Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells. Sometimes, these cells provide clues that indicate that disease is present in our bodies. It is the job of cytotechnologists, or cytologists, to look for these clues. These specialized medical lab techs use microscopes to examine cells samples and determine whether or not cells are healthy.
When examining cell samples, cytotechnologists look for changes or abnormalities in the cells’ shape, size, or colour. These types of abnormalities often indicate the presence of cancer, and can even offer clues as to whether a cell is malignant (cancerous) or pre-malignant (pre-cancerous). Cytotechnologists’ findings can also indicate the presence of other diseases, such as bacterial and viral infections.
When a cytotechnologist finds an abnormality in a cell, the results are passed on to a pathologist: the medical doctor who runs the laboratory. It is the pathologist who reviews the findings, makes the diagnosis, and passes the results on to the patient’s attending doctor. In some cases the cytotechnologist assists the pathologist in making the final diagnosis.
Cytotechnologists keep careful records of their findings. For example, they are usually required to enter both abnormal and normal results into a computer tracking system. In addition, when no abnormalities are found in a cell, cytotechnologists are responsible for issuing written reports detailing the results.
The cells that cytotechnologists examine can come from many different areas of the body, such as the lungs, mouth, and reproductive tract. Specimens are collected through a number of different methods, including Pap smears and fine needle aspiration. They may also come from body fluids, or cells that are shed normally or scraped from the body.
Once the specimens have been collected, they are mounted on slides and stained with special dyes. The staining process makes it easier for cytotechnologists to differentiate cells from the surrounding tissues, and to see abnormalities within a cell sample.
In many labs, cytotechnologists are responsible for the preparation and staining of specimens. They may also play a role in specimen collection by assisting physicians in this process. However, other cytotechnologists are solely responsible for the examination of the collected and prepared samples.
NOC Code: 3211