Program Overview

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HISTOTECHNOLOGY Program Details

Overview

The HISTOTECHNOLOGY program is offered by the University of Genoa, with the course code 68481, during the academic year 2025/2026. The program consists of 3 CFU (university credits) in the second year of the TECNICHE DI LABORATORIO BIOMEDICO (Biomedical Laboratory Techniques) course.

Scientific Disciplinary Sector

The program falls under the MED/46 scientific disciplinary sector, with Italian as the language of instruction. The teaching location is Genova.

Semester and Modules

The program is scheduled for the 2ｰ semester and is a module of the PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY TECHNIQUES course.

Teaching Materials

The teaching materials for the program are available on AULAWEB.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The program aims to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Sampling and verification of cyto-histological material.
2. Management of the first part of the Histological analytical phase.
3. Management of the diagnostic process in compliance with the quality system.
4. Knowledge of disciplinary, ethical, and deontological principles of the laboratory technician profession.
5. Definition of decisions in coherence with legal, ethical, and deontological dimensions.
6. Organization of laboratory diagnostic activities.
7. Knowledge of the use of IT tools in relation to dedicated uses during Sample Acceptance procedures.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The program aims to:

• Understand the fundamentals of Pathological Anatomy.
• Explain the role and importance of pathological anatomy in medical diagnoses.
• Describe the main activities and procedures performed by the laboratory technician in pathological anatomy.
• Illustrate the activities of tissue acceptance and sampling.
• Describe the processing, embedding, cutting, and staining procedures of histological preparations.
• Acquire knowledge of fine-needle aspiration cytology of effusions.
• Know the methods of delivery and management of final preparations.
• Identify and distinguish the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases in the laboratory workflow.

Teaching Methods

The course is organized in frontal lessons, interactive sessions using slides, and written tests during the course.

Syllabus/Content

The program covers the following topics:

• Pathological Anatomy: General introduction to the course.
• Role of the technician in the Histo-cytopathology laboratory.
• Activities and specialist services of the differentiated technician in diagnostic and research laboratories.
• Responsibility of the technician, deontology, and qualifying professional training.
• Pathological Anatomy: Recording and filing of the material.
• Planning of operations based on the characteristics of the material.
• Pathological Anatomy: The material preparation of the biopsy.
• Procedures based on the type of material.
• Pathological Anatomy: Conservation and fixation of the material.
• Definition of physical and chemical fixatives.
• Primary fixatives and mixtures.
• Coagulating and non-coagulant fixatives.
• Main characteristics of the most common fixatives and principles of fixation of each of them.
• Fixation times, problems of inadequate fixation.
• Defects due to poor fixation or excessive fixation.
• Special fixatives for particular fabrics or for particular colors.
• Pathological Anatomy: Paraffin embedding techniques.
• Processing of the material (manual and automatic).
• Technical times for paraffin embedding.
• Manual or automated inclusion.
• The choice of inclusion times based on the characteristics of the material (type of sample) and tissue.
• Fast inclusion and slow inclusion by macrosections.
• Possible orientation artifacts.
• Pathological Anatomy: Types of cytological material.
• Definitions of exfoliative cytology, effusion cytology, abrasive cytology, physiological fluid cytology, cytology of cystic neoplastic forms.
• Pathological anatomy: Cytological preparations for exfoliative cytology.
• The fixation of the material.
• Smear and liquids.
• Pathological anatomy: Cytological preparations of liquids.
• Enrichment techniques.
• Preparation techniques for smears, cytocentrifuges, and sediment inclusions.
• Staining.
• Cytology in liquid phase.
• Pathological Anatomy: Basic histological stains.
• The chemical basis of basic hematoxylin-eosin staining.
• The variables in the choice of the various hematoxylins and specific characteristics.
• Concepts of basophilia and acidophilia.
• Examples of hematoxylinophilic and eosinophilic tissues or cells.
• Pathological anatomy: Histo-morphological staining.
• Principles of histochemistry.
• Staining methods for tropho-mechanical tissues; collagen fibers, elastic fibers, reticular fibers.
• Trichrome stains and mixtures.
• Pathological Anatomy: Basic histochemical techniques.
• Staining methods for protein substances.
• Staining methods for lipid substances.
• Coloring methods for carbohydrates.
• Coloring methods for inorganic substances and pigments.
• Stains for the central nervous system.
• Microtome cutting techniques.
• Types of microtomes.
• Techniques for cutting with a rotary microtome based on the type of material.
• Pathological Anatomy: Develop specific skills in the autopsy room.
• Acquire some of the practical and theoretical skills necessary to operate in the autopsy room.
• Differences between fetal autopsy and non-fetal autopsy.
• Pathological Anatomy: Traceability systems.
• Know the methods of tracking samples and preparations.
• Ensure safety, accuracy, and traceability in the diagnostic process.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

The recommended reading for the program includes:

• Cardillo MR Nozioni di tecniche diagnostiche di Anatomia Patologica Antonio Delfino Editore, Roma, 2009.
• Ruco L, Scarpa A Anatomia Patologica, Le basi. UTET, Torino,2007.
• Daniel S, Zanin T Manuale di tecnica cito-istologica Documentazione scientifica editrica, Bologna, 1997.
• Valdes-Da Pena M, Huff DS Manuale delle autopsie perinatali Piccin, Padova, 1989.
• Bancroft't Theory and Practise of Histological Techniques - S. Kim Suvarna, Christopher Layton and John D. Bancroft - Churchill Livingstone.

Teachers and Exam Board

The teachers for the program are:

• SIMONETTA FERRANDO
• LAURA ZITO
• FABIANA MALAGUTI

The exam board consists of:

• ROBERTO FRANCO FIOCCA (President)
• FEDERICA GRILLO (President)
• LUCA MASTRACCI (President)
• MICHELE PAUDICE (President)
• SIMONETTA FERRANDO
• FABIANA MALAGUTI
• LAURA ZITO
• VALERIO GAETANO VELLONE (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

Lessons

The lessons for the program start in the II year, II semester.

Exams

The exam is carried out as an oral interview, with 30 triplets of mixed questions concerning technical topics of histology, cytology, and general histological pathology topics. The exam schedule is as follows:

• 12/01/2026, 08:30, GENOVA
• 26/01/2026, 08:30, GENOVA
• 23/02/2026, 08:30, GENOVA
• 15/06/2026, 08:30, GENOVA
• 29/06/2026, 08:30, GENOVA
• 20/07/2026, 08:30, GENOVA
• 14/09/2026, 08:30, GENOVA

The assessment methods for the exam aim to verify the achievement of the expected learning outcomes, including the ability to apply knowledge and communication skills. The rules regarding the evaluation method of students certified as DSA or with other educational needs will be respected during the exam.