Histology Assistant 1

Inova Health; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Inova Health in Fairfax, VA is seeking a Histology Assistant 1 to obtain and process pathology specimens, assist histology technicians, and maintain laboratory equipment to ensure quality preparation. The role involves following SOPs, regulatory compliance, staining, labeling, QA tasks, and supporting autopsy and cytology workflows.

The candidate should have a High School diploma or equivalent; experience is not required.

Qualifications

• Education required: High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience not required.

Responsibilities

• Follows SOPs and regulatory guidelines (CAP, JCAHO, Medicare, OSHA, FDA).
• Obtains and processes specimens to prepare cytology preparations.
• Maintains laboratory equipment and organizes specimens for processing.
• Labels slides and cassettes accurately; supports autopsy prep and morgue areas as needed.
• Performs QA tasks and clerical duties as required.
• Assists with FNA and bone marrow specimen collection when required.

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Histology Assistant 1 obtains and processes pathology specimens maintaining positive specimen identification, assist histology technicians, and maintain laboratory equipment to ensure the quality preparation of all specimens. Performs all clerical and computer tasks necessary to support the quality operation of the department. Performs frozen section staining, cover-slip and appropriately label slides to aid in diagnostic evaluation. Communicates to maintain team knowledge, demonstrates knowledge of regulatory standards in order to satisfy compliance requirements, and participates in professional growth opportunities to enhance personal, team, and department development.

Job Responsibilities

Follows site specific SOPs, manuals, and instructions; Follows regulatory agency guidelines (CAP, JCAHO, Medicare, OSHA, state, FDA); Stays informed: attends meetings or reads minutes; signs off on changes, in a timely manner; reads e-mail; reads/watches informational memos/articles/videos; Understand principles and procedures of specimen processing in order to prepare the best cytological preparation, in an independent manner, according to established procedures.

Maintains laboratory equipment in a clean and operational state, according to established procedures; Demonstrates troubleshooting skills and corrective action skills with any instrument or specimen error; Obtains and organizes specimens correctly for further processing, according to established procedures.

Processes specimens in appropriate fixatives or decalcification agents, to include special lymph node defatting procedures, and preparation of flow cytometry media, according to established procedures; Labels cassettes accurately, according to established procedures; Maintains grossing stations and frozen section rooms in a clean and operational state, according to established procedures; Handles slides, blocks, and tissues (to include filing, retrieval, and disposal) in a timely and accurate manner, according to established procedures.

Organizes periodic QA materials for pathology peer review, in a timely manner, according to established procedures.; Accessions specimens, order procedures, enter level charges, and generate slide labels quickly and accurately in the L.I.S., according to established procedures; Orders supplies to maintain adequate inventory levels at all times, according to established procedures.

Processes send outs accurately and completely, according to established procedures; Performs cover-slip and appropriately label slides to aid in diagnostic evaluation; Cover-slips stained slides quickly and uniformly ensuring they are clean, neat, and free of artifacts, according to established procedures; Labels slides accurately, matching slides to correct protocol, according to established procedures.

Prepares and maintains the morgue and autopsy areas, according to established procedures; Assist the pathologist with autopsies, to possibly include opening and closing of the body, according to established procedures and to the satisfaction of the pathologist; Processes, prepares, and stains cytology specimens to ensure quality results and accurate diagnosis by the cytologist/pathologist; Assists with FNA and bone marrow specimen collection and slide preparation, according to established procedures; Maintains optimal technical quality in preparation and staining of slides, according to established procedures.

Performs necessary QA and clerical duties, according to established procedures.

Responsible for cutting and stating frozen sections for intraoperative consultations at hospital sites of care only as this is specific to the Operating Room/Pathology Department workflow.

May perform additional duties as assigned.

Additional Requirements

Certification - None RequiredLicensure - None RequiredExperience - None RequiredEducation - High School diploma or equivalent.