Embedding determines HOW a piece of tissue if to be oriented, and that is a decision NOT for a lab assistant, no matter how well trained it is.
  Cutting is perhaps the CORE of the functions in histology. The one who is cutting gets to decide which sections to keep and which to discard FOR EVER and that is another decision that an assistant could not do properly.
  Performing special stains and IHC involves deciding also if the reaction took place or not.
  The above just to explain why I think that those are tasks that only a well trained histotech should perform. I realize that there are lab assistants with "exceptional" abilities, but to those what they have to do is to get a license.
  In short: NO I don't think that any of those tasks should be performed by an assistant.
  René J.

"Sharon.Davis-Devine"  wrote:
  Ok, all of you Histonetters I have another question for you. Who the
histology laboratory can perform these job functions: embedding,
cutting, performing special stains and IHC? Can a lab assistant perform
these duties if properly trained or do you have to be classified as a
Histotech in training? Can a Cytotech or Med Tech perform such duties,
again if properly trained? All opinions and references to such
requirements would be greatly appreciated.



Sharon Davis-Devine, CT (ASCP)

Cytology Supervisor

Carle Clinic

602 West University

Urbana, Illinois 61801

Phone: 217-383-3572

Email: sharon.davis-devine@carle.com



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