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Histopathology Technologist
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
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Histopathology Technologist
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
| The histopathology technologist independently performs a full range of routine and specialized tests. Utilize information technology systems to apply histopathology techniques and broad scientific principles from the fields of biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. The histopathology technologist acts as a technical resource, troubleshooting a variety of specialized lab tests, identifying suboptimal issues, and uses independent judgment and resources to resolve concerns. MAJOR DUTIES Prepares Blocks and Slides - Prepares and processes surgically removed tissue, autopsy tissue and body fluids such as sputum, spinal fluid, bronchial washings and brushings, percutaneous lung aspirates, chest, abdominal cavity and joint fluids, cervical-vaginal smears, and urine and bladder washings for their ultimate slide preparations, staining and microscopic diagnosis by the pathologist. - Performs fixation, the stabilization of protein, on tissue and body fluids to penetrate the tissue and kill it quickly so as to preserve the tissue elements, particularly the nuclei, in the condition in which they are at the moment the fixing agent acts on them and to harden them so they will not be altered by the various processing procedures. - Processes tissue through dehydration in graded alcohols, clearing in various solvents and impregnating or infiltrating in a liquid paraffin-like solution. - Orients and embeds tissue into paraffin blocks. Performs decalcification on ossified tissue and bone marrow biopsies recognizing the correct degree of decalcification. Carefully processes preparations to preserve and maintain the delicate microscopic architecture of the tissue; avoiding damage by over-decalcification while ensuring adequate decalcification to allow for proper cutting of the sections. - Prepares cytology specimens by Thin Prep technique and prepares spinal fluids by cyto-centrifugation technique. - As needed, prepares cell blocks from pleural and other bod fluids and cuts all cell blocks, prepares slides and stains them for cytology screening. - When necessary, performs the Papanicolaou stain and fungal stains such as the Grocott' s methenamine silver on cytology slides. - Cuts tissue paraffin blocks on the rotary microtome preparing slides for routine hematoxylin and eosin stain, for special stains, immunohistochemical stains, and immunoperoxidase stains; using a cryostat, cuts frozen tissue sections that have been sent from the operating room or a STAT or immediate diagnosis; also cuts frozen tissue for direct immunofluorescence stains, histochemical stains and fat or lipid stains. - Performs staining of the routine hematoxylin and eosin stain, and special stains that are necessary in many cases to enable the pathologist to arrive at a diagnosis. Performs approximately 40 or more of the routine special stains and as the occasion requires. The incumbent keeps a close check on the quality control to be sure that optimum results have been obtained. - If for any reason difficulties are encountered with special stains, it is the incumbent's responsibility to ascertain why it is not staining properly and to make the necessary corrections to attain the desired results - Performs a wide variety of histochemical stains, i.e. acid and alkaline phosphatase, esterase, etc., and performs immunohistochemical techniques, specifically the immunoperoxidase methods which permit the demonstration of a variety of antigens in routinely processed tissues. The morphological detail obtained by this procedure is comparable to orthodox hematoxylin and eosin stained sections and so offers the diagnostic pathologist the opportunity of simultaneously identifying normal and neoplastic cells both by their morphological characteristics and by their antigenic constitution. - Mounts all slides with glass cover slips and places labels on each slide with its complete and correct information. - Prepares chemical stains and solutions used in the histology laboratory and as necessary for the cytology 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. Incumbent also maintains adequate fixing, dehydrating, clearing and staining solutions on hand at all times. - Performs special stains and immunohistological stains. - Prepares slides, fixatives, stains to attain an optimal cytological sample sufficient for diagnosis of CT guided FNA or bedside FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration) procedures. - Assists supervisor in evaluation of methodologies for use in the histology section. Applies knowledge of underlying principles and scientific knowledge in evaluating guidelines and approaches to problems and new techniques in predicting test performance. - Develops and validates and ensures that all procedures and policies are maintained and current. - Participates in the review and evaluation of histology's program objectives and compliance with regulatory agencies. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD21S95A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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Internal Number: 608298600
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
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