Histopathology Technologist

Full Job Description

As crucial members of the pathology and laboratory medicine service, histopathology technologists possess broad knowledge of biological sciences and the skills necessary to process anatomic pathology specimens.

The work performed by histopathology technologists is vital for pathologists to interpret laboratory results and provide diagnoses and prognoses that allow for planning appropriate and life-saving treatments.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency.

Histopathology Technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education-Transcripts submitted.

Individuals must meet one of the requirements below: Successful completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college or university, leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, that included a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of a histopathology technologist, such as, but not limited to clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy; OR, Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours in both); OR, Successful completion of two years of progressively higher level graduate education, leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, with a major study in an academic field related to health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the position of histopathology technologist, such as clinical biology, microbiology, physiology, pre-medical, medical lab technology, chemistry, immunology, physiology, anatomy.

Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S.

must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials, and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S.

programs. Certification-Submitted if applicable. Candidates must currently possess the histo-technologist (HTL) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification.

The ASCP requires completion of one of the following for a candidate to be considered "board eligible" to take the certification exam: (a) Successful completion of a histo-technician or histo-technology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS); OR, (b) One year of full time experience in all of the following: fixation, embedding, microtomy, processing, and staining in a histopathology (clinical, veterinary, industry, or research) laboratory.

Exception for Non-Board Certified.

Non-board-certified candidates designated by ASCP as "board eligible," who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements, may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

§ 7405(c)(2)(B).

The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a histopathology technologist working under the direct oversight of a supervisor, lab manager, or qualified individual who can verify technical experience.

For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must have HTL certification.

Temporary appointments of non-board-certified histopathology technologists may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment.

Grade Determinations: Histopathology Technologist, GS-9 Experience.

Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity.

Knowledge of histopathology techniques, chemistry, anatomy and physiology principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies sufficient to process specimens, and the ability to perform a full range of routine specialized tests.

Ability to identify and test suboptimal specimens and take corrective action to minimize or eliminate impact on a patient's sample.

Ability to organize, coordinate, and prioritize simultaneous work assignments; both individual and team related.

Skill in applying professional, anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques.

Preferred Experience: Performs all routine histology procedures including accessioning , grossing, embedding, frozen section microtomy, paraffin microtomy, staining.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 9.

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019. Major Duties:

Performs accessioning duties. Receives and accessions specimens, checking documentation of patient demographic data, requesting practitioner, requested procedures, appropriateness of sample.

Instructs doctors and nursing personnel and other personnel in the proper techniques of collection and preparation of the materials desired for testing and diagnosis.

Performs gross examination of biopsies and surgical specimens, exercising focused attention to detail to assure accurate differentiation and reporting.

Performs decalcification on ossified tissue and bone marrow biopsies using the correct degree of decalcification in order to preserve microscopic architecture of the tissue.

Prepares specimens for analysis according to the specifications of the procedure.

Handles all types of human tissue which may include; receiving, checking, accepting, timing, logging, storing and/or shipping, if necessary.

Using an understanding of anatomy and tissue identification, the incumbent properly orients tissue specimens for embedding into paraffin wax.

Embedding techniques must allow tissue to be hardened in paraffin on one plane and oriented with the least surface resistance for proper sectioning.

Recognizes origin and type of tissues and properly orients and cuts small or complex specimens. Sections paraffin blocks of tissue on the rotary or motorized microtome.

Sections are cut at proper thickness (1-10 microns) according to tissue type or as required for special staining procedures. Sections contain a minimal, unavoidable number of artifacts.

Accessions and processes cytological specimens including sputa, body secretions, fluids and fine needle aspirates as assigned.

Stains cytological specimens separately and performs special stains when required. Photography of gross specimens and maintenance of a teaching collection of gross and microscopic photographs.

Performs preparation of Frozen Sections for rapid interpretation/diagnosis of tissue during surgery.

Orients, cuts and stains skin and other surgical specimens using a cryostat and rapid staining techniques to prepare quality sections free of artifacts.

Collects, harvests, and processes control material used in Histology. Establishes and monitors reference values ad ranges for quality control blocks to assure the accuracy and validity of results.

Teaches and trains other laboratory personnel to perform immunohistochemical and stains.

Under the direction of the supervisor maintains QA files of blocks and slides needed to perform special stains and immunohistochemistry stains in the laboratory.

Stains tissue sections using special stains as required, including, but not limited to Acid Fast, Alcian Blue, Congo Red, Fontana-Masson, Giemsa, Gram, Iron, Melanin, Methenamine Silver, Mucicarmine, PAS-Schiff, and Trichrome.

Incumbent should know which stain to employ to demonstrate particular tissue elements and properties (e.g.

Congo Red for amyloid, Fontana-Masson for melanin) and be able to interpret positive controls used for these procedures.

As special staining requires microscopic differentiation for acceptance, the incumbent examines the slides microscopically and accepts or rejects them on the basis of proper staining reaction within the control slides.

The incumbent is able to troubleshoot all problems with special staining procedures and implements changes.

All decisions involving tissue preparation for light microscopy are determined through experience and knowledge of histopathology.

Prepares all stains and chemical solutions with a competent, practical knowledge of chemistry.

This includes alteration and standardization of pH and concentration of the solutions (percent, molar and/or normal), reagents, buffers and stains, using pH meters, analytical balances and mixers.

Since many of these reagents and solutions are toxic, caustic or flammable (e.g. formaldehyde, acids, alcohols).

Performs complex immunohistochemical stains and procedures including, but not limited to, special pre-treatment procedures, antigen retrieval, enzymatic digestion, antibody diluting, and titers, immunoflourescence, enzyme immunohistochemistry and frozen section microtomy.

Troubleshoots and corrects problems with these procedures and maintains records and QA data as necessary. Prepares chemical stains and solutions used in the histology laboratory, i.e.

hematoxylin solution, according to directions from laboratory guidelines, buffering the solutions and checking the pH as necessary.

These stains and solutions must be of excellent quality in order to ensure that the tissue will yield the maximum diagnostic information.

.Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800 AM-4:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 40984F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized