Mike:

I agree that anyone with coordination can be taught to use a microtome.
Some may master it faster than others but that's an individual thing.  I
also believe a Med Tech can be taught all of the intricacies of histology,
but not in 3 months.  That may be adequate for a rudimentary base of the
science but certainly not enough to be a proficient histotechnologist.
Understanding the chemistry of staining not to mention the theories of
processing and immunohistochemistry are invaluable today.  Anyone can follow
a recipe but you have to have some knowledge of the chemistry of baking to
know what to do when the baking powder doesn't work.

Jeanine Bartlett, HT(ASCP)
CDC, Atlanta

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Kirby [mailto:mikek@mail.saimr.wits.ac.za]
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 3:18 AM
To: Histonet (E-mail)
Subject: Med Tech's as Histologists????



The question asked was, "Are Med Techs good enough to be trained as
Histologists?"

 Of course we are!  We have all the Lab background that's required, and one
can learn to "slice & dice" in about three weeks flat.
 I did,  because as a student, I was given three months to learn the
techniques before we wrote our finals, and, except for tissue processing, we
did everything by hand!

 Ok, that was back in the sixties, (Yes, I am an ooooold Med Tech) and
possibly one would need more time to master all the new    
 special stains and immunohistology that you do now days, but the average
Med Tech should be more than up to scratch.

 If we can hack our way through Microbiology, Biochemistry and Haematology,
Histopathology is a piece of cake.
 (It's all in the wrist, my dear!).

Yours (from a lofty perch - and no doubt, soon to have his nose bloodied).

Mike Kirby.
NHLS
Johannesburg
South Africa.