Histopathology Technician (Advanced)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Louisville, KY

47d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a non-supervisory Advanced Level Histopathology Technician position in Laboratory of the Anatomic Pathology section of the Robley Rex Medical Center, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight, and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently. Functions include but not limited to: Maintaining specimen integrity and identification from initial accessioning and through the entire specimen processing procedure. Responsible and accountable for testing surgical tissues, body fluids, and non-gyn specimen through the entire process, because of the nature and source the of specimens, additional specimen cannot be retrieved, hence, the technician must avoid any technical or manual mistakes always. Assistant to the Anatomic Pathologist by performing grossing of biopsy specimens. Advanced skills in specimen dissection and expert knowledge of proper orientation and appropriate tissue selection are required. Performs a variety of extremely difficult, delicate and complex tissue including the preparation of frozen sections for rapid diagnosis of tissue during surgery. Performs a wide variety of special stains such as H&E, PAS, AFB, Mucicarmine, Giemsa, Gram Stain, Iron, Sliver Stains such as Reticulum, Bielschowsky using automatic or manual methodologies and is able to control the staining procedures used in microscopic differentiation to achieve precise staining results. Performs, interprets quality, maintains the integrity of special procedures such as lmmunohistochemistry and Thin Prep for diagnostic purposes using automated IHC Staining System and Thin Prep 2000 System respectively. Knowledge and application of a wide variety of fixatives to include 10%buffered neutral Formalin, Michelle's medium, Glutaraldehyde, RPMI-1640, etc. the incumbent should have the skills to process tissue (with the proper fixatives), paraffin embedding, microtomy and tissue sectioning at the right thickness or microns, and tissue staining techniques. Prepares and processes Non-Gyn (Body Fluids), Gyn and FNAs specimens and stains according to departmental procedures and Turnaround Time with Cytological guidelines and state of the art methodologies. Assists the pathologist during FNAs at the CAT Scan, patient's bedside when necessary or requested. Prepares and cuts tissue specimens for frozen sections for rapid diagnosis and interpretation of tissue sections during surgery. Organizes & prioritizes workload, example: rush biopsies and responsible for the operation and maintenance of all Histology/Cytology equipment; Daily quality control and preventive maintenance and trouble shoot instruments and record the corrective actions. Inventory of reagents, receiving, labelling, and recording them for inventory purposes. Operates and maintains Xylene solvent recycler, Tissue Processors, Cryostats, H&E stainer, specialstains stainer, IHC stainer, embedding equipment, and other equipment in the cytology lab, perform other ancillary duties involving tissue disposal, daily maintenance of bench work, gross room, morgue, and other duties as assigned. Store the blocks and slides in the storage shelf; pulls slides and blocks for clinicians and pathology staff for reference on diagnostic studies and for research/teaching. Maintains Safety Data Sheet (SDS) inventory, ensuring all SDS sheets are provided to the Industrial Hygienist for uploading into database. Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.

Requirements

Advanced skills in specimen dissection and expert knowledge of proper orientation and appropriate tissue selection are required.
The incumbent should have the skills to process tissue (with the proper fixatives), paraffin embedding, microtomy and tissue sectioning at the right thickness or microns, and tissue staining techniques.

Responsibilities

Maintaining specimen integrity and identification from initial accessioning and through the entire specimen processing procedure.
Responsible and accountable for testing surgical tissues, body fluids, and non-gyn specimen through the entire process
Assistant to the Anatomic Pathologist by performing grossing of biopsy specimens.
Performs a variety of extremely difficult, delicate and complex tissue including the preparation of frozen sections for rapid diagnosis of tissue during surgery.
Performs a wide variety of special stains such as H&E, PAS, AFB, Mucicarmine, Giemsa, Gram Stain, Iron, Sliver Stains such as Reticulum, Bielschowsky using automatic or manual methodologies and is able to control the staining procedures used in microscopic differentiation to achieve precise staining results.
Performs, interprets quality, maintains the integrity of special procedures such as lmmunohistochemistry and Thin Prep for diagnostic purposes using automated IHC Staining System and Thin Prep 2000 System respectively.
Knowledge and application of a wide variety of fixatives to include 10%buffered neutral Formalin, Michelle's medium, Glutaraldehyde, RPMI-1640, etc.
Prepares and processes Non-Gyn (Body Fluids), Gyn and FNAs specimens and stains according to departmental procedures and Turnaround Time with Cytological guidelines and state of the art methodologies.
Assists the pathologist during FNAs at the CAT Scan, patient's bedside when necessary or requested.
Organizes & prioritizes workload, example: rush biopsies and responsible for the operation and maintenance of all Histology/Cytology equipment
Inventory of reagents, receiving, labelling, and recording them for inventory purposes.
Operates and maintains Xylene solvent recycler, Tissue Processors, Cryostats, H&E stainer, specialstains stainer, IHC stainer, embedding equipment, and other equipment in the cytology lab, perform other ancillary duties involving tissue disposal, daily maintenance of bench work, gross room, morgue, and other duties as assigned.
Store the blocks and slides in the storage shelf; pulls slides and blocks for clinicians and pathology staff for reference on diagnostic studies and for research/teaching.
Maintains Safety Data Sheet (SDS) inventory, ensuring all SDS sheets are provided to the Industrial Hygienist for uploading into database.
Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines.