks.

Collaboration & Professional Development

• Collaborate effectively with pathologists, physicians, nursing staff, phlebotomists, laboratory colleagues, referral laboratories, and other stakeholders to ensure high-quality laboratory services and optimal patient outcomes.
• Provide technical support and guidance to laboratory colleagues within area of expertise.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and support to students and trainees.
• Participate in continuing education, professional development, competency programs, and departmental training initiatives to maintain current knowledge and technical proficiency.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, teamwork, innovation, and patient-centered care.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Laboratory Technology, Biomedical Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Immunology, or a related recognized discipline.
• Master's Degree is preferred.

Professional Registration & Licensing

• Current professional registration in the home country where applicable.
• Valid Dubai Health Authority (DHA) License/Eligibility appropriate to the professional title and approved scope of practice.

Professional Experience

• Minimum four (4) to five (5) years of recent Medical Laboratory experience.
• At least three (3) years of hands-on experience in clinical flow cytometry or immunophenotyping.
• Demonstrated experience with multicolor flow cytometry, specimen preparation, panel setup, instrument calibration, compensation, data acquisition, gating, analysis, and technical troubleshooting.
• Experience in hematolymphoid immunophenotyping and specialized applications such as lymphocyte subsets, CD34 enumeration, PNH, or other validated clinical flow cytometry assays is highly preferred.
• Experience in assay validation/verification, proficiency testing, quality control review, non-conformity investigation, corrective action, and accreditation preparation is preferred.
• Experience within a tertiary, CAP-accredited, JCI-accredited, or similarly regulated laboratory environment is highly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of flow cytometry principles, immunophenotyping, fluorochromes, antibody panels, compensation, gating strategies, specimen preparation, quality control, and instrument troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of hematology/hematopathology, immunology, leukemia and lymphoma immunophenotyping, laboratory safety, and pre-analytical factors affecting flow cytometry results.
• Knowledge of CAP accreditation requirements, DHA Clinical Laboratory Standards, JCI requirements, and ISO 15189 quality principles is preferred.
• Strong analytical, technical, documentation, communication, and organizational skills.
• High attention to patient identification, traceability, data integrity, and confidentiality.