This position is a non-supervisory Advanced Level Histopathology Technician position in Laboratory of the Anatomic Pathology section of the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service. Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight, and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and Education: Experience. One year of experience in a health care field that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work such as but not limited to a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) or health technician. OR Education.(a) Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation such as biological science or chemistry; or (b) Successful completion of two academic years of study above high school that included at least 24 semester hours in Chemistry and/or in appropriate fields of biological science and successful completion of a 12-month program of education and training in histopathology or cytotechnology. OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Examples are listed below: (a) Six months of experience in the health care field and two years of education above high school that included at least six semester hours in health care related courses such as biological science, surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or an associate's degree in a health care related field. (b) Six months of experience in the health care field and successful completion of a course for health care technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or histopathology technicians given by the U.S. Armed Forces. English Language Proficiency. Histopathology Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5.a., this part. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations:GS-7 (1) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (2) Assignment. Histopathology technicians at this level generally have a higher level of responsibility for technical oversight, and are expected to carry out assigned tasks of considerable difficulty independently. The incumbent will have the responsibility of performing difficult specialized histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical procedures, as well as developing, modifying, or adapting new staining methods or techniques, improving existing methods as necessary for routine histotechnology procedures. The technician will be responsible for troubleshooting issues with instruments and resolving problems. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. (a) Skill in applying professional, complex anatomic pathology principles, practices, concepts, and theories in performing new or difficult specialized testing methods or techniques. (b) Ability to provide technical oversight of laboratory quality control and assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement exhibiting competence in managing reagent and supply inventories and document control systems. (c) Ability to validate methodologies, operate anatomic pathology laboratory equipment and perform complex instrument troubleshooting. (d) Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and evaluate laboratory results and resolve problems. Grandfathering Provision. All Histopathology Technicians employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 4 hours); standing (up to 4 hours); repeated bending (up to 2 hours); intermittent, but possible prolonged stooping and kneeling; ability to distinguish basic colors; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens; ability to hear (aid permitted)and work in an environment with constant noise; working closely with others; high cognitive function required to work in a fast paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy; emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situations; ability to wear required to personal protective equipment as required. ["Functions include but not limited to: Maintaining specimen integrity and identification from initial accessioning and through the entire specimen processing procedure. Responsible and accountable for testing surgical tissues, body fluids, and non-gyn specimen through the entire process, because of the nature and source the of specimens, additional specimen cannot be retrieved, hence, the technician must avoid any technical or manual mistakes always. Assistant to the Anatomic Pathologist by performing grossing of biopsy specimens. Advanced skills in specimen dissection and expert knowledge of proper orientation and appropriate tissue selection are required. Performs a variety of extremely difficult, delicate and complex tissue including the preparation of frozen sections for rapid diagnosis of tissue during surgery. Performs a wide variety of special stains such as H&E, PAS, AFB, Mucicarmine, Giemsa, Gram Stain, Iron, Sliver Stains such as Reticulum, Bielschowsky using automatic or manual methodologies and is able to control the staining procedures used in microscopic differentiation to achieve precise staining results. Performs, interprets quality, maintains the integrity of special procedures such as lmmunohistochemistry and Thin Prep for diagnostic purposes using automated IHC Staining System and Thin Prep 2000 System respectively. Knowledge and application of a wide variety of fixatives to include 10%buffered neutral Formalin, Michelle's medium, Glutaraldehyde, RPMI-1640, etc. the incumbent should have the skills to process tissue (with the proper fixatives), paraffin embedding, microtomy and tissue sectioning at the right thickness or microns, and tissue staining techniques. Prepares and processes Non-Gyn (Body Fluids) and FNAs specimens and stains according to departmental procedures and Turnaround Time with Cytological guidelines and state of the art methodologies. Assists the pathologist during FNAs at the CAT Scan, patient's bedside when necessary or requested. Prepares and cuts tissue specimens for frozen sections for rapid diagnosis and interpretation of tissue sections during surgery. Organizes & prioritizes workload, example: rush biopsies and responsible for the operation and maintenance of all Histology/Cytology equipment; Daily quality control and preventive maintenance and trouble shoot instruments and record the corrective actions. Inventory of reagents, receiving, labelling, and recording them for inventory purposes. Operates and maintains Xylene solvent recycler, Tissue Processors, Cryostats, H&E stainer, special stains stainer, IHC stainer, embedding equipment, and other equipment in the cytology lab, perform other ancillary duties involving tissue disposal, daily maintenance of bench work, gross room, morgue, and other duties as assigned. Store the blocks and slides in the storage shelf; pulls slides and blocks for clinicians and pathology staff for reference on diagnostic studies and for research/teaching. Maintains Safety Data Sheet (SDS) inventory, ensuring all SDS sheets are provided to the Industrial Hygienist for uploading into database. Organizes work and sets priorities to meet deadlines Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 07:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 40241F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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