Kristine Cariaga

-Tissue embedding and sectioning.

-Perform microtomy on various types of tissue, including biopsies, whole mounts, and dermapathology.

-Sectioning and slide preparation for HE, and special staining.

-Operate and maintain Leica Histocore Autocut microtome

-Operate and maintain Dako Artisan LinkPro, including wash preparation, waste disposal, and priming.

-Perform manual special stain procedures.

-Familiair with Leica Histocore Spectra Automated Stainer.

-Keep track of special stains inventory, such as baking and or cutting QC slides

-QC special stain slides prior to sendout to Pathologists.

-Validate blocks and slides prior to sendout to Pathologists.

-Aid the EM department with coverage; grossed and embed fresh tissue, as well as use of Lecia CM 185 cryostat to obtain frozen sections for IF.

- Assisted with HQIP for CAP.

-Freezer and microtome maintenance log.

-Aware of freezing muscle biopsy specimens.

• Operate and maintain tissue processors.
• Embed various tissue types of surgical specimens, as well as small GI biopsies.
• Perform technical work on microtome to produce slides from paraffin embedded tissue., 60-70 blocks per hour.
• Conduct routine and special staining procedures to process mounted sections.
• Reviewed QC slides and specimen slides for quality control prior to sending to pathologists.
• Maintain equipment by regularly maintaining stains and reagents, as well as cleaning and disinfecting.
• Follow laboratory's procedures for specimen handling and processing, to ensure quality assurance.
• Dictated and grossed tissue samples obtained from surgery or the GI lab.
• Assist pathologist in frozen sections by preparing rapid hematoxylin and eosin stained sections for quick microscopic examination.
• Process body fluid specimens to prepare for microscopic exam.
• Attend special procedures in the Radiology department to collect specimens from fine needle aspirations and renal core biopsies.
• Process send-outs to reference laboratories.
• Documented routine laboratory instrument maintenance and corrective actions.
• Keep supplies and equipment ready for use.
• Reviewed slides for quality control prior to sending to pathologists.

• Performed administrative duties such as labor productivity, investigation of incidents, track payroll and other HR documents, invoice verification, scheduling, and charge audits
• Train new Laboratory Assistants
• Coordinates the laboratory and other departments for smooth daily workflow and special projects
• Collection of blood specimens by venous and capillary punctures on various ages
• Process specimens to assure accurate and proper submission for timely results
• Process specimens for send-out to outside facility reference laboratories, includes aliquoting and proper paperwork
• Oversees supplies to ensure laboratory staff has the tools needed to perform their job
• Assists Clinical Laboratory Scientists in technical functions and performs technical functions under their supervision.
• Familiar with Beckman Couter DXH800/ DXH900, Siemens EXL, Bactec FX40, Clinitek Adavantus, Aution Max AX4030, Sysmex CA1500, and centrifuge

• Collected blood samples using vacutainer tubes, tourniquets, syringes, butterfly needles, and straight needles
• Accurately labeled vacutainer tubes with patient name, date and time of collection
• Validated blood and specimen collection orders, alerting nurses or physicians of discrepancies between order and nursing station logs
• Protected patients by following infection control, sharps disposal and biohazardous waste disposal procedures
• Plated Microbiology specimens in proper mediums

• Accessioned surgical specimens for Pathology and Cytology
• Ensure specimens met quality control protocols, such as proper documentation and labelling and proper submission in formalin for fixation
• Assisted the Pathologist with grossing and frozen sections
• Experience in grossing small surgical biopsies, such as GI biopsies
• Prepare slides and reports in an orderly fashion to ensure the Pathologist has a seamless process while reviewing slides
• Kept an organized laboratory by cleaning grossing areas, filing slides, filing paraffin blocks, and filing reports
• Prepared specimens and paperwork for send out to other laboratories for special testing and referrals