FISH / WILDLIFE HEALTH TECHNOLOGIST CLASS PURPOSE To support fish or wildlife health management by providing laboratory and field analysis, and consulting services relating to fish, fish hatchery, or wildlife health management and disease implications; perform related work. GENERAL INFORMATION Incumbents work as a health technologist in either a fish or wildlife specialty. They perform disease test analyses, handle specimen and infectious organisms and use hazardous chemicals. Some incumbents may pursue and restrain wildlife, using immobilizing drugs and equipment, that involves lifting and carrying up to 65 pounds over rough terrain and safely using a firearm. NATURE AND SCOPE Incumbents perform necropsy and clinical tests and assays on fish or wildlife species, and determine presence of pathogens that are bacterial, viral and parasitic. They perform fish or wildlife management genetic testing; preserve and mount specimens used in histopathological examinations; analyze blood and tissue samples; and develop, perform, and troubleshoot test procedures and methods including polymerase chain reactions (PCR), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis, Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA), and agglutination tests. They consult with department employees, other agencies and public organizations on disease issues, wildlife or fish and fish hatchery health issues, capture situations, and/or immobilization systems. They