Additional Information
Level of instruction: Beginning to intermediate
Intended audience: This course is intended for histology bench technicians and technologists, new staff, and students.
Author information: Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL(ASCP), QIHC is a certified histotechnologist 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 and her master's degree was awarded from Bluffton University. Positions held include education coordinator, lead instructor, and program director of a NAACLS accredited HT certification training program.
Reviewer information: Rosemarie Tavares Proulx, BA, CT(ASCP), HT(ASCP)CM has over 20 years of experience as a laboratorian, anatomic pathology supervisor, and laboratory manager. She is the former Anatomic Pathology Laboratory Manager at Boston Children's Hospital She is currently the Educational Coordinator for the Histotechnician Program at the Community College of Rhode Island.
Reviewer information: Karen Stiffler, MA, HTL (ASCP) has over 15 years of experience combined as a histotechnologist and a Program Director for Histotechnology at Lakeland Community College. She is currently a Professor and the Program Director for Histotechnology at Lakeland Community College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Case Western Reserve University and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Western Governor’s University.
Course description: This course will discuss the fundamental methodology, purpose, and skills needed for basic to intermediate level proficiency in routine paraffin embedding of human tissue samples. Paraffin embedding is the standard technique used in nearly all clinical and most research histopathology laboratories to produce human tissue blocks for microtomy. The production of properly oriented, accurately labeled, and contamination-free blocks is an essential skill needed by the bench histologist. Some of the background knowledge needed for the embedding task includes: an understanding of tissue sampling, human anatomy, tissue identification skills, and attention to fine detail, accuracy, and manual dexterity.
