AddressGENERAL SUMMARY:
Under general supervision and following established procedures, prepares specimens
of tissue for microscopic evaluation by a physician in order to provide information on the
functioning of tissues and organs and other information relative to the cause and
progress of the disease. Prepares dyes and chemical solutions, processes frozen
sections, and performs other related duties as required.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Following successful completion of competency testing may perform processing,
testing, and reporting without direct supervision. Obtains surgical specimens and
orientates them on a supporting medium according to a special diagram obtained
from the physician.
2. Places the specimen in a cryostat and cuts extremely thin sections and mounts
sections on glass slides.
3. Stains the microscopic slide and covers with a resin and cover glass for protection
and preservation of the tissue specimen.
4. Maintains files on slides by the patient's chemosurgery or biopsy number, name,
medical record number, diagnosis, and the location of patient's slide in the file.
5. Decalcifies bone specimens and processes bone marrow specimens.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
• Completion of accredited bachelor's degree program in chemical, physical, biological
science, medical technology or clinical laboratory science, and successful
completion of a NAACLS accredited Histotechnician or Histotechnologist program
OR
o Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university, AND 1 year
of full time acceptable clinical experience in a histopathology laboratory or
1 year research experience in a histopathology laboratory in the U.S. or
Canada
OR
o Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university, AND
HT(ASCP) certification, with 6 months full time acceptable clinical
experience in a histopathology laboratory or 6 months full time research
experience in a histopathology laboratory in the U.S. or Canada
OR
o Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university AND
successful completion of a 50-week U.S. military histotechnician training
course.
• At least one (1) year of supervised training in a clinical laboratory in histologic
techniques to perform tissue staining procedures and the processing of bone
marrow specimens preferred.
CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSURES REQUIRED:
Certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists as a histotechnologist,
preferred.
