OBJECTIVE / PURPOSE
Works with manager and production managers to facilitate slide production for the department. Assists manager with all facets of developing, coordinating and carrying out plans for profitable production and fulfillment. Prepares and checks the quality of materials to make microscope slides in the department. Participates in day to day administration of the department by maintaining communication and feedback to manager and production managers.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS
-
Assists manager and production managers with sourcing of needed materials and reviewing samples.
-
Assists manager and production managers with training/cross training of technicians.
-
Assists manager and production managers in checking finished slides, as needed, to ensure quality standards.
-
Resolves problems in standardize processes, and assists in retraining technicians as needed.
-
Samples and checks tissues to make sure they are properly preserved and meet quality standards.
-
Keeps inventory on blocks of materials and updates manager and production managers on their status.
-
Review samples of stained slides and tissue blocks for production.
-
Troubleshoot issues with staining and tissue processing, and revise SOP’s as needed.
-
Provide technical support as needed for product management, customers, customer communications, inside sales, product development, and international sales.
-
Assists as needed in development of new products.
-
Participates in the preparation of high-quality whole mount, thick section, and thin section prepared microscope slides and assists in the fulfillment of customers’ orders for these items.
-
Prepares stains, alcohol solutions, adhesives and other chemical needed for specimen preparation and used in mounting, staining, and cleaning prepared microscope slides.
-
Dehydrates specimens by "pouring off" various alcohol-based solutions removing the water from the specimens. Also, places tissue in tissue processor for further dehydration and embeds dehydrated tissue into plastic or paraffin for sectioning.
-
Dissects and processes specimens and prepares them for slide production.
-
Uses pipet or dropper to remove individual specimens from container, places specimens or sectioned tissue onto microscope slide, covers with cover glass.
-
Operates rotary microtome and ultra microtome to cut specimens into sections used for thick section and thin section slides.
-
Stains tissues for better visibility under the microscope by using an automatic stainer or by placing specimens in various staining solutions for specified time periods.
-
Performs other duties as assigned
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Education: Associates in Histotechnology and/or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
Experience: Six months to one-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
Specialized Training/Skills: Experience with stainer, microtome, lab microscope, dissecting microscope, tissue processor, pipets, scales and other laboratory instruments. Experience working with and utilizing standard practices in a laboratory environment. Ability to work in Microsoft Excel and Word. Possess strong communication, problem-solving and organizational skills, and have high attention to detail.