HISTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN

The College of Veterinary Medicine  at MU is on a mission to inclusively educate and train outstanding clinicians and scientists from diverse backgrounds, generate new knowledge, engage stakeholders, and foster economic growth, all of which promote and protect the health and welfare of animals and people. Simply put, our mission is to Teach, Heal, Discover, and Serve.

The Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory  is a full-service laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). It provides in-depth laboratory diagnostic support to veterinary practitioners, livestock and poultry industry interests, companion animal interests, wildlife conservationists, scientists utilizing animals in their research throughout the university, state and regulatory officials, and clinicians of the MU Veterinary Health Center. The laboratory handles more than 200,000 specimens a year and serves Missouri’s 114 counties and surrounding states by performing over 170,000 diagnostic tests annually.  The VMDL also conducts fundamental and applied research to address animal health and public health issues.

The Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) is seeking to hire a Histologic Technician.

Representative Duties Include:

·         Preparing diagnostic, research and teaching tissue sections for microscopic examination using a variety of specialized techniques including fixing, processing, freezing, embedding, cutting, staining, and mounting. On the job training is offered for this position for individuals interested in Histology and/or obtaining the HT certification with ASCP.

·         Embed tissue sections in paraffin, cut sections on microtome, stain and mount slides.

·         Prepare Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) slides for analysis by pathologists, residents and researchers.

·         Perform a large variety of special stains.

·         Perform IHC antibody staining using automated equipment.

·         Operate automated stainers, coverslipper, microwave and oven.

·         Hand out H&E, Special and IHC stained slides to the pathologists and residents.

·         Record temperatures and data from daily staining procedures for quality assurance.

·         Trim, embed, cut, stain and mount research and/or diagnostic tissue sections.

·         Trim ear notches for BVD antibody testing.

·         Cut frozen sections using a cryostat.

·         Change the processor weekly as well as routine cleaning of the laboratory equipment. Maintain the file system for paraffin blocks and slides.

·         Stock, prepare and refill reagents.

·         Inform the supervisor when it is time to reorder reagents or other supplies.

·         Computer entry of diagnostic information.