Increased public awareness of the need for early detection in all forms of cancer demonstrates that the work of Cytotechnologists has been worthwhile. A Cytotechnologist is a medical technologist who specializes in the science of early detection of cancerous cells. With minimal supervision from the pathologist, the Cytotechnologist screens specially stained slides of human cells under the microscope, looking for minute abnormalities in cell structure that might be the first warning signs of cancer. Most Cytotechnologists do their work in hospitals and private laboratories. They also work in clinics, university medical centers, nursing homes, and public health facilities.
Before entering an accredited program for Cytotechnology an individual must have a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited institution. To gain professional status, a person may be certified by the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).