Histotechnician

Position: Histotechnician

Location: Los Gatos, CA 95032

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Permanent/Temporary: Permanent

Employment/Contract Work: Employment

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 3 AM - 11:30 AM

Compensation: starting at $43/hr, plus benefits

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• B.S. Science Degree
• ASCP Certification in HT
• 5 years of HT experience including immunohistochemistry
• Medical Laboratory experience

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Grossing if applicable
• Process tissue
• Embed processed tissue into paraffin blocks
• Prepare slides for H&E and special stain
• Cut (microtomy) embedded tissue using rotary microtome
• Make slides cut blocks for re-cuts, special; stains, immunohistochemistry (IHC)
• Cutting deepers and re-cut requests
• Staining slides manually and using the automated slide stainer (Immunohistochemistry and special stains)
• Filter Hematoxylin stain, run and examine H&E test/control slide to ensure tissue and reagent preparation meets the lab requirements
• Label slides for QC
• Maintain stains (make sure stains are not expired)
• Deparaffinize, hydrate slides for specials and IHC’s
• Do heat induced epitope retrieval (HIER) for IHC’s
• Set up and load slides in the IHC stainer
• Order and validate antibodies (Ab’s)
• Hand stain all cytology slides
• Quality Control
• Correct accession error
• Slides and blocks
• Cleaning
• Clean microtome /embedding area
• Clean, change rotate solutions in the processor for tissue
• Clean and maintain the lab instruments (water baths automated slide stainer, IHC stainer, cover slipper, tissue processors and distillation unit)
• Clean paraffin pot
• Disinfect working area daily
• Communicate and problem solve daily work with Dominican Hospital
• Prepare solutions
• Write and type labels for all slides (specials, immunos and re-cuts)
• Coverslipping of stained slides
• Compare the number of blocks with the grossing log sheets
• Prepare eosin stain
• Distribute slides (in house) after QC
• Get priority/non-priority slides ready for couriers
• Assist others as needed
• Complete daily log sheet and submit the monthly report
• Follow ups on temperature records, equipment maintenance logs and safety equipment logs
• Assist pathologist in preparing surgical specimen (grossing)
• Troubleshoot lab equipment
• Answers telephone, fills client stain or recut requests and solves problems
• Files blocks, slides and other records as needed.
• If available, cover the night crew
• Assist in opening and labeling specimen containers/cassettes (PM shift)

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to stand, walk and sit for long periods of time
• Ability to lift, open and move objects
• Ability to practice strict safety precautions when handling biological specimens, chemicals, hazardous waste, sharp and pointed instruments
• Ability to perform laboratory procedures accurately and quickly under stressful conditions and to adapt to changing situations
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, to think logically in the performance of one’s duties and to accept constructive criticism
• Ability to organize, prioritize and assume responsibility for one’s work
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality and to exercise ethical judgment, integrity, honesty, dependability and accountability in the performance of one’s laboratory responsibilities

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $43.00 per hour

Medical Specialty:

• Pathology

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Laboratory: 5 years (Preferred)
• Histology: 5 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• HTL Certification (ASCP) (Preferred)
• HT Certification (ASCP) (Preferred)

Work Location: In person