Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Healthcare / 29-2012.01

Histology Technicians

Prepare histological slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist with research studies.

US jobs
Not reported by BLS
Job family
Healthcare

Can agents do the work of histology technicians?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Healthcare: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: MedAgentBench, 69.7% of tasks completed.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 29-2012 group).

  • 34%Prepare specimens or materials for testingNot measured
  • 11%Collect environmental or biological samplesNot measured
  • 10%Analyze biological or chemical substances or related dataNot measured
  • 7%Maintain medical equipment or instrumentsNot measured
  • 7%Operate laboratory or field equipmentNot measured
  • 6%Arrange displays or decorationsNot measured
  • 4%Administer diagnostic tests to assess patient healthNot measured
  • 3%Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient careNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in healthcare, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

  • OSWorld 2.0by HKU and Snorkel AIProject level · Binary completion rate (full set, 500 steps)
    44.3%Claude Opus 5 (max, batch tool) · 17 Sep 2026
    Emerging
  • SOP-Benchby AmazonTask level · Task success rate
    72.4%Claude 4 Opus (ReAct agent) · 23 Feb 2026
    Strong

Context only

These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.

  • GDPvalby OpenAIProject level · Wins plus ties against experts
    84.9%GPT-5.5 · Apr 2026
    Strong
  • GDPval-AAby Artificial AnalysisProject level · GDPval-AA Elo
    1866 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Max, Default Fallback) · 10 Oct 2026
    Unrated

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Cut sections of body tissues for microscopic examination, using microtomes.
  • Embed tissue specimens into paraffin wax blocks, or infiltrate tissue specimens with wax.
  • Mount tissue specimens on glass slides.
  • Stain tissue specimens with dyes or other chemicals to make cell details visible under microscopes.
  • Freeze tissue specimens.
  • Operate computerized laboratory equipment to dehydrate, decalcify, or microincinerate tissue samples.
  • Archive diagnostic material, such as histologic slides and blocks.
  • Maintain laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, mass spectrometers, microtomes, immunostainers, tissue processors, embedding centers, and water baths.
Other job titles for this occupation (13)

Clinical Histology Technician (Clinical Histology Tech) · Histologic Technician (HT) · Histologist · Histology Consultant · Histology Coordinator · Histology Technician (HT) · Histotechnician · Certified Histologic Technician (Certified Histologic Tech) · Histologic Aide · Histology Assistant · Histology Lab Assistant (Histology Laboratory Assistant) · Histology Laboratory Aide · Mohs Technician (Mohs Tech)