Additional Information
Level of instruction: Intermediate
Intended audience: This course is intended for histology bench technicians and technologists, supervisors, and administrators. This content may benefit those working with or who may be contemplating new automation and technology for use in the histology laboratory. A fundamental background in the technology and automation used for histology will provide information for those who may be considering potential process improvement.
Author information: Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL(ASCP), QIHC is a certified histotechnologist HTL from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) with experience in clinical, research, and reference histopathology. She has received qualification from the ASCP in immunohistochemistry and is a local ASCP representative for the Nashville, Tennessee area. Joelle's bachelor's degree was received from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio and her master's degree was awarded from Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. She is also a graduate of a NAACLS accredited Histotechnology Program. Positions held include education coordinator, lead instructor, and program director of a NAACLS accredited HT certification training program.
Reviewer information: Carla J. Shoffeitt, MSM, HT(ASCP) is the Manager of the Pathology Department of Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital of Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Healthcare Management as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Troy University, Troy, Alabama. She is certified as a Histotechnician and has 25 years of experience in the field of Histology.
Course description: Histological testing has historically been carried out using long-established manual work processes that have remained relatively unchanged for over the last one hundred years. As medicine progresses into the era of personalized medicine, histology is responding by moving toward more complex testing such as prognostic immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular pathology. In addition, factors such as the demand for reduced turnaround times and staffing shortages have also driven the increased adoption of automation and technology into the histology laboratory.