SENIOR HISTOLOGY TECHNICIAN, GRADE 12
Classification Standard
Senior Histology Technicians, as lead technicians in a laboratory unit, provide technical supervision of a small staff of subordinate laboratory personnel performing routine technical laboratory work in preparing tissue for microscopic studies for diagnostic, research or training purposes.
Positions in this class are located in laboratory facilities of the Department of Health, Department of Mental Hygiene and State University.
As lead workers, Senior Histology Technicians are characterized by the responsibility for providing technical supervision and training to Histology Technicians and other subordinate laboratory employees in histologic procedures, assisting in guiding staff in the performance of specific tasks, reviewing completed slides for quality of technical work and for performing a variety of non-standardized techniques and procedures requiring delicate and precise preparation. Illustrative of such procedures include the preparation and use of non-standardized and special stains some of which require microscopic differentiation, cutting serial sections of anatomical structures requiring precise positioning and delicate preparation, and performing ultra thin sectioning of tissue for electron microscopic examination.
Senior Histology Technicians are not required to interpret their findings to determine clinical implications or to have professional technical-theoretical knowledge of histology. These factors distinguish Senior Histology Technicians from Medical Technologists who are substantively involved in research or the determination of clinical implications. Typically, Medical Technologists develop and install quality standards and controls and analyze departures from test results form the standpoint of basic scientific problems underlying procedures. They may also interpret some test results to determine clinical implications, design experimental test procedures under general direction and advise higher level professional scientists on the feasibility of alternative test procedures. These assignments require Medical Technologists to possess professional knowledge of basic problems and theories of organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics and other disciplines relating to clinical laboratory work and abilities to apply this knowledge to most procedural problems encountered in the laboratory.
Senior Laboratory Technicians are distinguished from Senior Histology Technicians by the responsibility for performing laboratory tests on specimens of human tissue and body fluids in the areas of clinical chemistry, urinalysis, blood banking and hematology to provide basic data on physiological conditions for interpretation by a physician or professional scientist.
Positions, the incumbents of which prepare slide presentations and make microscopic examinations of slides to detect the presence of cancer cells, are classified as Cytotechnologist.
TYPICAL ACTIVITIES, TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Supervises subordinate laboratory personnel to insure the technical quality of the work.
- Assigns the preparation of specimens based on workload and job specialization, indicating or suggesting appropriate staining and other techniques to meet the specific needs of the physician or scientist in charge.
- Instructs staff in the performance of tasks and job techniques and makes available written instructions, reference materials and supplies.
- Gives on-the-job training to Histology Technicians and subordinate laboratory employees in histologic procedures and practices.
- Answers questions and provides assistance and guidance to staff in the performance of specific tasks.
- Reviews completed slides for quality of technical work.
- Maintains records of slide production.
- Requisitions and maintains supplies.
Performs the activities and tasks described on the classification standard for Histology Technician, Occ. Code 6220200. Senior Histology Technicians also perform complex and non-standardized procedures in the preparation of slides for microscopic study such as qualitative histochemical techniques for inorganic and organic substances, and the preparation of tissues for electron microscopy.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
Senior Histology Technicians have regular oral communications with lower level laboratory personnel in providing advice and assistance concerning procedural problems encountered. Incumbents also discuss work assignments and problems with physicians, scientists and pathologists. However, relationships with others is not a classification factor for this class.
NATURE OF SUPERVISION
These positions provide technical supervision over Histology Technicians and other subordinate laboratory personnel. Senior Histology Technicians assign work, provide assistance and training in histologic procedures, and evaluate work for technical correctness.
Senior Histology Technicians work under the general supervision and guidance of medical or scientific personnel who instruct in unusual or special techniques, spot-check work and provide overall direction, control and guidance to the laboratory operation. Senior Histology Technicians generally do not require close technical supervision because of the competence they have achieved and because their work is largely prescribed by detailed written and unwritten guidelines, techniques and standard sources of information.
MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Senior Histology Technicians use such apparatus and materials as the autotechnicon, various stains and chemicals, embedding molds, forceps, glass slides, microscopes, microtomes, paraffin dispensers, tissue freezing machines and tweezers.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Good knowledge of the instruments, materials and techniques of preserving, embedding, slicing, staining and mounting specimens for microscopic examination and analysis.
- Working knowledge of the practical clinical laboratory principles, practices and procedures in histology and of the chemistry and biology involved.
- Working knowledge of clinical laboratory terminology.
- Working knowledge of laboratory safety precautions.
- Working knowledge of staining, freezing and mounting procedures used in preparing slides of clinical specimens.
- Working knowledge of the principles and methods of supervision.
- Ability to follow detailed oral and written instructions.
- Ability to observe variations in color to verify the quality of staining processes to insure that essential features of tissue sections can be properly defined.
- Ability to accurately record observations.
- Ability to perform laboratory work according to rigid medical standards.
- Ability to pay close attention to detail for long periods of time.
- Ability to lead and train subordinate laboratory employees.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
One year of permanent service as a Histology Technician.
Reviewed: 3/03
NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.