Air Force AFSC · Medical
4T0X2 Histopathology
Overview
Histopathology specialists prepare tissue for examination to support the diagnosis of diseased samples. They maintain hospital laboratory instruments and assist pathologists with autopsies.
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Skill levels: 4T012 helper · 4T032 apprentice · 4T052 journeyman · 4T072 craftsman
Core Skills
- laboratory information systems usage
- sample tracking and chain of custody
- quality control and quality assurance
- laboratory equipment maintenance
- data entry and verification
- standard operating procedure compliance
- documentation and recordkeeping
- biosafety and hazard handling
- root cause analysis for lab issues
- collaboration with clinicians and pathologists
Civilian Software & Tools
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Brady Specimen Labeling System
- Cerner Millennium
Civilian Career Paths
- Medical Laboratory
- Clinical Technician
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
- Cytologist - CT(ASCP)
- ASCP Histotechnician (HT)
- ASCP Histotechnologist (HTL)
Career Growth
- Phlebotomy Technician, PBT(ASCPi)
- Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT(ASCP)
- Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS(ASCP)
- Qualification in Laboratory Safety - QLS
What the Work Involves
- Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.
- Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.
- Mount tissue specimens on glass slides.
- Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.
- Freeze tissue specimens.
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: vocational training or an associate degree.
Formerly Known As (Legacy)
Retired codes that converted into 4T0X2. Each legacy page documents the cited history.
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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