RE: {Spam?} RE: HT Grossing

No. You can become a histotech after January 2005 with 60 semester hours of college and no associate degree but you would still not qualify as high complexity testing personnel without an associate degree in a biological or chemical science or medical laboratory technology. Not just any Associate Degree will do.

I believe you can also qualify without an AA or BS degree, the regulations list how many credit hours of certain kinds of classes are required...

CLIA '88 lists the requirements for non-pathologists grossing. Grossing is considered high-complexity testing even if it's a punch biopsy or a shave. CLIA '88 states "On or before April 24 1995 (I) be a high school graduate or equivalent; and (b) have documentation of training appropriate for the test performed before analyzing patient specimens"................After that date it requires an associate degree in a biological or chemical science or medical laboratory technology -or- qualify as a medical technologist with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution -or- earned a bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biologic or clinical laboratory science.

ref. CLIA '88 493.1489

Also CAP requires a written instruction detailing what specimens may be grossed with direct vs indirect pathologists' observation. Direct means that the pathologist literally watches over your shoulder while you gross the specimen. Indirect means that he is readily available to consult.

I hope this helps,

Charles R. Embrey Jr. PA(AAPA), HT(ASCP)
Histology Manager
Carle Clinic, Urbana Illinois

(217) 383-6621

Whether a simple small skin tag or dissection of an entire colon, I was told by the local CLIA rep that the requirements are the same.

It falls under the CLIA High Complexity Testing Personnel Qualifications, Federal Register VOl. 60, No. 78, April 1995, section 493.1489.

If anyone out there can summarize the standard and post it on the Histonet, it would be greatly appreciated. Don't most HT's that have gone through a formal 2 or 4 year bonifide histology college program satisfy these requirements?

Sandra Cheasty
Lab Operations Manager
Loma Linda University Pathology

-----Original Message-----
From: SMello8438@aol.com [mailto:SMello8438@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 15:08
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: HT Grossing