Cytologist - Pathology

CHRISTUS Health; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health is seeking a Cytotechnologist to prepare and analyze slides from blood, tissue, and body fluids. You will classify specimens, manage LIS data, and maintain quality control per CLIA and CAP standards.

Responsibilities include staining, operating ThinPrep and AP equipment, and assisting pathologists with aspirates. A bachelor’s in science and ASCP eligibility are required, with 1–2 years of experience and annual certification kept current.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or equivalent required.
• 1-2 years of experience required; 2-3 years in high complexity testing preferred.
• Cytotechnologist (ASCP) or eligible; must maintain annual certification membership.

Responsibilities

• Enter patient information, orders, and technical data into LIS.
• Perform routine and special stains to prepare slides for microscopic evaluation.
• Operate staining, ThinPrep, coverslippers and AP equipment to provide quality slides.
• Assist Pathologists with fine needle aspirations.
• Identify abnormal findings and report to Pathologist using morphologic criteria.
• Maintain QC/QA records per CLIA, CAP, JCAHO, OSHA guidelines.
• Maintain daily and periodic equipment maintenance and restock supplies.
• Participate in safety, infection control and hazardous materials protocols.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Quality control

Microscopy technique

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science or equivalent

Cytotechnologist (ASCP) or eligible

Annual certification membership requirement

Tools

LIS

Staining equipment

ThinPrep equipment

Coverslippers

Job description

Description

Summary: Follows established standard practices: Prepares and stains microscopic slides from specimens of blood, tissue scrapings, and body fluids. Examines cells of the human body to detect evidence of cancer, abnormalities, and other pathological conditions. Categories slides, records classification, compiles listings of patients for follow-up analysis, and reports all unusual cell structures or abnormalities to the Pathologist. Addresses all daily operations of the cytology laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Customer Service
• Enters patient information, orders, and technical information into LIS.
• Within acceptable TAT guidelines, devises and directs performance of routine and special stains to provide appropriate slides for the microscopic evaluation of tissues, fluids, and other cytopathology specimens.
• Operates staining equipment, ThinPrep equipment, coverslippers and other AP equipment to provide quality slides for examinations.
• Performs manual stains, as needed, to provide quality slides for examinations.
• Assists Pathologists with fine needle aspirations.
• Using the microscope and stained slides, identifies and mark all unusual findings in the specimen using accepted morphologic criteria.
• Examines and evaluates the cell sample for the presence or absence of normal/abnormal cellular patterns; assesses malignant, pre-malignant, inflammatory, and benign changes.
• Refers to cellular changes that meet guidelines for supervisor and/or pathologist review.
• Quality Control / Improvement: performs analysis and records QC according to policy and procedure following CLIA, CAP, and Joint Commission guidelines and standards.
• Maintenance/Lab Management: performs established daily and periodic preventative maintenance with documentation; troubleshoots minor problems and initiates service calls as needed; orders and restocks supplies/reagents; reviews policy & procedure manual; dates reagents and discards expired reagents.
• Continuing Education/Development: attends, reads, or listens by tape to material of 10-12 in-house educational programs yearly; trains new staff in practices
• Completes tasks or special projects within the time frame as assigned, or as requested by Supervisors, Managers, or Directors.
• Accreditation: follows CAP, AABB, Compliance, CLIA, JCAHO, and OSHA standards and prepares/participates in all applicable inspections.
• Follows established protocols for safety, infection control, security, compliance, and the use of hazardous materials.

Education/Skills

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in science or equivalent required

Experience

• 1-2 years of experience required
• 2-3 years of experience in high complexity testing in an acute care hospital setting preferred

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Cytotechnologist (ASCP) or eligible
• Must obtain Annual Membership (current) with certification agency

Work Schedule

5 Days - 8 Hours

Work Type

Full Time