Career: Histologist

Background Information
Histologists, also known as histotechnicians, work closely with pathologists and diagnosticians to identify the cause of patient symptoms and flag any warning signs of disease. These professionals handle and analyze human tissue and blood samples to determine how patients are responding to treatment or medication. Histologists assume managerial roles and generally perform more intricate and advanced tasks than a histologist technician.

• Before a patient receives a blood transfusion, histologists examine and verify that the donor blood matches the patient's blood type. Histologists not only analyze and confirm the test results of blood samples, but also search for signs of bacteria, viruses, parasites and other contaminants in human tissue and body fluid. These professionals use laboratory instruments and equipment to prepare, slice and stain tissue samples for observation under a microscope. Histologists provide the lab results to physicians, who use the samples in their medical diagnosis.

  Education

  • A bachelor's degree in medical technology or life sciences is the minimum requirement for a histologist position. Some employers accept candidates with an associate degree and equivalent work experience. Courses that prepare for a histology career include microbiology, statistics, chemistry and biological sciences. In addition, histology majors must obtain clinical experience as an intern or trainee in a histopathology lab. Histology internships typically last one year, though formal training programs may last longer. Most employers also require that professionals obtain histology certification through professional organizations, such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology and the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel.

    Salary

    • The average hourly wage for histologists in the United States ranged between $18.25 and $26.89 as of June 2010, according to PayScale.com. Total average pay, including bonuses and overtime, fell between $39,120 and $59,421 per year.

      
      

      Sources:

      http://www.ehow.com/about_6592403_histologist-job-description.html

      http://www.news-medical.net/news/20121115/Cool-cut-specimen-clamp-from-Thermo-Scientific-maintains-block-temperature-for-better-quality-sections.aspx