Career As a Histologist

Introduction:laboratory. He/she will be performing microtomy,
A histologist plays a very important role in detecting,routine embedding, frozen sections, staining procedures,
diagnosing, and treating a disease. He/she carefullyequipment maintenance, and preparation of solution.
examines and analyzes body fluids and cells. TheyEducational Requirement:
search for bacteria, parasites, and otherTo become a histologist, one needs to complete a
microorganisms. A person with this job must alsobachelor's degree in medical technology or in any of
know how to match blood for blood transfusionthe life sciences. The bachelor's degree in the field of
purposes as well as to test the drug levels in the bloodhistology usually include general and specialized
that determines how a patient may respond to a givencourses in microbiology, chemistry, biological sciences,
treatment. Automated equipment, computers, andand statistics, as well as those devoted to skills
other advanced laboratory equipment are used inrequired in the clinical laboratory. Nevertheless, it is also
tissue analysis.possible to fill in some positions while doing a
Job Description:combination of formal education and on-the-job training.
A typical job responsibility of a histologist includesTypically, an applicant must have at lease completed
assisting laboratory personnel in the preparation andan associate's degree. Many companies also require
slicing of samples for examination. A successfultheir applicants to have acquired a certification from
applicant will be in charge of offering complex skills inrecognized associations in the field.
different techniques, experiencing handling slideHistologist Salaries:
examinations and situ-hybridization reactions. OtherIn the United States, the average annual salary for
duties include performing computer data entries, usinghistologists was around $33,000 in 2006 with a median
appropriate equipment for histological protocols50 percentile of between $27,000 and $42,000. The
precisely, labeling as well as recalling a pathologyhighest salary enjoyed by highest wage earners was
network and studying possible solutions for impurities,more than $51,000. Since the importance of histologists
contamination, or instability.has increased over time, the salary of histologists has
Qualified applicants also acquire the responsibility ofalso increased reaching an average annual salary of
performing the clinical functions of a histology$75,000 to $90,000.