What does a histotechnician do?
Histotechnicians are clinical laboratory technicians who prepare thin body tissue samples by pathologists. The majority of the technicians work in hospitals or libraries. Among the duties they perform include special stains, filling slides and blocks, send-outs, and re-cuts. They execute routine and complex non-routine special stains like tissue and specimen cutting and embedding. It is also their responsibility to execute routine maintenance and calibrations of microscopes, automated slide strainers, and microtomes.
Histotechnician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real histotechnician resumes:
- Recognize & investigate instrument malfunctions, perform calibrations, manage QC, and maintain comprehensive written records of tests & procedures.
- Perform special staining procedures on specimens with the use of Hematoxylin and Eosin stains.
- General histology technician duties including embedding, cutting and routine, special, and IHC staining.
- Perform routine histology, immunohistochemistry, and special stains by hand, per standard operating procedures.
- Assimilate and report clinical pathology study data to support preclinical submissions to the FDA.
- Support GMP with histology QC report.
- Maintain tissue processors & hematoxylin stain solutions.
- Conduct microtomy on 100K microscopic slides annually.
- Prepare for and pass all OSHA and JCAHO inspections.
- Perform FNA, and stain all the cytology smears.
- Assist in the implementation of the LabLion LIS tracking system.
- Implement new policies and procedures to ensure lab are CLIA compliant.
- Soak embedded blocks in ice water to prevent dehydration before sectioning.
- Take proper steps to ensure compliance with all medical and OSHA standards.
- Serve as lead scientist in gene expression, hematology, and chemistry laboratories.
Histotechnician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Histotechnicians are proficient in ASCP, Tissue Specimens, and CLIA.
We break down the percentage of Histotechnicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- ASCP, 18%
Worked in histology and studied to take ASCP BOR to become Certified.
- Tissue Specimens, 6%
Required the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with frequent interruptions while maintaining accuracy and accountability for multiple fresh tissue specimens.
- CLIA, 6%
Maintained, cleaned, and stocked laboratory equipment in compliance with CLIA and CAP regulations.
- Microtome, 6%
Use of Rotary Microtome instrument for sectioning paraffin embedded material.
- Specimen Handling, 5%
Managed specimen handling, receiving, storage, and disposal.
- Laboratory Equipment, 4%
Performed preventative maintenance on all laboratory equipment, and any troubleshooting machine error or malfunctions as needed.
Most histotechnicians use their skills in "ascp," "tissue specimens," and "clia" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential histotechnician responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a histotechnician to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Additionally, a histotechnician resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "use effective communication while dealing with patients and their family, physicians, hospital visitors, and co-workers. "
Observation skills. Another essential skill to perform histotechnician duties is observation skills. Histotechnicians responsibilities require that "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Histotechnicians also use observation skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "assist slp in data tracking, observations, and treatment/progress notes. "
The three companies that hire the most histotechnicians are:
- Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings55 histotechnicians jobs
- Baylor Scott & White Health14 histotechnicians jobs
- Ansible by Red Hat12 histotechnicians jobs
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Compare different histotechnicians
Histotechnician vs. Clinical laboratory scientist
A Clinical Laboratory Scientist is responsible for performing laboratory tests that doctors count on to correctly diagnose and treat patients. They examine body fluids, tissues, and cells, identify infective microorganisms, and analyze the chemical constituents of body fluids.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, histotechnician responsibilities require skills like "tissue specimens," "microtome," "laboratory equipment," and "ihc." Meanwhile a typical clinical laboratory scientist has skills in areas such as "patients," "test results," "microbiology," and "cls." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, clinical laboratory scientists reach similar levels of education than histotechnicians. Clinical laboratory scientists are 4.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Histotechnician vs. Laboratory coordinator
A laboratory coordinator is responsible for supporting laboratory examinations and experiments, collecting laboratory samples, and ensuring the efficiency and performance of laboratory tools and equipment. Laboratory coordinators maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the laboratory facility at all times to avoid contaminations and hazards that may affect laboratory results and accuracy of examinations. They also perform scientific processes under the supervision of a scientist or laboratory technicians and keep an organized report of findings in the database.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that histotechnician responsibilities requires skills like "ascp," "tissue specimens," "microtome," and "perform routine maintenance." But a laboratory coordinator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "lab equipment," "patients," "patient care," and "chemistry."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Laboratory coordinators tend to reach higher levels of education than histotechnicians. In fact, they're 11.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Histotechnician vs. Laboratory specialist
A laboratory specialist develops the areas assigned to them and promotes maximum resource allocation and utilization to achieve their goals. Laboratory specialists handle storage and backup devices, support telecommunication-associated equipment, and relay customer requests and issues. It is their job to process specimens in toxicology, coagulation, microbiology, hematology, chemistry, and urinalysis. Skills and knowledge in a photo lab, cell culture, customer service, and test cases are necessary for this position.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a histotechnician is likely to be skilled in "ascp," "tissue specimens," "microtome," and "specimen handling," while a typical laboratory specialist is skilled in "chemistry," "patients," "test results," and "laboratory tests."
When it comes to education, laboratory specialists tend to earn higher degree levels compared to histotechnicians. In fact, they're 5.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Histotechnician vs. Laboratory supervisor
The primary job of laboratory supervisors is to oversee the daily operations of laboratories. They are responsible for facilitating the collection, analysis, and interpretation of laboratory results. Other responsibilities include supervising personnel, managing the operating budget of the laboratory, and hiring employees. Laboratory supervisors are responsible for overseeing quality assurance and enforcing practices to ensure quality control within the laboratory. Aside from these tasks, they also manage the acquisition of laboratory equipment and supplies and resolve any technical or administrative issues within the laboratory.
Types of histotechnician
Updated January 8, 2025
