[Histonet] Grossing tech qualifications

Wed Apr 13 09:26:26 CDT 2016

Essentially, an associates degree totals 60-80 semester hours depending on the program.  As long as 24 of those hours are in science or medical laboratory technology, they would qualify.  I think the confusion in "c." comes in when a student starts towards a bachelors degree, but then stops the program.  As long as they have 60 semester hours with 24 being in science, they too would qualify even though they have no degree.  Hope this helps.

Lacy

-----Original Message-----
From: Rachel Pinch [mailto:supervisor at galahistolab.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 9:15 AM
To: Normington Lacy; 'Vickroy, James'; histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Grossing tech qualifications

I've had trouble understanding that as well.
Can an employee have 24 semester hours of biology and chemistry combined with an associate's degree in science, and it be sufficient for CLIA?
Does the person have to have an associates in laboratory science?

Rachel

-----Original Message-----
From: Normington Lacy via Histonet
[mailto:histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 8:37 AM
To: 'Vickroy, James' <jvickroy at SpringfieldClinic.com>; histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Grossing tech qualifications

James,
We base all of our high complexity testing on the semester hours as listed in "c."  If an individual has completed an associate degree in a laboratory science, they should meet the educational requirements as stated previously.
I would recommend obtaining a transcript from the applicants.  Our institution then will keep that in their personnel file.  As part of our policy for non-PA grossing, I have a form that I complete stating I reviewed the employee's educational requirements.  I have copied and pasted my document below.  If you are interested in receiving the entire procedure and attachments, please let me know and I can email them to you directly.

Employee Name:__________________________

A review of this employee’s educational records was completed on ___________(date).

This employee has been   □approved     □not approved   to perform high
complexity testing based on CLIA requirements as listed in the Federal Register 493.1489 and 1491.

493.1489 states the following education requirements:

Each individual performing high complexity testing must--
    (b) Meet one of the following requirements:
    		(1) Be a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, or doctor of
      	podiatric medicine licensed to practice medicine, osteopathy, or
      	podiatry in the State in which the laboratory is located or have earned a doctoral, master's or bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution; OR
    	(2)(i) Have earned an associate degree in a laboratory science, or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution or?
	   (ii) Have education and training equivalent to that specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section that includes--
    	  	(A) At least 60 semester hours, or equivalent, from an accredited institution that, at a minimum, include either-
    			(1) 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses; or
    			(2) 24 semester hours of science courses that
include--
    				(i) Six semester hours of chemistry;
    				(ii) Six semester hours of biology; and
    				(iii) Twelve semester hours of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology in any combination

Full text on Federal Register qualifications can be viewed at:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/clia/regs/toc.aspx

Review completed by: ______________________ (printed name)

    ______________________ (signature)

-----Original Message-----
From: Vickroy, James via Histonet [mailto:histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu]

Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 8:14 AM
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Grossing tech qualifications

a.       We are experiencing trouble finding another tech that will meet
CLIA high complexity testing standards as well as has histotechnician
training.   Also the qualifications for who can gross is a little vague so I
wanted to see if anyone has any information that would help me.  A summary
of the grossing qualifications are listed below.   In the past we have hired
applicants with bachelor's degrees in biology and then trained them in
histotechnology.   We also went through the 90 day inhouse training for
grossing.   My questions have to do with a clarification regarding those
with an associate's degree.     I have an applicant that has an associate's
degree in science with an emphasis on microbiology.     My question has to
do with the language  "An earned associate degree in a laboratory science or
medical laboratory technology" .   How can I determine what that exactly
means?   Would a person with an associate's degree in science with an
emphasis in microbiology qualify?  I'm not sure she has the sixty hours total.

Qualifications of a technician for performing gross descriptions and preparation for tissue processing under the direct or indirect supervision of a pathologist include:

b.       An earned associate degree in a laboratory science or medical
laboratory technology,
Obtained from an accredited institution, OR

c.       Education/training equivalent to the above that includes at least
60 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited institution.  This education must include 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses, or 24 semester hours of science courses that includes 6 semester hours of chemistry, 6 semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination. In addition, the individual must have laboratory training including either completion of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by the ABHES, the CAHEA, or other organization approved by HHS (note that this training may be included in the 60 semester hours listed above), OR at least 3 months documented laboratory training in each specialty in which the individual performs high complexity testing.

I would appreciate any understanding that others might have.

Jim

Jim Vickroy
Histology Manager
Springfield Clinic, Main Campus, East Building
1025 South 6th Street
Springfield, Illinois  62703
Office:  217-528-7541, Ext. 15121
Email:
jvickroy at SpringfieldClinic.com<mailto:jvickroy at SpringfieldClinic.com>

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