Histotechnologist vs. Pathologist Assistant: What Are the Differences?

A career in the medical field can be both rewarding and challenging. If you’re interested in working with patients and helping to diagnose and treat disease, you may be wondering if a career as a histotechnologist or pathologist assistant is right for you. Both of these positions work with tissue samples and play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. In this article, we compare and contrast these two medical careers, and we provide information on education and job outlook.

What is a Histotechnologist?

Histotechnologists are technicians that work in histology laboratories. They prepare tissue samples for examination by pathologists. This can involve cutting and mounting tissue onto slides, staining the slides, and performing other tasks to ensure the quality of the sample. Histotechnologists also maintain laboratory equipment and records, and they may supervise other histology technicians. They typically work in hospitals, clinics, or private laboratories.

What is a Pathologist Assistant?

Pathologist Assistants work under the supervision of licensed pathologists to provide diagnostic support in hospitals, clinics and private laboratories. They collect and prepare tissue and fluid samples for examination, often using microscopes to look for abnormalities. Pathologist Assistants also maintain detailed medical records, write reports and present findings to pathologists. They may specialize in a particular area of pathology, such as histology or cytopathology. To become a Pathologist Assistant, individuals must complete a master’s degree from an accredited program and pass a national certification exam.

Histotechnologist vs. Pathologist Assistant

Here are the main differences between a histotechnologist and a pathologist assistant.

Job Duties

The duties of an histotechnologist vary based on their job title and the type of facility in which they work. As an example, an histotechnologist may prepare tissue samples for analysis, operate laboratory equipment and manage databases containing patient information.

The job duties of a pathologist’s assistant depend on their job title and the needs of the pathologist. As an example, a surgical pathology assistant may assist with surgical procedures to obtain tissue samples, while an assistant working with a molecular pathologist may help with research projects.

Job Requirements

Histotechnologists typically need to earn an Associate of Science in Histotechnology, which takes two years to complete. Some schools also offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in histotechnology. These programs include coursework on topics like medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, immunology and chemistry. Many histotechnologists also complete an internship or externship as part of their training.

Pathologist assistants usually need to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited pathologist assistant program. These programs typically take two years to complete and include coursework on subjects like human anatomy, physiology, microbiology and pathology. Pathologist assistants must also pass the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) exam to earn their credential.

Work Environment

Both histotechnologists and pathologist assistants work in laboratories, where they perform tests on samples of blood, tissue or other bodily fluids. They may also travel to hospitals or doctor’s offices to collect samples for testing. While a histotechnologist works primarily in a laboratory setting, a pathologist assistant can also assist with patient care by performing diagnostic procedures like biopsies and endoscopies.

Skills

Both histotechnologists and pathologist assistants require excellent attention to detail. This is because they often work with samples that are very small, so even a slight mistake can result in an incorrect diagnosis. They also both need to have good manual dexterity as they often handle delicate instruments and samples.

Both histotechnologists and pathologist assistants use basic math skills on a daily basis. For example, they may need to calculate dilutions or measure sample sizes. They also need to be able to follow instructions carefully, as they often work with dangerous chemicals and need to adhere to safety protocols.

While both histotechnologists and pathologist assistants need to have some knowledge of biology and medical terminology, histotechnologists typically need to have a more in-depth understanding of these concepts. This is because they often prepare samples for testing and need to understand how the tests work in order to produce accurate results. Pathologist assistants usually do not need to have as much knowledge of biology and medical terminology because they typically do not prepare samples for testing. Instead, their job is to assist pathologists with tasks such as grossing (the process of examining tissues to determine if they should be sent for further testing) and performing autopsies.

Salary

The average salary for a histotechnologist is $71,690 per year, while the average salary for a pathologist assistant is $83,487 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the location of the job, the level of experience and the type of employer.