What Does A Histotechnologist Do?

WHAT DOES A HISTOTECHNOLOGIST DO?

Published: Sep 11, 2025 - The Histotechnologist prepares, embeds, and sections tissue specimens with precision, ensuring accurate orientation for diagnostic evaluation, and performs specialized procedures such as special stains, immunohistochemistry, and cytogenetics. This role involves managing laboratory workflow, maintaining equipment and reagents in optimal condition, and ensuring compliance with quality control and safety standards. The Histotechnologist also supports pathologists and supervisors by completing requests promptly, assisting with strategic planning, and adapting to operational needs during critical situations.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Histotechnologist

1. Histotechnologist Key Accountabilities

Work Assignment: Manage work assignments for the microtomy team based on histology requests, sales orders, and screening schedule.
Sample Processing: Process FFPE tissue samples, including processing, embedding, and sectioning.
Slide Cutting: Cut slides following histology requests from QC, R&D, Sales, and Engineering.
Screening Scheduling: Schedule and complete screening/tissue validation runs and make TMA/multi-tissue blocks.
Tissue Staining: Stain tissue samples and make control blocks as required by specific projects.
Validation Management: Manage all HPV ISH validation runs, including embedding, cutting, validating, and documentation.
Documentation: Completes all required documents for instrument use and maintenance.
Tissue Bank Management: Maintain tissue bank to provide control materials for all requesting departments.
Inventory Monitoring: Monitor essential histology inventory and place orders.
Staff Training: Train histology personnel.

2. Histotechnologist General Responsibilities

Diagnostic Analysis: Perform laboratory-based diagnostic analyses for research and clinical use under CLIA and research environments.
Specimen Preparation: Prepare tissue specimens for microscopic evaluation under general supervision and in accordance with established procedures.
Histology Procedures: Perform routine and special histology procedures, including microtomy and/or cryotomy, H&E staining, and coverslipping.
Microtomy Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency in microtomy with emphasis on quality and efficiency.
Record Maintenance: Maintain laboratory records and equipment.
Project Management: Manage multiple projects simultaneously and quickly master new concepts and skills with accuracy and attention to detail.
Protocol Authoring: Assist in authoring detailed, accurate, and accessible procedural protocols and records.
Procedure Development: Contribute to establishing procedures that maintain standards and consistency in operations.
Inventory Support: Support purchasing and inventory management.

3. Histotechnologist Role Purpose

Tissue Techniques: Perform and demonstrate proficiency in tissue fixation, cutting, mounting, and staining techniques.
Staining Procedures: Accurately conduct routine H&E, special stains, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining procedures.
Slide Preparation: Prepare high-quality tissue sections and stained slides for diagnostic evaluation.
Pathologist Assistance: Assist pathologists with frozen section procedures and fine needle aspiration (FNA) procedures.
Cytology Preparation: Prepare body fluids for cytological analysis.
Record Management: Maintain accurate records and manage specimen storage and disposal for both Cytology and Histology laboratories.
Equipment Operation: Operate, monitor, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment in the Histology section.
Technical Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot technical issues related to sample preparation and staining.
Sample Identification: Consistently ensure correct patient, sample, and aliquot identification and labeling in accordance with protocols.

4. Histotechnologist Essential Functions

Laboratory Operations: Assist laboratory management in the daily operation of all tasks.
Histology Practice: Practice anatomic laboratory science in the specialty of histology.
Specimen Examination: Responsible for the examination and processing of biopsy specimens taken from the human body for use in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease or the assessment of a medical condition.
Tissue Preparation: Prepare tissue, including grossing, processing, embedding, microtomy, and staining.
Slide Provision: Provide slides to the pathologist with appropriate documentation and control material for use in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Special Stains: Perform special stains and immunohistological procedures, including all aspects of antigen retrieval, processing, and staining, along with quality control and validation.
Equipment Maintenance: Perform required preventative maintenance on all equipment as defined by the standard operating procedure.
Task Judgment: Use independent judgment and knowledge to perform all related tasks.
Histology Procedures: Gross, process, section, and stain, including immunohistochemistry.

5. Histotechnologist Additional Details

Microtomy Performance: Perform microtomy timely and efficiently.
Procedure Compliance: Perform all procedures as described in the procedure manual.
Specimen Processing: Embed in paraffin, cut, stain, and mount specimens of human tissue.
Immunostain Techniques: Develop appropriate special immunostain techniques and perform special immunostains that meet the pathologist's approval.
Reagent Preparation: Prepare reagents, stains, and other solutions.
Quality Documentation: Maintain all section log books regarding temperatures, controls, special studies, and other quality control documentation.
Malfunction Recognition: Recognize malfunctions of procedures or instruments.
Equipment Maintenance: Perform maintenance on instruments and equipment.
Educational Participation: Attend educational programs and in-service meetings as required by the hospital.
Computer Utilization: Use the laboratory computer to generate worksheets and logs.
Project Work: Work on special related projects.

6. Histotechnologist Roles

Tissue Preservation: Take responsibility for the preservation of tissue samples in the proper preservative or fixative.
Tissue Processing: Perform embedding, cutting, and staining of tissue using specialized techniques.
Equipment Maintenance: Handle routine maintenance of department equipment and procedures, including inventory control, preventative maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Specimen Grossing: Assist in grossing, dissection, and dictation of gross descriptions of surgical and/or autopsy specimens.
Staff Training: Assist with training staff.
Safety Compliance: Maintain a safe environment by complying with RHS policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements that support the National Patient Safety Goals and Quality Initiatives.
Variance Reporting: Recognize and report variances and provide resolutions.
Safety Practices: Use appropriate protective equipment, body mechanics, and follow safety guidelines and procedures.
Compliance Resolution: Identify and act to resolve variances or suspected non-compliance with management.

7. Histotechnologist Tasks

Equipment Preparation: Prepare equipment and reagents for processing, embedding, microtome cutting, and mounting of tissue, and perform routine H&E and special staining techniques.
Laboratory Setup: Set up equipment, instruments, reagents, and apparatus for specific laboratory techniques.
Process Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot all processes in the lab, including processing, staining, embedding, and cutting.
Quality Control: Perform and keep records of quality control related to procedures, methods, reagents, and equipment.
Record Maintenance: Maintain logbooks, work records, slide files, and paraffin block files in a manner that meets the needs of the medical and legal professions for identity and chain of custody.
Special Stains: Work with manual special stains such as Mason trichrome, elastic tissue stains, and other special stains.
Inventory Management: Maintain inventory and order all equipment and supplies for the Histology laboratory.
Immunotechniques: Execute and troubleshoot manual ImmunoFluorescence and Immunohistochemistry.
SOP Management: Author and maintain equipment and procedure SOPs.
Validation Knowledge: Understand and work with equipment validation and histology processes.

8. Histotechnologist Details and Accountabilities

Interpersonal Relations: Maintain and promote positive, open, and honest interpersonal relationships with physicians, employees, visitors, patients, and the broader community.
Customer Service: Provide high-quality service by understanding customer needs and ensuring follow-through.
Cultural Respect: Respect the capabilities, cultures, and personalities of co-workers and community members in alignment with organizational mission and values.
Professional Conduct: Exhibit self-management behaviors that reflect professionalism, adherence to policies and procedures, and support an efficient, cost-effective work environment.
Property Care: Treat the property of customers, the organization, and co-workers with care and respect.
Collaborative Problem-Solving: Collaborate cooperatively across all levels of staff and disciplines to solve problems constructively without placing blame.
Skill Development: Maintain and update job-related skills and knowledge through continuing education programs.
Continuing Education: Complete a minimum of 10 hours of CEU annually and document all educational activities in the employee record.
Self-Directed Learning: Engage in self-directed learning and work experiences to strengthen skills and address areas for improvement.
Supervisory Role: Act as supervisor of the section in the absence of the supervisor and/or assistant supervisor.

9. Histotechnologist Overview

IHC Staining: Perform routine staining on multiple IHC platforms in accordance with established departmental protocols.
SOP Compliance: Read and follow all SOPs related to departmental operations, adhering to all rules and procedures.
Microtomy and Embedding: Perform microtomy and tissue embedding on a range of specimens, including complex tissues such as fatty and poorly fixed samples.
Slide Preparation: Prepare slides in compliance with SOP guidelines.
Safety Handling: Safely handle biological samples and hazardous chemicals following EHS regulations.
Equipment Operation: Operate ancillary equipment required for staining and microtomy processes.
Software Utilization: Use vendor-specific IHC stainer software, as well as internal LIS and workflow systems.
Workflow Communication: Communicate workflow issues or concerns with peers and management.
Problem Identification: Identify potential problems affecting staining performance and notify management immediately.
Reagent Quality Control: Conduct quality control checks for reagents and chemicals in accordance with SOPs.
Slide Quality Control: Perform slide QC on routine cases, including colon and breast panels.
Instrument Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot basic instrument errors and failures.
Inventory Management: Prepare, manage, and maintain inventory of IHC antibodies.
Lab Maintenance: Maintain laboratory cleanliness and functionality, perform or schedule instrument maintenance, calibration, and certifications.

10. Histotechnologist Job Description

Histology Procedures: Perform procedures including processing, embedding, microtomy, staining, coverslipping, immunocytochemistry, and storage of slides.
Solution Preparation: Prepare solutions in accordance with standard procedures.
Lab Maintenance: Maintain laboratory equipment, records, and files.
Specimen Quality Control: Monitor and perform quality control of specimens, perform initial examination of prepared specimens, determine disposition of improperly handled specimens, identify problems, take corrective action, notify the supervisor of action taken, and monitor follow-up solutions.
Microscopic Preparation: Perform all histologic procedures pertaining to the preparation of microscopic slides, such as processing, embedding, microtomy, staining, and coverslipping.
Special Stains: Perform special stain techniques such as silver stain, modify and adapt new procedures, and prepare reagents, dyes, and solutions.
Instrument Analysis: Analyze and determine causes of instrument malfunction, take corrective action, monitor follow-up, maintain quality control of instruments, and evaluate new products and instruments to provide input in decision processes.
Record Keeping: Record complete patient information either manually or by computer and maintain comprehensive records of procedures.
Technician Duties: Perform the work of a Histologic Technician II.
Staff Guidance: Guide and instruct Histologic Technicians I’s, laboratory assistants, and others.

11. Histotechnologist Functions

Tissue Embedding: Properly orient tissue in paraffin embedding medium, ensuring all surfaces such as epidermis, dermis, mucosal, lumen, and inked margins are embedded and sectioned on the same plane.
Special Procedures: Prepare tissue or slides for special procedures such as send-outs, EM, IF, Cell Flow, and Cytogenetic, including packaging, arranging transportation, documentation, and billing.
Control Slides: Maintain an adequate cut supply of positive control slides and document the case number and QC date on the Control Tissue QC log.
Workload Management: Assist in managing workload and productivity by adjusting the schedule on demand.
Request Fulfillment: Complete requests from pathologists, supervisors, and the management team within 24 hours, notifying them of any delay.
Equipment Maintenance: Clean and maintain reagents, tissue processors, embedding center, microtomy equipment, H&E stainer, and immunostainers in excellent condition, keeping all work areas clean and documenting QC.
Operational Support: Accommodate the special needs of the section organization by volunteering to perform any technical or nontechnical work during inclement weather, electrical power outages, computer downtime, or other critical times.
Safety Compliance: Follow safety guidelines as outlined for the department and institution, and document instances appropriately.
Advanced Procedures: Perform special procedures such as special stains, immunoperoxidase, undecalcified bone processing, photography of gross specimens, and high complexity testing such as immunohistochemistry, as well as quality control procedures.
Strategic Planning: Participates in the Strategic Planning process.

12. Histotechnologist Accountabilities

Specimen Accessioning: Receive and accession tissue and cytology specimens and prepare specimens for histotechnic processing.
Logging Routines: Perform necessary logging routines.
Specimen Verification: Check each specimen for the criteria of acceptability, assuring proper patient identification, specimen integrity, and appropriate paperwork.
Problem Specimens: Refer any problem specimen to the area of collection and inform the supervisor of follow-up action.
Frozen Sections: Prepare sections of human or animal tissue for immediate examination, using rapid tissue processing and frozen section techniques to freeze, cut, mount, and stain tissue specimens received from surgery.
Grossing Assistance: Assist pathologists with tissue grossing procedures.
Slide Preparation: Prepare slides of specimens to enhance visibility under the microscope.
Equipment Operation: Operate computerized laboratory equipment to fix, dehydrate, and infiltrate with wax tissue specimens to be preserved for study by a Pathologist.
Tissue Processing: Process, embed, and section tissues for slides.
Staining Procedures: Perform routine and special stains according to department procedures.

13. Histotechnologist Job Summary

Frozen Sections: Prepare frozen-section slides on the cryostat instrument for frozen-section diagnosis.
Slide Examination: Examine slides under the microscope to ensure tissue preparation meets laboratory requirements.
Microscopic Analysis: Study slides under a microscope to detect deviations from the norm and report abnormalities for further study.
Quality Control: Perform preventive maintenance and quality-control procedures.
Equipment Maintenance: Maintain equipment, instruments, and the cleanliness of the work area.
Advanced Techniques: Perform special techniques that require a higher level of educational background than a histotechnician, such as enzyme histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy.
Instrument Protocols: Perform instrument maintenance using established protocols.
Regulatory Compliance: Perform all job functions in compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and company policies and procedures.
Professional Conduct: Display professional, safe conduct in all interactions.
Team Collaboration: Maintain positive working relationships with staff, other departments, physicians, and peers.

14. Histotechnologist Responsibilities

Policy Management: Manage and demonstrate knowledge of policies and procedures related to the clinical area.
Legal Compliance: Meet all responsibility requirements of clinical laboratory technologists as defined in state law.
State Requirements: Adhere to all requirements of state law.
Section Operations: Assist the section supervisor in the daily operation of any or all areas of the histology and cytology sections.
Problem Solving: Solve most problems and handle difficult situations with little or no supervision.
Histology Practice: Practice clinical laboratory science in the specialty of histology by examining materials or specimens taken from the human body.
Diagnostic Support: Provide information or materials for use in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease or the assessment of a medical condition.
Examination Phases: Perform duties across the preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic phases of examinations.
Lab Examinations: Perform clinical laboratory examinations as well as clerical duties, primarily in the histology section of the laboratory.
Cytology Functions: Perform certain duties in the cytology area of the laboratory depending on the scope of the laboratory’s activity and availability of personnel, typically including clerical and preanalytical functions.
Tissue Examination: Perform clinical laboratory examinations on tissue.
Histological Examinations: Perform histological and clinical laboratory examinations.

15. Histotechnologist Details

Tissue Preparation: Prepare, process, embed, cut, and stain tissue preparations of material derived from the human body to provide material to a pathologist for diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Test Requests: Receive written or electronic requests from physicians for routine or special laboratory tests.
Patient Interaction: Interact with and perform clinical laboratory examinations on patients of all ages.
Instrumentation Operation: Set up and adjust laboratory instrumentation after proper instruction, operate any scientific instrument, and perform any required procedure using independent judgment and knowledge.
Problem Resolution: Evaluate, troubleshoot, research, and resolve day-to-day problems or special projects as assigned by the section supervisor.
Staff Oversight: Oversee the work of new technicians and trainees.
Supervisory Role: Serve as acting supervisor of the section in the absence of the section supervisor, with all incumbent duties.
Reporting and Supervision: Report directly to the section supervisor in a staff-level role, and supervise technicians, trainees, or others assigned to the section.
CAP Standards: Apply knowledge and understanding of current CAP standards for the Histology department.
Patient Advocacy: Represent the patient’s best interests on the healthcare team and promote teamwork with physicians and all healthcare providers.
Education Support: Assist in departmental, hospital, and community in-services and education.
Lab Improvement: Participate in the review and planning of laboratory improvements.
Professional Standards: Uphold professional standards of performance and conduct.
Performance Improvement: Actively participate in Performance Improvement for the clinical area and attend assigned meetings.

16. Histotechnologist Duties

Specimen Collection: Follow established guidelines to obtain specimens such as bone marrow, blood, and tissue, and prioritize work.
Pathologist Assistance: Assist pathologists and residents in obtaining specimens from patients of all ages and degrees of physical and/or mental disability.
Autopsy Support: Assist pathologists, pathology assistants, and residents in evisceration and post-mortem dissection of bodies during autopsies.
Patient Verification: Properly verify patient identity.
Specimen Integrity: Assess the integrity of all specimens for testing and processing.
Specimen Identification: Verify the correct identification of specimens and tissue before testing and processing.
Testing Prioritization: Follow established guidelines for determining priority of specimen testing, processing, and procurement.
Microscopic Preparation: Perform all work processes necessary for the production of microscopic preparations used for high complexity testing as defined by CLIA’88.
Laboratory Procedures: Understand the pathology laboratory and perform routine and specialty procedures.
Instrumentation Operation: Operate laboratory instrumentation and information systems according to written procedures.
Instrument Maintenance: Complete specified maintenance on instruments.

17. Histotechnologist Roles and Details

Problem-Solving: Recognize problems and take appropriate measures to resolve them.
Root Cause Analysis: Identify causes of problems and make corrections using established protocols.
Safety Response: Initiate proper safety or emergency responses.
Supervision Consultation: Consult with a supervisor if unable to resolve issues.
Critical Thinking: Exercise critical thinking to maintain and improve department productivity and efficiencies.
Quality Evaluation: Evaluate diagnostic preparations for quality and initiate appropriate interventions.
Microscopic Review: Microscopically review slides to ensure that quality diagnostic preparations are produced.
Quality Control: Identify unacceptable quality and initiate corrective action when parameters are out of compliance.
Result Verification: Take appropriate action to recheck abnormal, discrepant, or unexpected results.
Direct Communication: Directly communicate abnormal results to the pathologist.
Data Correlation: Correlate data based on clinical knowledge, technical expertise, and other conditions affecting test results.

18. Histotechnologist Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Quality Compliance: Comply with Laboratory Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, and Laboratory Compliance Programs.
Documentation: Document deviations and actions taken.
Reagent and Control Checks: Document reagent, slide, and control checks.
QC/QA Monitoring: Recognize and communicate values that exceed QC/QA parameters.
Issue Resolution: Take action to resolve issues and consult with a supervisor.
Performance Improvement: Participate in the lab Performance Improvement program by collecting data, reviewing results, and implementing corrective action recommendations.
Regulatory Compliance: Document compliance with regulations of governmental or voluntary regulatory agencies.
Customer Collaboration: Collaborate with the customers of the laboratory to promote customer satisfaction.
Culturally Competent Care: Provide care or service by adjusting approaches to reflect developmental levels and cultural differences of the population served.
Training Completion: Complete all assigned training, including company-wide and departmental learning modules.
Policy Adherence: Adhere to departmental protocols and organizational policies at all times.

19. Histotechnologist Duties and Roles

Specimen Accessioning: Accession surgical pathology specimens into the Laboratory Information System (LIS).
Specimen Labeling: Accurately label specimen components, including jars, cassettes, slides, and other materials, in compliance with laboratory procedures.
Tissue Embedding: Embed formalin-fixed tissues following Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) orientation protocols.
Microtomy: Perform microtomy of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue according to SOP protocols.
Instrument Maintenance: Conduct routine maintenance and cleaning of instruments, documenting all findings.
Workplace Organization: Maintain a clean and organized working environment.
Inventory Management: Ensure adequate inventory for tissue sectioning of FFPE blocks.
Reagent Preparation: Prepare reagents, including stain solutions, graded alcohols, and bulk reagents, in accordance with specifications.
Tissue Processing: Perform complex tissue processing and staining procedures, including special stains (SS), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and other assigned projects.
Slide Printing: Print slides using slide printers and ensure the timely distribution of stained slides to pathologists.
Equipment Quality Control: Perform and document equipment quality control and preventive maintenance.

20. Histotechnologist Roles and Responsibilities

Supply Management: Support Histology Management by reporting supply needs, documenting supply receipts, and recording reagent usage dates.
Documentation: Adhere to proper documentation practices.
Record Maintenance: Maintain filing systems for specimen records, FFPE tissue blocks, prepared slides, and related documents.
Safety Compliance: Enforce proper chemical and biological hygiene practices to maintain a safe, compliant work environment.
Waste Disposal: Carry out chemical hazardous waste disposal in alignment with regulatory guidelines.
Task Assistance: Assist with duties as assigned by the Histology Supervisor, Pathology Manager, or Medical Director.
Quality Compliance: Comply with quality control policies and SOPs to ensure all laboratory operations meet accepted standards and applicable clinical laboratory regulations.
Problem-Solving: Troubleshoot and resolve moderately complex problems on time.
Employee Training: Train and serve as a resource for other employees, providing guidance and support.
Competency Assessment: Assess the competency of staff in specific tasks and document performance.
Staff Development: Assist with the orientation, education, training, and professional development of Histotechnicians.
Issue Resolution: Identify and address technical, quality, and departmental issues in collaboration with the Histology Supervisor, Pathology Lab Manager, or Medical Director.

21. Histotechnologist Key Accountabilities

Independent Judgment: Exercise independent judgment when resolving procedural and technical challenges.
Quality Assurance: Participate in Quality Assurance (QA) reviews and initiatives.
Accreditation Preparation: Assist in preparations for laboratory accreditation inspections.
Competency Support: Support peer competency assessments and evaluations.
Procedure Development: Develop, test, and implement new laboratory procedures.
Methodology Integration: Coordinate the evaluation and integration of updated methodologies.
Technical Troubleshooting: Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve complex technical problems.
Quality Monitoring: Collaborate with laboratory leadership to monitor and maintain the quality of laboratory procedures, ensuring results remain within established control limits.
NCEP Completion: Assist with the successful completion of NCEPs.
Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in IHC, embedding, and microtomy.
Education and Training: Contribute to the continuing education and training of histotechnicians.

22. Clinical Histotechnologist Roles

Histology Benchwork: Perform standard histology benchwork, including embedding, cutting, special stains, and immunohistochemistry with accuracy and efficiency.
Equipment Maintenance: Maintain laboratory areas and equipment in proper working order.
Quality Control: Perform and document assigned quality control activities.
Specimen Accessioning: Accession and gross specimens.
Cytospin Preparation: Prepare cytospin samples.
Reagent Management: Inventory, prepare, and maintain laboratory reagents and control slides.
Independent Work: Carry out tasks of a Clinical Histotechnologist I with increased independence.
Staff Training: Participate in the orientation and training of laboratory staff.
Workload Planning: Assist with daily workload planning to optimize available resources.
SOP Support: Support revisions of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Specimen Guidance: Answer routine questions regarding specimen requirements.
Project Assistance: Complete assigned special projects.
Quality Management: Contribute to operations beyond routine testing by assisting with quality management initiatives or new test validations under supervision.

23. Clinical Histotechnologist Tasks

Equipment Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot basic equipment or assay issues with minimal assistance.
Laboratory Representation: Represent the laboratory in meetings to address interdepartmental and technical issues.
Procedure Writing: Write and update procedures.
Problem Investigation: Investigate problems with procedures and equipment to ensure timely resolution.
Laboratory Planning: Participate in planning for future laboratory needs, including workload adjustments, staffing, workspace, equipment, and available tests.
Specimen Guidance: Provide expert guidance on complex specimen requirements.
Research Collaboration: Collaborate directly with pathologists on internal research projects.
Data Collection: Assist in gathering retrospective or prospective data for research, including papers, posters, and abstracts.
Operational Improvement: Work with laboratory management to improve operations, evaluate new technologies, streamline workflow strategies, and organize quality management records.
Technical Instruction: Instruct clinicians and staff in histology techniques.
Work Prioritization: Determine case priority and assign work accordingly.
Process Improvement: Support the implementation of process improvement initiatives.

24. Histotechnologist Essential Functions

Histological Procedures: Perform both STAT and routine histological procedures, including the preparation, processing, and staining of patient tissue samples before microscopic examination and diagnosis by a pathologist or dermatopathologist.
Professional Interaction: Interact professionally with physicians, nurses, and other allied health staff to provide helpful information about test availability and histology services.
Specimen Collection: Collect tissue specimens and prepare them for processing.
Histology Techniques: Perform basic and advanced histological techniques to support accurate pathology diagnoses.
Staining Procedures: Carry out staining procedures, including special stains (histochemistry) and immunohistochemistry.
Equipment Operation: Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot specialized histology equipment and instruments.
Tissue Processing: Process fresh and fixed tissue specimens for surgical, autopsy, or research purposes under appropriate supervision.
Quality Control: Perform assigned quality control procedures to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Activity Documentation: Accurately document all quality control and preventive maintenance activities on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Corrective Actions: Record any corrective actions taken, including the date and initials of the individual responsible.

25. Histotechnologist Additional Details

Procedure Knowledge: Understand histological procedures and underlying theories within areas of assigned responsibility.
Tissue Preparation: Prepare and stain human tissue specimens according to established protocols, ensuring cellular structures or substances are visible for evaluation by a pathologist (this assists in determining tissue morphology and diagnosing disease progression).
Chemical Preparation: Prepare chemical solutions, perform special mountings and stains, and carry out related support tasks.
Unit Support: Support the Cutaneous Surgery and Oncology Unit, with flexibility to rotate to other clinical sites.
Frozen Tissue Processing: Embed, section, and stain frozen tissue samples for the Mohs histology laboratory to enable immediate microscopic evaluation by physicians.
Laboratory Maintenance: Assist in the setup, breakdown, and routine maintenance of the Mohs laboratory.
Inventory Management: Maintain and manage supply inventory for the Mohs laboratory to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Schedule Review: Review the phone screening schedule regularly to verify whether slides have been requested in advance.
Slide Submission: Submit slides received from referring physicians for official pathology reading, and log all outside slides into a centralized tracking database.
Specimen Grossing: Perform grossing of tissue specimens as part of the histological workflow.
Core Histology: Conduct core histology tasks, including embedding, microtomy (cutting), staining, and cover-slipping of slides for microscopic analysis.
Special Staining: Carry out special staining and immunohistochemistry procedures for diagnostic accuracy.
Microscopic Examination: Examine prepared slides under a microscope to ensure that tissue quality meets laboratory standards and diagnostic requirements.

Relevant Information

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