Histology Technician

Job Description

Job Summary:

• Employee follows Histology procedures for the routine staining and cover slipping of tissue slides so that the quality of the side is acceptable for diagnosis.

Procedures include:

• STATS, special stains, recuts, PAPS, bone marrows, FNAS, cytology.
• Employee properly embeds and cuts tissue according to Histology procedure so that the tissue slides produced can be utilized for patient diagnosis.
• Employee performs instrument function, verification and maintenance procedures to minimize instrument down time and insure instruments are functioning properly.
• Employee consistently performs and records quality control and documents corrective action, when appropriate, to ensure test results are accurate.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Embeds and cuts tissue.
• Stains and cover slips tissue sections.
• Processes and labels specimens and slides.
• Files slides, blocks and tissue specimens.
• Prepares cytology specimens for examination by the Pathologist.
• Performs quality control procedures and documents the results.
• Disposes of tissue specimens and hazardous waste.
• Prepares specimens for referral to a reference laboratory.
• Maintains equipment and supplies.
• Troubleshoots special problems or situations.
• Writes procedures or policies as requested by the Supervisor.
• Adheres to the established Hospital safety standards by following safety procedures and reports any
  unsafe conditions.
• Applies the Hospital’s Policies and Procedures regarding guest relations.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Education:

• Work requires knowledge generally acquired through a high school education or GED and two years of Histology training school or equivalent experience.

Licensure:

• A HATH/HLT license is preferred.

Experience:

• At least 2-3 years experience in Histology and one year of experience performing special stains.

Essential Technical/Motor Skills:

• Employee works with sharp knives.
• Finger and manual dexterity needed to manipulate slides, specimens, microProducts, etc.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills dealing with patients, public, co-workers and medical staff required.
• Organizational and management skill preferred.
• Ability to maintain calm during periods of heavy workload.

Essential Mental Abilities:

• Ability to use knowledge of chemistry and immunology techniques to perform staining and tissue processing.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time in the performance of procedures, equipment set-up and general processing.