HOLY NAME UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Narrative Report in
HISTOPATHOLOGY
November 6 – November 14, 2017

SUBMITTED BY: DASCO, TERYL GRACE B.

MED. TECH INTERN

SUBMITTED TO: JULIET G. UY, RMT

CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR
Histopathology department was my first assigned section for 8 days. Only AM Shifts
(7am to 3pm) were given to all interns. Ms. Farrah Aizelle A. Pedrera, RMT was our
section head and the one who oriented us the duties of an intern and also gave us a
background about histopath section and tissue processing.

On our first and second days we are guided by other interns from Siliman University and
Velez College. They were the ones who taught us what to do first thing in the morning til
before signing out in the afternoon. As days passed we weren’t dependent on them but
at the same time we never refuse to ask questions too.

Our everyday shift always starts with disinfecting the area, filtering the stains, changing
the tap water and distilled water, preparing the machines for fixation to infiltration
(Tissue Tek-VIP) and for embedding (Tissue Tek-TEC). Specimens that are brought in
the lab may it be cytology or biopsy are logged in the Log/Record Book and should
match in the request form.

Biopsy specimens are to be grossed by the pathologist and are fixed in 10% Buffered
Neutral Formalin and placed in the machine (Tissue Tek-VIP). After which, the
specimens on the cassette are embedded in the (Tissue Tek-TEC). We were taught how
to embed the tissue and we also tried embedding but under the supervision of a RMT.
After Embedding, the embedded specimen is cut in the microtome to produce a tissue
ribbon and then transferred in the slide with an adhesive. Only the RMT can perform the
procedure. Deparaffinization in the oven is followed. Biopsy specimens are stained in
Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain. The H & E Stain used in the hospital is a progressive
stain, which means there is no decolorizer applied. Cleaning, Mounting and Labelling
then follows.

Cytology specimens usually are already made in the slide. We are only allowed to stain
if at least 5 slides are available so it wouldn’t take so much of our time in staining. Most
cytologic specimens are stained in Papanicolau stain. Same goes after staining, we
cleaned the back side of the slide with Acid Alcohol and then mounted with Eukitt and
lastly, labeled with the Pathology number.
Our shift usually ends with reporting or giving of printed results to doctors’ clinic or to the
nurse stations and then dusting the work are other areas in the lab using 70% Isopropyl
Alcohol. Before signing out, we copied the all the patient’s code number for our quota
on that day and is checked by our clinical instructor or the RMT on duty.

Being in the Histopath Section made me forget that I’m tired because at the end of
every shift, I am filled with new knowledge and experiences that would help me become
a good RMT someday. All body fluids and organs that I have studied in my 4 years and
a half in college came to reality during internship. Indeed, this section made a good start
of my internship. I didn’t only get the chance to meet new people but they also taught
me things I didn’t know. I wouldn’t want to leave the section but I know other sections
too are as interesting as histopath.