Immunohistochemistry

• Application of immunohistochemistry techniques to both wax-embedded and frozen tissue samples.
• Use of appropriate pre-treatment methods on slides prior to incubation.
• Application of automated techniques to demonstrate a wide spectrum of tissue components (currently utilising approximately 100 different antibody markers).
• Assistance with the validation and verification of reagents and methods to ensure optimal sensitivity and performance.
• Identification and assessment of suitable control material for use with the department’s panel of primary antibodies.

Cytology methods

• Preparation of slides containing cells extracted from cerebral spinal fluid suspensions using a cytocentrifugation technique;
• Staining of these slides for microscopy

Working for our Organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Chaired By Ingrid Barker And Led By Maria Kane As Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Aims To Transform The Way Healthcare Is Delivered Locally With a Clear Focus On Making a Difference For What We Call Our Four Ps

• Better outcomes for our Patients
• More opportunities for our People
• Fairer more consistent care for our Population
• Best Value for Public Purse

Our Vision For Five Years From Now

• Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
• We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
• More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
• Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
• Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
• We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
• Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
• We will contribute to system financial balance

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Scientific / technical

• To participate in the reception, preparation, documentation and subsequent safe disposal of all specimens
• To adhere to and assist in ensuring ongoing accuracy of established protocols and procedures ensuring that:
  • There is consistency in the preparation of laboratory specimens
  • Equipment safety and maintenance schedules are followed
  • Health and safety standards are met
  • Appropriate records are maintained (in both electronic and written formats)
• To assist in investigation into laboratory incidents and other aspects of ensuring ongoing quality such as auditing following appropriate training
• To ensure completion of appropriate training and maintenance of competency, escalating any training needs
• To rotate through all sections of the department, participating in the duties indicated in the following paragraphs

Paraffin wax histology of surgical biopsies

• Assisting a pathologist with specimen cut-up
• Processing and embedding specimens into wax
• Microtomy of wax blocks using a rotary microtome to produce sections for mounting on slides
• Staining of these slides by a range of dye methods to demonstrate specific tissue components
• Identifying and assessing control material for use with the department’s panel of special stains

Paraffin wax histology of autopsy specimens

• Processing and embedding large specimens into wax
• Microtomy of large dimension wax blocks using a rotary microtome to produce sections for mounting on large format slides
• Staining of these slides by a range of dye methods to demonstrate specific tissue components
• Using various specialised silver impregnation techniques to demonstrate morphological features specific to the nervous system

Urgent interoperative diagnostic methods

• Staining of biopsy tissue smears for inter-operative diagnosis
• Freezing and cutting sections of these frozen blocks of biopsy tissue using a cryostat. These sections are mounted on slides and stained.

Enzyme histochemistry of muscle biopsies

• Dissection, sampling and rapid freezing of specimens using iso-pentane cooled in liquid nitrogen
• Using a cryostat to cut sections of the frozen muscle for mounting on glass slides
• Performing a range of enzyme histochemical incubations on mounted sections of the specimen to demonstrate the pattern of activity of these enzymes in the muscle tissue

Immunohistochemistry

• Application of immunohistochemistry techniques to both wax-embedded and frozen tissue samples.
• Use of appropriate pre-treatment methods on slides prior to incubation.
• Application of automated techniques to demonstrate a wide spectrum of tissue components (currently utilising approximately 100 different antibody markers).
• Assistance with the validation and verification of reagents and methods to ensure optimal sensitivity and performance.
• Identification and assessment of suitable control material for use with the department’s panel of primary antibodies.

Cytology methods

• Preparation of slides containing cells extracted from cerebral spinal fluid suspensions using a cytocentrifugation technique;
• Staining of these slides for microscopy

In addition, the post-holder may be required to provide occasional technical support for some departmental research activities.

Service support

• To assist in implementing both internal QC and external QA activities
• To assist in the day-to-day maintenance of the department’s facilities, to include:
  • Preparation of reagents
  • Filing of specimens and slides
  • Cleaning & preparation of glassware and other lab materials
  • Equipment maintenance
  • Stock control
• To assist in training and supervising more junior staff within this Department

Communications

The post-holder is required to communicate biomedical information of varying degrees of complexity with medical, scientific and secretarial staff within the Cellular Pathology Department, and in other departments both within and outside of the Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This involves providing and receiving information both verbally and in writing.

Other duties

The post-holder may be required to undertake additional duties commensurate with the grade of post, and in the event of staff absence, may be required to cover for both higher and subordinate grades within the Cellular Pathology Department.

Working Conditions / Effort

Physical demands involve for considerable periods during each working day the use of:

• IT workstations
• Microscopes
• Laboratory equipment requiring continual repetitive movements (e.g. microtomes to cut sections of pathological specimens)

A moderate level of concentration is required to ensure accuracy and consistency in the documenting, preparation and labelling of