Histopathology Technologist (Autopsy Assistant)

Full Job Description

The Histopathology Technologist / Autopsy Assistant independently performs a full range of routine and specialized tests.

As an Autopsy Assistant to the Pathologist or to the Pathologists' Assistant, the Histopathology Technologist prepares bodies for post-mortem examinations, assists in removing and weighing organs, maintains the morgue and its instruments, and release bodies to funeral homes following proper procedures.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

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. Education.

Individuals must meet one of the requirements below: (1) 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, (2) 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, (3) 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Certification. (1) Candidates must currently possess the histotechnologist (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 histotechnician or histotechnology 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.

This exception only applies at the entry level. 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-7-Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. 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: (a) Knowledge of laboratory information technology systems and inter-connectivity.

(b) 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.

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

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

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

Preferred Experience: Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in biology and chemistry, successful completion of a NAACLS accredited Histotechnician or Histotechnologist program, and ASCP Certification as Histotechnologist, HTL(ASCP).

Hospital laboratory experience with Fixation, Processing, Embedding, Microtomy, and Staining.

Hospital experience assisting with human autopsies including preparing bodies for post-mortem examinations, removing and weighing organs, maintaining the morgue and instruments, and releasing bodies to funeral homes.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-09.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.

May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Major Duties:

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Specimen Reception and Processing Follows all safety guidelines and works with great care in handling specimens, using task ­appropriate personal protective equipment including face shields, masks, gloves, and laboratory coats, as appropriate.

Receives and accessions specimens using appropriate techniques, ensuring proper identification, traceability, and accountability.

Handles various types of human tissue, including receiving, checking, accepting, timing, logging, storing, and/or shipping as necessary. Prints cassettes according to specimen protocols.

Places specimens and cassettes neatly and in an orderly manner on grossing carts to avoid specimen mix-up.

Properly disposes of biological and chemical waste according to safety protocols and regulations.

Gross Examination and Sectioning Following appropriate training and competency assessment, performs all elements of gross examination and dictation of all types of anatomic pathology specimens.

Surgical Pathology & Cytology Ensures tissues are properly oriented when embedded according to established procedures, which vary depending on the type of specimen (e.g., positioning shave biopsies on edge, core biopsies flattened to display maximum tissue).

Processes, embeds, sections, labels, and stains all types of surgical pathology specimens. Processes all cytological specimens, including sputa, body secretions, fluids, and fine needle aspirates.

Prepares specimens using filter technique. Stains cytological specimens separately and performs special stains when required.

Special Studies and Staining Teaches and trains other laboratory personnel to perform immunohistochemistry, special stains, and H&E staining.

Maintains control material needed for special and immunohistochemistry stains (files of blocks and slides).

Knows which stain to use to demonstrate tissue elements and properties and can interpret positive and negative controls used for these procedures.

Microscopically examines all Special Stain Controls and lmmunohistochemistry (IHC) Controls for adequacy before giving cases to pathologists.

Rejects or repeats stains if the control slide is inadequate.

Stains tissue sections using special stains as required, including, but not limited to, Acid Fast, Aldan Blue, Congo Red, Iron, Methenamine Silver, PAS-Schiff, and Trichrome.

Performs complex immunohistochemical stains. Prepares tissue sections for special enzymatic studies according to current protocol.

Collaborates with pathologists to select blocks/tissues from cases to use as positive controls for special/immunohistochemistry staining procedures and provides the stained sections to the pathologist for evaluation of the control slides to determine their acceptability as controls.

Prepares, labels, and stores routine and special fixatives.

Cytology Procedures Assists pathologists with Fine Needle Aspirations, Image Guided Aspirations, and other cytological Rapid onsite Evaluations {ROSE).

Labels slides and prepares smears during cytology procedures. Maintains stains on the Fine Needle Aspiration cart, and changes stains and solutions as needed.

Maintains supplies on the FNA Cart, ensuring that all materials are present and in date. Autopsy Functions as Assistant to the Pathologist or the Pathologists' Assistant for autopsy procedures.

Prepares bodies for post-mortem examination, assists in removing and weighing organs, maintains the morgue and instruments. Releases bodies to funeral homes following proper procedures.

Equipment and Quality Control Maintains and operates instruments according to manufacturer instructions and maintains preventive maintenance records. Maintains daily quality control records.

Troubleshoots any surgical or cytology issues and reports the issue and resolution to the AP supervisor.

Reports all malfunctions or issues with any instruments to Biomed promptly and informs AP Supervisor.

Shipping and Handling Performs the full range of send-out processes for anatomic pathology samples, including manifest preparation, packaging, and labeling.

Ships slides, blocks, tissue, and/or paperwork according to established protocols when requested. Work Schedule: 5am to 1:30pm; Monday-Friday Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01414F; 01415F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized