Cytotechnologist Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices.
Cytotechnologist is Also Know as
In different settings, Cytotechnologist is titled as
- Cytologist
- Cytology Applications Specialist
- Cytology Coordinator
- Cytology Technical Specialist
- Cytotechnologist
Education and Training of Cytotechnologist
Cytotechnologist is categorized in Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience Required for Cytotechnologist
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education Required for Cytotechnologist
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees Related to Cytotechnologist
- Bachelor in Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- Associate Degree Courses in Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- Masters Degree Courses in Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- Bachelor in Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist
- Associate Degree Courses in Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist
- Masters Degree Courses in Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist
- Bachelor in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Tec
- Associate Degree Courses in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Tec
- Masters Degree Courses in Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Tec
- Bachelor in Histologic Technology/Histotechnologist
- Associate Degree Courses in Histologic Technology/Histotechnologist
- Masters Degree Courses in Histologic Technology/Histotechnologist
- Bachelor in Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical Genetics Technology
- Associate Degree Courses in Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical Genetics Technology
- Masters Degree Courses in Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical Genetics Technology
- Bachelor in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Pro
- Associate Degree Courses in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Pro
- Masters Degree Courses in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Pro
Training Required for Cytotechnologist
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related Ocuupations
Some Ocuupations related to Cytotechnologist in different industries are
- Histotechnologists
- Histology Technicians
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Physicians, Pathologists
- Phlebotomists
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Microbiologists
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
- Surgical Technologists
- Surgical Assistants
- Medical Equipment Preparers
- Endoscopy Technicians
What Do Cytotechnologist do?
- Examine cell samples to detect abnormalities in the color, shape, or size of cellular components and patterns.
- Examine specimens, using microscopes, to evaluate specimen quality.
- Prepare and analyze samples, such as Papanicolaou (PAP) smear body fluids and fine needle aspirations (FNAs), to detect abnormal conditions.
- Provide patient clinical data or microscopic findings to assist pathologists in the preparation of pathology reports.
- Assist pathologists or other physicians to collect cell samples by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy or other method.
- Examine specimens to detect abnormal hormone conditions.
- Document specimens by verifying patients' and specimens' information.
- Maintain effective laboratory operations by adhering to standards of specimen collection, preparation, or laboratory safety.
- Prepare cell samples by applying special staining techniques, such as chromosomal staining, to differentiate cells or cell components.
- Submit slides with abnormal cell structures to pathologists for further examination.
- Adjust, maintain, or repair laboratory equipment, such as microscopes.
- Assign tasks or coordinate task assignments to ensure adequate performance of laboratory activities.
- Attend continuing education programs that address laboratory issues.
Qualities of Good Cytotechnologist
- Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
- Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
- Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
- Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
- Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
- Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
- Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
- Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
- Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
- Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
- Rate Control: The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
- Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
- Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
- Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
- Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
- Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
- Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
- Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
- Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
- Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
- Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
- Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
- Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
- Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
- Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
- Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
- Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
- Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
- Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
- Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
- Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Tools Used by Cytotechnologist
- Analytical balances
- Autoclaves
- Automatic coverslippers
- Automatic slide stainers
- Automatic tissue processors
- Beakers
- Centrifuge tubes
- Centrifuges
- Compound light microscopes
- Confocal microscopes
- Conical flasks
- Cytocentrifuges
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Distilled water units
- Electronic sterilizers
- Fine needles
- Flow cytometers
- Fluorescent microscopes
- Funnels
- Glass pipettes
- Laboratory binocular microscopes
- Laboratory refrigerators
- Laboratory water baths
- Magnetic shakers
- Measuring cylinders
- Paraffin dispensers
- Personal computers
- Radiant heaters
- Round bottom flasks
- Slide filing cabinets
- Stereo microscopes
- Stereoscopic magnifiers
Technology Skills required for Cytotechnologist
- Ansible software
- Antek HealthWare LabDAQ
- Aspyra CyberLAB
- Cerner Millennium PathNet
- Clinical Software Solutions CLIN1 Suite
- ClinLab LIS
- Comp Pro Med Polytech
- CPSI CPSI System
- CSS CLS-2000
- Custom Software Systems StarLab
- Elekta Impac Software IntelliLab
- EpicLab Laboratory Information System
- eTeleNext LIS
- Fletcher-Flora Health Care Systems FFlex eSuite LIS
- Fletcher-Flora Health Care Systems LabPak LIS
- Fortius Lab Systems Clinical LIS
- GE Healthcare Centricity Laboratory
- Healthvision TDSynergy LIS
- HEX Laboratory Systems LAB/HEX
- Laboratory information system LIS
- LabSoft LabNet
- McKesson Horizon Lab
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
- Multidata Computer Systems MultiTech
- NeTLIMS AutoLIMS Core Lab
- Omnitech OMNILAB
- Orchard Software Orchard Harvest LIS
- Prognosis Innovation Healthcare ChartAccess
- Psyche Systems LabWeb
- Quality Software Systems LabHealth
- SCC Soft Computer SoftLab
- Schuyler House SchuyLab
- Seacoast Laboratory Data Systems SurroundLab Plus
- Siemens NOVIUS Lab
- STARLIMS
- Sunquest Information Systems Sunquest Laboratory