HISTOPATHOLOGY

Hearing about what the other people would say about medical technology not being a
joke has indeed been one of the most accurate ways to describe this field of course, and
profession. After 3 years (but 4 in my case) of going through different kinds of hurdles to get to
this point of what I can already consider an achievement of mine, I have finally stepped into the
real world of what medical technology really is. And for the past few weeks of my first
laboratory section assignment for my first rotation - Histopathology, watching what only used to
be my imagination turn into a wild reality right before my eyes has been quite very priceless, at
the same time, challenging. Priceless, because it’s one of those moments when you realize how
this has been what you have actually been working hard for during the past 8 semesters. And
challenging, because laboratory set ups in hospitals are totally far different from what we only
have in school. Although everyday has honestly been a race we couldn’t quite figure out how it
might turn out having to encounter different specimens, registered medical technologists, and of
course, the ones whom you have to lengthen your patience most to, the pathologists, I am certain
that we are very much willing to learn.

As each day passes by in Histopathology, I have already learned how to adjust to the
daily routines that were once something I very much panicked to the moment I arrive at the
laboratory, not knowing what to do, or how to handle it. But now, I’ve already been receiving
specimens with ease making sure the specimen containers contain formalin by adding a few
drops of blue ink, logging them onto the daily gross census that has to be submitted to the
secretary as soon as possible for our pathologists to have by 10 AM. Other than that, embedding
has also been one of our daily routines inside the laboratory. Already knowing how to operate
the Tissue Tek – VIP machine, I drain the retort and transfer the specimens into the Tissue Tek –
TIC machine for embedding. And just right after embedding when there’s not much to do, I,
along with my co – interns either take a rest from the rush of the morning’s adrenaline by cutting
up gauze for our supply, run errands, or refill the containers such as the formalin, stains or the
eukitt. And just as soon as our registered medical technologist finishes section cutting the
specimens we have just embedded, we then place those slides into the tray to be heated at the
oven for 30 minutes just right before staining. And just right after placing it into the oven after
30 minutes, we then proceed to staining, cleaning and mounting the slides, and finally labeling
them for reading.

This experience for me has been nothing but fun, and fulfilling. Having to be one of those
called by our resident pathologist Doc Aless to assist her in her daily gross examination routine
for autopsy and biopsy specimens has become something I got very much attached to very easily.
Lucky enough, everyday, I get to learn from the pathologist herself as she throws me questions I
never had an idea what to answer to before, her explaining to me the way she cuts those
specimens into smaller pieces to fit into the cassettes and why those specific areas, and to be just
that close in contact with the specimens she handles allowing me to have a touch, make my own
observation, all at the same time writing down her macroscopic examinations.

All in all, I have already understood the 12 main procedures of Histopathology better
now. Its process of how it is and how it goes just right before it turns into microscopic slides.
And the values we must develop within ourselves to get through the exit doors of the hospital
each day with a smile, and the feeling of satisfaction.