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Histotechnologist/Histologic Technician

Histology is the study of tissue. The histologic technician is a medical laboratory technician who specializes in preparing sections of body tissues for microscopic examination by a pathologist. Through the examination of tissue section, the pathologist is able to diagnose body dysfunction and malignancy. Cancer can often be detected on the arrangement of cells in a tissue sample. Once a sample is taken from the patient, it is sent to the laboratory. It is the job of the histologic technician to prepare the tissue which includes freezing and cutting of the tissue then mounting it on slides and staining it to make the details visible. With the information learned from the section of tissue biopsy, the pathologist and the surgeon are able to find out if disease is present and if it has spread. They can then decide on the best course of treatment for the patient.

The histologic technician must work quickly and under pressure since the answers may be needed while the patient is in surgery. The histologic technician works with fragile, delicate instruments as well as knives, chemicals and glass slides. He or she must value precision and be comfortable working with objects. The more complex procedures are performed by the histotechnologist.

Job Outlook
The demand is not quite as great for histotechnologists as it is for medical technologists, because it is a more-specialized field. However, opportunities are still good in major metropolitan medical facilities.

Educational Requirements
To become a histotechnologist, a baccalaureate degree is required with a concentrated study in biological sciences and math, plus one year of postgraduate study in a laboratory school. Voluntary certification of both levels is offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. A histologic technician requires two years in a pathology laboratory or one year in an accredited clinical program in histologic techniques.

Voluntary certification of both levels is offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Area of study will include medical terminology, chemistry, laboratory mathematics, anatomy, histology, histochemistry, quality control, instrumentation and microscopy.

Educational Programs - Illinois