Duties and Responsibilities:
Prepares surgical, cytological, and autopsy specimens.  Receives and prepares specimens for fixation, dehydration, and impregnation processes by either manually or automatically sending specimens through a series of formalins, alcohols, clearing agents, and paraffin.  Embeds tissues and prepares paraffin blocks for cutting on rotary microtome.  Attaches cut tissues on specially prepared microslides and clears paraffin from tissue.  Obtains tissue slides by surgical, cytological, or autopsy number.  Submits finished tissue slides to the pathologist along with pertinent clinical data received from originating agency and gross examination by the pathologist.  Performs special stains and procedures.

Performs duties at autopsies.  Serves as technical assistant at autopsies.  Assists pathologist in opening abdominal, pleural, and cranial cavities; examining various organs; and procuring and handling specimens from these organs.  Prepares remains for transfer to mortuary, to include cleaning and closing all incisions.  Labels and stores autopsy specimens until pathologist makes final examination prior to fixing, embedding, and staining.

Maintains histopathology records and instruments.  Maintains complete records of all surgical, cytological, and autopsy specimens, to include filing and storing of paraffin blocks and stained tissue slides by accession number.  Prepares and ships blocks, slides and diagnostic reports to various military and civilian medical facilities.  Maintains all surgical and autopsy instruments, to include sharpening and cleaning microtome blades, knives, scissors, and chisels.

Performs quality assurance.  Evaluates current and new procedures for implementation and effectiveness.  Monitors specimen handling, cutting, and staining quality; and equipment and controlled substances inventory.  Assists in maintaining accreditation standards.

Specialty Qualifications:
Knowledge.  Knowledge is mandatory of:  methods of fixing, staining, embedding, and cutting all types of tissue; properties of various biological stains and reagents; autopsy procedures; equipment maintenance; and medical terminology, ethics, and basic administration.

Education.  For entry into this specialty, completion of high school or college courses in algebra and chemistry is mandatory.  Completion of courses in biology, zoology, and other basic sciences is desirable.

Training.  The following training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
4T032.  Completion of a histopathology course is mandatory.

Experience.  The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
4T052.  Qualification in and in possession of AFSC 4T032.
4T072.  Qualification in and in possession of AFSC 4T052.

Other.  For entry into this specialty the following are mandatory as indicated:  Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.