HISTOLOGY TECHNICIAN OR HISTOTECHNOLOGIST, WDL; FULL TIME - 1ST SHIFT)

About the role

Is responsible for the accurate processing, preparation, and analysis of tissue specimens to support diagnostic pathology. This role ensures quality, efficiency, and compliance across all histology functions while serving as a technical resource and mentor within the laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Specimen Management & Accessioning: Receives and verifies specimens, ensuring proper identification and handling. Prioritizes RUSH specimens, follows prioritization protocols, identifies errors and idiosyncratic specimens.
• Embedding: Accurately embeds tissue specimens, ensuring proper orientation and mold selection. Identifies and resolves specimen or labeling discrepancies while meeting productivity and quality standards. Maintains organized and adequately stocked workstations.
• Microtomy: Prepares high-quality tissue sections using microtomes in accordance with established standards. Identifies and corrects sectioning issues and consistently meets departmental productivity expectations.
• Staining & Slide Preparation: Performs routine H&E and special staining procedures. Prepares and maintains reagents, selects appropriate controls, evaluates staining quality, and troubleshoots issues. Operates and maintains staining and coverslipping equipment.
• Case Completion & Laboratory Information Systems: Utilizes the laboratory information system (e.g., EPIC / Beaker) to manage multi-part cases, including correcting accessioning to add or modify slides and stains. Ensures all discrepancies are resolved and cases are complete and verified prior to distribution. Manages recut and pending workflows.
• Quality Assurance, Equipment Maintenance & Compliance: Maintains and monitors laboratory instrumentation in accordance with QA/QC standards. Documents performance, identifies malfunctions, and coordinates repairs with technical specialists. Ensures compliance with all regulatory and accreditation requirements (e.g., CLIA, CAP, and institutional policies).
• Frozen Section (Cryostat) Procedures: As required, performs frozen section preparation, including tissue freezing, sectioning, and slide labeling within required turnaround times. Adjusts techniques based on tissue type and maintains cryostat cleanliness and supply levels.
• Specialized Testing (Special Stains & IHC): Performs and manages special stains (SS), immunofluorescence (IF) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) workflows, including order retrieval, reagent preparation, control selection, slide preparation, quality control, and result documentation. Demonstrates advanced tissue identification and slide evaluation skills.
• Method Development, Validation & Leadership: Participates in the development, validation, and optimization of new procedures and assays. Completes competency assessments and maintains documentation. Provides training, mentorship, and technical guidance to laboratory staff, students, and trainees, serving as a subject matter expert.

Qualifications

• Histology Technician I or II: Associate’s Degree in Histotechnology, or High School Diploma with HT or HTL ASCP certification or ASCP eligible.
• Histotechnologist: Bachelor’s degree in Histotechnology, or Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 12 semester hours (18 quarter hours) of biology and chemistry (must include credit hours on both). Current HTL American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification and evidence of certification maintenance if required by ASCP.

Benefits

At Wisconsin Diagnostic Labs, we offer a variety of perks & benefits to staff, depending on your role you may be eligible for the following:

• Paid Time Off
• Growth opportunity- Career Pathways & Career Tuition Assistance, CEU opportunities
• Academic Partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin
• Referral bonuses
• Retirement plan - 401K
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability, Free Workplace Clinics
• Employee Assistance Programs, Adoption Assistance, Healthy Contributions, Care@Work, Moving Assistance, Discounts on gym memberships, travel and other work life benefits available