Histotechnologist

General Summary of Position

Performs routine and complex histology procedures used in pathology diagnosis. Assists in the pathology grossing area and participates in the general maintenance of the histopathology laboratory.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Applies principles of educational methodology in teaching histotechnician trainees, new employees, medical technology students and residents as scheduled.

Provides direction in proper preparation of tissue studies. Coordinates technician work schedules.

• Accessions surgical specimens, ensuring the collection and testing specifications on the specimens match those indicated on the order.
• Performs gross pathology examination and dissection of surgical specimens of certain defined types for histology processing.

Troubleshoots specimen description or ordering discrepancies observed during grossing. Transcribes grossing description into pathology report via dictating system.

• Performs computer operations involving specimen accessioning, slide preparation and quality control.
• Evaluates and solves histology specimen problems and follows procedures for rejection of specimens.
• Participates in the development of new histology procedures and in improving histology techniques. Evaluates new techniques, instruments and procedures as required.
• Evaluates normal and abnormal tissue types. Embeds and orients tissue specimen for microscopic evaluation. Identifies and resolves problems in the automated tissue processing cycle.
• Prepares reagents. Prepares paraffin sections on routine and difficult cases and solves related problems. Assists histotechnicians with difficult sectioning cases.
• Performs and assesses the quality of routine hematoxylin and eosin staining and special stains on surgical and autopsy slides.

Troubleshoots staining procedures and implements corrective action as necessary.

• Performs and documents daily quality control and corrective action initiated when quality control results exceed tolerance limits.
• Assists in the collection and preparation of kidney and heart biopsies and frozen sections. Provides direction in the preparation of decalcified bone tissue.
• Performs preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment and instruments. Maintains appropriate records.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Physical, Biological, Clinical Laboratory Science required

Experience

1-2 years previous job experience required

Licenses and Certifications

HTL or HT ASCP required

This position has a hiring range of $34.98 - $62.52