Histopathology Technician (Advanced)

Veterans Health Administration • Louisville, KY

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a non-supervisory Advanced Level Histopathology Technician position in the Laboratory of the Anatomic Pathology section of the Robley Rex Medical Center, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. The role carries a higher level of technical oversight, and the technician is expected to independently perform assigned tasks of considerable difficulty. The technician performs difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical procedures; may develop, modify, or adapt staining methods and improve routine histotechnology procedures; and troubleshoots instruments and resolves problems. The full performance level and actual grade for the vacancy are GS-7.

The technician maintains specimen integrity and identification throughout accessioning and processing, tests surgical tissues, body fluids, and non-gynecological specimens, and assists the Anatomic Pathologist by grossing biopsy specimens. Work includes complex tissue preparation, frozen sections, routine histological techniques, special stains, immunohistochemistry, and processing and staining non-Gyn, Gyn, and FNA specimens according to departmental procedures and turnaround-time guidelines. The position also includes quality control and assurance documentation, maintaining the Safety Data Sheet inventory, and courteous communication and service as part of a healthcare team.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Physical requirements include intermittent moderate lifting, light carrying, use of fingers and both hands, walking and standing, bending, possible prolonged stooping and kneeling, color discrimination, near vision, hearing, working closely with others, and wearing required personal protective equipment. The work requires concentration and accuracy in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities, as well as emotional stability in difficult or stressful situations.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy because qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• One year of qualifying healthcare-field experience, or qualifying education, or an acceptable combination of experience and education for entry-level qualification.
• For the GS-07 Advanced level, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Demonstrated skill applying complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories to new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.
• Ability to provide technical oversight of laboratory quality-control and quality-assurance procedures and performance improvement, including reagent and supply inventory management and document control.
• Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment, and perform complex instrument troubleshooting.
• Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, required onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Meet the described physical and sensory requirements, including lifting, carrying, hand use, walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, color discrimination, near vision, hearing, and wearing required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of histology and cytology.
• Skills in embedding, cutting (microtoming), grossing biopsies, immunohistochemistry, and special stains.
• Histopathology Technician (HT) or Histopathology Technologist (HTL) certification.

Responsibilities

• Maintain specimen integrity and identification from initial accessioning through the entire specimen-processing procedure.
• Help ensure accurate testing and prevent errors, poor quality, or misrepresentation of test results.
• Perform testing of surgical tissues, body fluids, and non-gynecological specimens through the entire process.
• Assist the Anatomic Pathologist by grossing biopsy specimens.
• Dissect specimens and determine appropriate tissue orientation and selection.
• Perform complex tissue procedures, including preparing frozen sections for rapid diagnosis during surgery.
• Perform routine histological techniques, including fixation, embedding, cutting, and H&E staining.
• Perform special stains, including H&E, PAS, AFB, Mucicarmine, Giemsa, Gram stain, Iron, and silver stains such as Reticulum and Bielschowsky; control staining procedures to achieve precise results.
• Perform, interpret quality, and maintain the integrity of special procedures such as immunohistochemistry and Thin Prep for diagnostic purposes, using the respective automated systems.
• Prepare and process non-Gyn (body fluid), Gyn, and FNA specimens and stain them according to departmental procedures, turnaround-time requirements, and cytological guidelines.
• Perform and document quality-control and quality-assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance.
• Maintain the Safety Data Sheet inventory and ensure SDS sheets are provided to the Industrial Hygienist for database uploading.
• Provide courteous, effective communication and service as a member of the healthcare team.
• Organize work and set priorities to meet deadlines.
• Develop, modify, or adapt staining methods and techniques and improve existing routine histotechnology methods as needed.
• Troubleshoot anatomic pathology laboratory instruments and resolve problems.
• Provide technical oversight of laboratory quality-control and quality-assurance procedures, performance improvement, reagent and supply inventories, and document-control systems.
• Validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment, and use independent technical judgment to evaluate results and resolve problems.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed