Histotechnician

What you'll do

This role is about preparing tissue specimens so pathologists can make diagnoses. You'll work with samples from OR, outpatient, and outreach sources. Every step from processing to staining needs your attention because the results matter for patient care.

• Receive and log specimens into the computer; label each one and check it meets acceptance criteria. This takes focus right from the start.
• Help the pathologist with frozen sections while surgeons wait on results ; usually within 15 minutes. That means handling a cryostat with good manual dexterity. You'll also prep estrogen/progesterone receptor assays, electron microscopy, and immunology samples for reference labs.
• Embed surgical, autopsy, and research specimens into paraffin blocks. You need to know tissue types and how to orient them correctly. The target is 40 blocks per hour on average, and it's tracked.
• Cut thin sections at 2 to 4 microns using a microtome. This calls for steady hands, sharp eyes, and detail awareness. Expectation is 20 blocks per hour on average.
• Stain slides ; both routine and special stains ; which requires visual acuity plus understanding of staining chemistry. You'll mix solutions as needed.
• Coverslip slides using automated equipment and send them out to pathologists. Mistakes here could affect a patient's diagnosis.
• Run quality control and quality assurance checks during and after processes on all instruments. You need solid knowledge of how things work in this lab.
• File slides and paraffin blocks for future reference and retrieval. Off campus travel is part of this: you'll occasionally go get or return blocks/slides for consultations or conferences.
• Tackle specialized procedures like bone marrow assisting, immunohistochemistry, leukemia stains, etc., including making solutions as needed.
• Do research and development on new procedures when required. Other duties come up too ; flexibility matters here.

What you bring

• A High School diploma or GED is required.
• You must hold an HT (Histotechnician) registration from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Experience & training

The job expects two to three years of post high school training plus two to three years of previous experience in histology. On top of that, plan on about three to six months learning this specific lab's workflow once you start.

Schedule

The hours are night shift with 40 scheduled hours per week in the Surgical Pathology department at Columbus, OH.

Benefits & compensation

• The posting doesn't list a specific pay range or benefit details beyond standard employer offerings ; reach out directly for specifics based on your situation.

A note about this organization