Histotechnologist - Pathology Laboratory

Job Description

Responsible for cutting, staining and preparing tissue samples for the pathologist to review.  Is also responsible for prioritizing all tasks to ensure that testing is completed in a timely manner.  Must be reliable, hardworking and able to work independently with minimal supervision.  Must also have strong team work skills which allow for collaborative work with our providers and staff. 

Minimum Requirements:

Must satisfy the educational and experience requirements of CLIA/CAP which include but not limited to:

A minimum of 3 years of experience with proven excellent histology skills including proficiency in processing tissues, embedding, grossing, microtomy, special stains and immunohistochemical stains.  Must also satisfy CLIA standards for grossing surgical specimens.

A minimum of an Associate degree including coursework in chemistry and biology or completion of a histotechnician (HT) program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is also required.

Job duties and functions:

• Works under the direction of the Lab Director while following established procedures for processing biological specimens for analysis.


• Verifies specimen validity, identification and requisition.


• Performs gross dissection, fixation, processing and embedding of the tissue.


• Assists in filling slides and blocks, as well as setting up solutions for special stains.


• Performs and also oversees the cutting of tissue.


• Maintains supplies and inventory lists for the lab


• Establishes protocols and quality controls for all lab functions and ensures that these controls comply with state and federal regulations


• Maintains a clean and organized workspace and ensures that equipment and instruments are maintained according to product specifications.


• Demonstrates fiscal responsibility and recognizes the need for cost containment by following practices that minimize waste.


• Maintains knowledge of departmental processes and protocols, participates in learning opportunities, all-staff training sessions, special projects, etc. as directed by the site manager.


• Follows HIPAA guidelines at all times to ensure that patient privacy is always protected.

Physical and Environmental Expectations:

• Prolonged standing or sitting at various stations throughout the day.


• Handling of chemicals is a routine part of this role.  Examples of those chemicals are: Xylene, formalin and reagents.


• Must occasionally be able to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.


• Continuous fine motor movements and coordination is required all tissue processing steps. This involves repetitive hand and wrist movements.


• Visual acuity and a strong attention to detail is required for quality assurance.


• Employees in the Pathology Laboratory must be able to work in an environment with noticeable chemical smells and consistent mechanical noise.  This is due to the presence of chemicals in the lab as well as the continuous operation of tissue processing equipment. 

 HIPAA/PHI Security Level: HIGH (Low, Medium, or High)

Indicate the security access level of Protected Health Information (PHI) as necessary to perform essential key responsibilities of the position (access, utilize, disclose, store, and/ or dispose of PHI).

1. Low –information access is of general nature representing summary type data rather than specific identifiable demographic or sensitive data.


2. Medium – information access is specific to an individual’s demographics and service information (type of service, services received, dates of service, and provider of service).


3. High – information access is detailed and sensitive to an individual’s demographics, service information, and personal medical history (past/present medical conditions, specifics of medical diagnosis or tests, treatment plans, and family history).

We offer:

• Competitive compensation


• Health dental, vision benefits for full time employees


• Retirement package


• PTO accrual and holiday benefits


• Employee discounts on products and services


• An environment that encourages professional growth and development.

Special note: Due to the unique operational needs of our clinics, we may request that our employees work in a different site from the one they were originally scheduled in.  Sometimes these requests are planned and sometimes they are spontaneous and could be after the employee has reported to work for the day.  Reasons for these requests vary but they are mainly is to ensure coverage in case of high patient volume, unscheduled absences from other staff, etc.  Therefore, we require all our employees to have a valid and unrestricted driver’s license.  Mileage reimbursement will be paid in accordance with our Mileage Reimbursement Policy.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.