Re: [Histonet] Another Dispenser Failure

[Curt via Histonet]

It's the money they care about...



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone


 Original message 
From: Mark Tarango via Histonet 
Date: 2/28/19 12:46 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: Terri Braud 
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Another Dispenser Failure

I hope everyone is using on-slide controls :-)

On Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 11:52 AM Terri Braud via Histonet <
histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:

> Another one!!!
> Our Her2 antibody dispenser failed, LOT #E22628
> This one "supposedly" FDA approved.
> Roche, why do you continue to lie to consumers of your product?  You claim
> you've "fixed" the problem but your Ventana dispensers DON'T WORK!
> This is patient care!  Why don't you care about the customers and patients
> you are supposed to be serving
> Shame on you.
>
> Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP)
> Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
> Laboratory
> Holy Redeemer Hospital
> 1648 Huntingdon Pike
> Meadowbrook, PA 19046
> ph: 215-938-3689
> fax: 215-938-3874
> Care, Comfort, and Heal
>
> -Original Message-
> From: histonet-requ...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:
> histonet-requ...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2019 1:00 PM
> To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: Histonet Digest, Vol 183, Issue 23
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>1. H&E Staining question (Charles Riley)
>2. Re: H&E Staining question (Jay Lundgren)
>3. FYI- Roche Ventana users (Cassie P. Davis)
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2019 15:23:16 +
> From: "Cassie P. Davis" 
> To: histonet 
> Subject: [Histonet] FYI- Roche Ventana users
> Message-ID: 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hi Histoland,
> I am biting my tongue HARD and just letting you know so it doesn't
> happend to you. I just got off the phone with Roche here is the heads-up.
> If one of their anitbody dispensers fails DO NOT put the antibody in one
> of their prep kits, as soon as you do they consider it off label use.
> Call customer service immediately and have them overnight a replacement!
> Cassandra Davis
> Histology Technician
> AP Laboratory
> 302-575-8095
> Email:  cda...@che-east.org
>
>
>
> ___
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
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[Histonet] BRCA1 on Benchmark Ultra

[Curt via Histonet]

Anyone getting good results, I'm trying to determine which clone/vendor to 
use... better to ask before I waste a bunch of time and money... any 
suggestions or recommendations?


Curt



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[Histonet] Quality Manager

[Curt via Histonet]

I am looking for a part time person  to come in and evaluate our entire system 
from top to bottom, to get all our policies and procedures compliant if there 
is a deficiency. This position will require more time up front then, once 
systems are in place and everyone is satisfied it will likely require less 
time, perhaps once every other week or even once a month.

The focus is on quality, compliance, training and record keeping.

Please contact me directly.


Thanks,



Curt Tague | President/CEO
PATHOLOGY ARTS | 1159 Pomona Road, Suite E, Corona, CA 92882 | 951.270.0605 
Office
949.246.4402 Cell |http://www.pathologyarts.com/I  
c.ta...@pathologyarts.com |



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[Histonet] ASR validation

[Curt via Histonet]

Hello to all again!
Thank you for all your help and advice over the years... now I have 1 more 
question... recommended protocol for validating an ASR antibody? As a private 
lab, I'm assuming we are required to notify all clients that it was validated 
internally and that it is not IVD but rather ASR???

Thanks again!

Curt

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[Histonet] IHC-H&E-IHC HELP...

[Curt via Histonet]

Need help before I turn a mistake into an irreparable mistake...

We have some unstained slides that were supposed to get stained with H&E but my 
guy stained them with IHC. It's complicated, we received slides and a block, 
the block was for IHC, the unstained slides were for H&E, he inverted the 
process)
The point is, now the unstained slides are stained with IHC... I know we cannot 
destain the IHC but we can simply run and H&E over them... the real question I 
have is subsequent to the H&E... this pathologist generally likes to see the 
H&E then order IHC on them based on what he sees (we only have these few 
unstained slides, don't have blocks to recut)...

So the question is... if we've already run IHC, then followed that with and 
H&E, can we return to run IHC on the slides again? would you want to skip any 
pre-treatment, antigen retrieval

I don't see this working too well myself, if they're already stained with DAB, 
that would be present on the second stain...

Thoughts?

Thanks for your help.

Curt

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[Histonet] BRCA-1 on Benchmark Ultra

[Curt via Histonet]

I'm trying to get this marker dialed in with little success... would anyone be 
willing to share their protocol to save me a little time and money?
Biocare antibody... working with CC1 and primary AB times Any help is 
greatly appreciated.



Thanks,

Curt



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[Histonet] HP on Benchmark Ultra

[Curt via Histonet]

Any input is appreciated...
We're running HP with Biocares BC7 clone. The stain works well but maybe too 
well, it seems to stain a variety bacteria as opposed to just the HP rods... 
and sometimes it gets a little "dirty" with some staining in the mucus as 
well... I think the first thing we'll try to do is reduce some retrieval 
times... basically lighten things up but I really want to get other opinions... 
some of our pathologists think it's suboptimal with all the other staining but 
I want to hear what others see, are you all seeing other seemingly nonspecific 
staining too? Maybe it's just a bad control, suboptimal... maybe we can dilute 
it down an little, reduce times...

Really wish I could attach a picture, it's not terrible but not perfect.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Curt





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[Histonet] benchmark special stain free sol

[Curt via Histonet]

I have 1 bottle of LCS and 1.5 bottle of depar solution for the benchmark 
special stain platforms, send me a fedex or ups number if you want them.

Curt

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[Histonet] lieca bond stainers available

[Curt via Histonet]

I've got 2 stainers that have been shelved for a couple years, anyone 
interested in them?

Curt



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[Histonet] tissue blocks available for banking

[Curt via Histonet]

If anyone is looking for tissue for a bank, I have a boxes and boxes of derm 
specimens and GI specimens. I know they're probably not what everyone needs but 
if someone out there does need them, you can have them. figured I'd ask before 
I disposed of them... at the landfill next to the city water well... LOL, just 
kidding, I know someone out there will not think that's funny, it's just a joke.


Curt




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[Histonet] Type AB Thymoma

[Curt via Histonet]

Any thoughts on what this might be useful for in terms of controls and/or 
research? I just obtained a large specimen and wonder if there is any real need 
to process and store it...


Thanks,

Curt


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[Histonet] american master tech retic component

[Curt via Histonet]

So I know they won't disclose this information if I call but I'd like to find a 
work around for the little silver vials provided by American master tech. Not 
that there is a problem with the quality of their product, I just want to cut 
my costs a little. Does anyone know what is in that little vial they sell with 
their retic kit, the recipe?

If they see this, I think they'll probably be a little irritated... sorry.

Thanks ,

Curt


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Re: [Histonet] benchmark ultra bulks

[Curt via Histonet]

My service/field technician said the Ultra LCS is required for the IHC, not 
sure why but that’s what I was told.

Curt


From: Allan Wang [mailto:alla...@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2017 9:21 AM
To: Curt
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] benchmark ultra bulks

The LCS is fairly cheap in comparison to some other bulks and 650-010 is half 
the price of 650-210. I don't know if there's actually any difference between 
them.

I think an alternate formulation for EZ Prep (or Discovery Wash), CC1 and 
especially CC2 would save more money.

Allan

On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 12:00 PM, Curt via Histonet 
mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu>> 
wrote:
So like everyone else, I'm always trying to find new ways to save a few 
dollars, technology and costs are always increasing while reimbursements are 
always decreasing...
With that, does anyone have any thoughts on alternative bulks to what Roche 
sells for the benchmark ultra, I'm thinking an alternative to their Ultra 
LCS... any thoughts?
So long as a customer meets their monthly obligation it should be ok...

Is it even possible...

Curt


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[Histonet] benchmark ultra bulks

[Curt via Histonet]

So like everyone else, I'm always trying to find new ways to save a few 
dollars, technology and costs are always increasing while reimbursements are 
always decreasing...
With that, does anyone have any thoughts on alternative bulks to what Roche 
sells for the benchmark ultra, I'm thinking an alternative to their Ultra 
LCS... any thoughts?
So long as a customer meets their monthly obligation it should be ok...

Is it even possible...

Curt


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[Histonet] changing carbon filters

[Curt via Histonet]

How often is everyone changing the carbon filters in their tissue processors 
and stainer, maybe even the thermo-shandon hood filters too?

Curt






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[Histonet] IHC counterstain offline

[Curt via Histonet]

We currently use the benchmark ultra and are, in an effort to save a little 
money, looking at running out counter stain offline. Anyone have any 
suggestions or thoughts they might offer? We currently run our H&E with Richard 
Allen Hematoxylin 7111. I am curious if that is suitable for use in your 
experience or if you recommend a different Hematoxylin for IHC counter stains. 
How much bluing time, etc.



Thanks,

Curt


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[Histonet] BRCA-1 validation

[Curt via Histonet]

Just looking for some recommendations on tissue for validating BRCA-1, IHC... 
before I get to the pathologists... any recommendations. What I'm reading so 
far is ovarian carcinoma (serous) and normal breast, is that what you all have 
used and/or recommend?

Thanks,
Curt




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[Histonet] Nexus stainers

[Curt via Histonet]

Anyone out there using the Nexus and need Trichrome kits? We ordered the wrong 
kits (2) and naturally Ventana will not let us return them...  if you are 
interested, let me know.

Curt


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Re: [Histonet] Ventana Retic problems

[Curt via Histonet]

We have had the same problem our solution was not the second but the wash, 
it for a bad too quickly so we don't make a full carboy and let it sit for a 
week, we make fresh wash almost daily, ESPECIALLY when we have a retic. Our 
stains look great daily with fresh wash solution.
You may try that,  hope it helps.

Curt



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone


 Original message 
From: Jeffrey Robinson via Histonet 
Date: 6/14/17 4:01 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: donna mihalik rossi 
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Retic problems

Hi Donna-  I have been dealing with these same exact issues for 3 1/2 years now 
so I think I have achieved "expert status" in dealing with this problem.

First, I'll give you my current protocol.  When all things are working 
smoothly, it produces a nice stain.  But it is very frustrating when it starts 
to "fade."

We cut all retics at 5.  Thinner cuts will definitely look lighter.

Protocol:  warmup slide:  47 degrees C.
 Oxidizer:4 minutes
 Decolorizer: 4 minutes
 Sensitizer:  8 minutes
 Optimize Counterstain Intensity:  4 Minutes

I have gone around and around with Ventana on decontamination problems with 
this instrument.  I was performing full decontamination runs every month.  My 
rep finally said to just decon the bulk wash carboy and the wash bottle on the 
instrument when fading begins to show.  Ventana claims there will be a new wash 
out this year that will hopefully take care of the problem once and for all but 
no one at Ventana can give me a release date on that.
In the meantime, this is what I do:

Daily:  run the "Purge Wash" function test 3 times in the morning before 
running any slides.  Be sure to run the "Purge" function and not the "Prime" 
function.
When loading slides, put all of your retic slides on after everything else 
(after the GMS, etc., slides).

When staining starts to fade:  after ruling out "thin cuts" and other obvious 
problems it is time for decon.  The fading will show first on the patient 
tissue (the control may still look OK).
Here is my current decon protocol:  I use the Lysol IC decon solution. I have 
an extra 6 gallon carboy and I leave some made up (diluted) so that it is ready 
to go.  Put some decon solution on a 4X4 guaze and wipe the dispenser tip 
underneath the top (lift lid up for access).  Dump the wash solution in the 
wash bottle on the instrument.  Rinse out with DI water. Fill with decon 
solution.  Swish solution inside bottle.  Replace bottle (on instrument).  Run 
"Purge Wash" function test (3 times).  After Purge #3, let the solution sit in 
the lines for at least 15 minutes (the longer the better).  When you are ready 
to proceed, rinse bulk bottle well several times and replace with DI water.  
Run "Purge Wash" 3 more times.  Time is not a factor here so you can just run 
them one after another.  After the third purge, replace the DI with BM SS wash. 
 Run "Purge Wash" function test 3 more times.  That's it.  I find I need to run 
this procedure about once a month.
Additionally, I decon the 5 gallon bulk wash carboy EVERY TIME I make up a new 
batch.  It doesn't take long (I just let the decon solution sit for 15 minutes) 
and then when I do need to do the modified decon on the instrument I do not 
need to worry about the bulk carboy.

I hope this helps- it takes a little time but it does seems to help with the 
retic stain intensity.

Jeff Robinson, Senior Histotechnologist (HT, HTL), Sierra Pathology Lab, 
Clovis, CA.

-Original Message-
From: donna mihalik rossi via Histonet 
[mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2017 1:45 PM
To: histonet
Subject: [Histonet] Ventana Retic problems

Hi Histonetters!  We are experiencing sporadic staining of retic fibers from 
our Ventana Benchmark machines.  We have 2 machines and are having the same 
problem on both. The machines were both decontaminated 2 weeks ago with all new 
solutions  being made.  The fibers are not crisp and are disconnected.  Our 
control tissue is  at the top of the slide with the patient tissue at the 
bottom. It appears that the control is staining better than the patient tissue 
but still is  not crisp. We have tried different lots with the same result. Any 
comments before we consult Ventana? Your help would be appreciated.  Thanks, 
Donna  Rossi, PSU


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Re: [Histonet] Personel

[Curt via Histonet]

That is very helpful. The test is the rendering of an interpretation or 
diagnosis, not the mere operation of the machinery, correct?

Curt


-Original Message-
From: Morken, Timothy [mailto:timothy.mor...@ucsf.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 11:41 AM
To: Curt; Jesus Ellin
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: Personel

Curt, 

Yes, but that is the test, not the personnel, and specifically applies to the 
interpretation of the test, not the running of the machine. In AP the "testing 
personnel" is the pathologist, not the tech running the machine. Only the 
pathologist interprets the stains and reports a result. They also have final 
signoff on any QC. I have never seen an explicit explanation from CAP about how 
the CLIA regs fit with histology. CLIA was written for the clinical lab where 
the MT's report results directly. CLIA considers all histology personnel as 
"Processing Personnel" not testing personnel. CAP has taken it up a notch, 
which they are allowed to do, but they have not provided any explicit guidance 
as to how it applies in histology. For instance, why is IHC  high complexity 
but special stains are not? They are similar in complexity of processing. 

I give workshops on competency testing in histology. This question is the 
number one question. Where does high complexity apply? All I want is for CAP to 
produce a document explaining their rational so people don't have to call them 
to get answers, or, god forbid, depend on a CAP inspector for the answer, most 
of which are contradictory from one inspector to another.

Tim



-Original Message-
From: Curt [mailto:c.ta...@pathologyarts.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 10:43 AM
To: Morken, Timothy; Jesus Ellin
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: Personel

I recently had this same discussion with Jesus, please follow this link he gave 
me: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCLIA/Search.cfm

At the top, enter "Test System / Manufacturer" for example, we enter Ventana, 
it will list all tests that qualify as High Complexity. There are 4-5 different 
tab/pages... even operating something as basic as a DAB detection kit appears 
to qualify as High Complexity...if you enter Leica, then you get much less but 
the detection kit is listed as High Complexity still so it would serve to 
reason that someone not qualified for high complexity testing cannot even load 
slides... maybe they can if a qualified person is the one prepping the machine, 
loading detection kits and AB's???

High Complexity testing personnel requirements per CAP: 

1. MD or DO with a current medical license¹; OR 2. Doctoral degree in clinical 
laboratory science, chemical, physical or biological science; OR 3. Master's 
degree in medical technology, clinical laboratory, chemical, physical, or 
biological science; OR 4. Bachelor's degree in medical technology, clinical 
laboratory, chemical, physical or biological; OR 5. Associate degree in 
chemical, physical or biological science or medical laboratory or equivalent 
education and training (refer to 42CFR493.1489(b) for details on required 
courses and training); OR 6. Individuals performing high complexity testing on 
or before April 24, 1995 with a high school diploma or equivalent with 
documented training may continue to perform testing only on those tests for 
which training was documented prior to September 1, 1997 (refer to CLIA 
regulation 42CFR493.1489(b) for details on required training)

Curt

-Original Message-
From: Morken, Timothy via Histonet [mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 10:17 AM
To: Jesus Ellin
Cc: Histonet
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Personel

Jesus, that is very interesting information. 

Does anyone know of any CAP accreditation documents that state explicitly  that 
IHC slide staining is high complexity? I have not seen any. If anyone has those 
documents I'd like to see them. The only reference from CAP about that 
classification I have seen was in a Q&A session transcript from a CAP webinar 
on competency testing. The webinar had no information about IHC and complexity. 
However, a presenter answering a question about whether IHC staining at the 
bench is a high complexity "test," did state that IHC staining is high 
complexity so the techs doing the staining must have competency testing. Very 
strange!

That's not to say I don't think IHC is high complexity - I do, and so is every 
other test in histology. But under CLIA the testing personnel is the 
pathologist, not the bench tech. CAP can deem IHC bench testing as high 
complexity if it wishes (CLIA is a baseline and deemed accrediting agencies, 
and institutions, can have stricter requirements). But it seems the only way 
anyone can find out if CAP classifies IHC as high complexity is to call them 
and ask.

Your comment about new technology is interesting. In a modern scenario, which 
tech is the person who is "staining" the slid

Re: [Histonet] Personel

[Curt via Histonet]

I recently had this same discussion with Jesus, please follow this link he gave 
me: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCLIA/Search.cfm

At the top, enter "Test System / Manufacturer" for example, we enter Ventana, 
it will list all tests that qualify as High Complexity. There are 4-5 different 
tab/pages... even operating something as basic as a DAB detection kit appears 
to qualify as High Complexity...if you enter Leica, then you get much less but 
the detection kit is listed as High Complexity still so it would serve to 
reason that someone not qualified for high complexity testing cannot even load 
slides... maybe they can if a qualified person is the one prepping the machine, 
loading detection kits and AB's???

High Complexity testing personnel requirements per CAP: 

1. MD or DO with a current medical license¹; OR
2. Doctoral degree in clinical laboratory science, chemical, physical or 
biological science; OR
3. Master's degree in medical technology, clinical laboratory, chemical, 
physical, or biological science; OR
4. Bachelor's degree in medical technology, clinical laboratory, chemical, 
physical or biological; OR
5. Associate degree in chemical, physical or biological science or medical 
laboratory or equivalent education and training (refer to 42CFR493.1489(b) for 
details on required courses and training); OR
6. Individuals performing high complexity testing on or before April 24, 1995 
with a high school diploma or equivalent with documented training may continue 
to perform testing only on those tests for which training was documented prior 
to September 1, 1997 (refer to CLIA regulation 42CFR493.1489(b) for details on 
required training)

Curt

-Original Message-
From: Morken, Timothy via Histonet [mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 10:17 AM
To: Jesus Ellin
Cc: Histonet
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Personel

Jesus, that is very interesting information. 

Does anyone know of any CAP accreditation documents that state explicitly  that 
IHC slide staining is high complexity? I have not seen any. If anyone has those 
documents I'd like to see them. The only reference from CAP about that 
classification I have seen was in a Q&A session transcript from a CAP webinar 
on competency testing. The webinar had no information about IHC and complexity. 
However, a presenter answering a question about whether IHC staining at the 
bench is a high complexity "test," did state that IHC staining is high 
complexity so the techs doing the staining must have competency testing. Very 
strange!

That's not to say I don't think IHC is high complexity - I do, and so is every 
other test in histology. But under CLIA the testing personnel is the 
pathologist, not the bench tech. CAP can deem IHC bench testing as high 
complexity if it wishes (CLIA is a baseline and deemed accrediting agencies, 
and institutions, can have stricter requirements). But it seems the only way 
anyone can find out if CAP classifies IHC as high complexity is to call them 
and ask.

Your comment about new technology is interesting. In a modern scenario, which 
tech is the person who is "staining" the slide? And which of these is the "high 
complexity" part of the process?
1) person collating slides to stain
2) Person who programs the stainer
3) Person who dilutes the antibodies (still done!)
4) person who loads reagents on the stainer
5) person who loads the slides on the stainer
6) person who starts the stainer
7) person who unloads the slides from the stainer
8) person who labels and distributes the slides.
9) Person who checks QC slides (BTW, not a "test,").

In our lab these tasks are traded off by many different people throughout the 
day 

How about the person doing the validation of the stain? They are not doing a 
"test" but they are making the test possible to do.

Just some questions to ponder over the holidays!



Tim Morken
Pathology Site Manager, Parnassus
Supervisor, Electron Microscopy/Neuromuscular Special Studies Department of 
Pathology UC San Francisco Medical Center



-Original Message-
From: Jesus Ellin via Histonet [mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 9:36 AM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Personel

So I know I am going to open Pandoras box,, but have people been paying 
attention to the Personal requirements from CAP.

I called the CAP and asked them about the criteria concerning Moderate or High 
complexity testing, after discussing with them the situations,   IF you have a 
tech that is Licensed and Also has a QIHC, but does not minimum requirement 
Defined by CLIA in education ,, they CAN NOT do any QA/OC of IHC and antibody 
work up,, as IHC is defined as High complexity testing.

I also asked about the test systems.  The grandfather clause is only good for 
test systems that occurred for those time periods.  For instance if CLIA 
defined the test system after those dates of 199

Re: [Histonet] Ventana Ultra vs. Leica Bond Max

[Curt via Histonet]

Hello,
We had Leica Bond Max instruments (2 Bonds) for about 5 years and made the move 
over the Ventana Ultras (3 Ultras) a couple years ago. We made the move 
initially for the speed and menu benefits versus the Leica, (Ultra is about 2x 
faster) but also saw a quality improvement once we tweaked the protocols a bit. 
 I don't know about the difference between the XT and the Ultra because we 
never had the XT, but from the Leica to the Ultra the biggest improvement was 
speed.

We also saw dirty H. Pylori staining at first with both Leica and Ventana but 
have cleaned it up dramatically with some processing and fixation changes.  I 
don't know if the instrument has much to do with the staining quality as the 
changes in our process because the staining was improved using the same Ultra 
instrument.  If you like I would be willing stain your tissue on our 
instruments to see if you do in fact have a bad instrument??? I can also share 
with you our protocols to see if that helps your staining issues. 
 
Thanks,
 
Curt

-Original Message-
From: Gareth Davis via Histonet [mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 12:10 PM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Ventana Ultra vs. Leica Bond Max

I was interested in anyone's opinion on the new Ventana Benchmark Ultra and 
Leica's Bond Max.  I currently use the Ventana Benchmark XT.  Ventana wants us 
to upgrade to the Ultra.  Because our contract will be up in a year, my manager 
and lab owners want me to check out other options.  Hoping to get a better deal 
and a better instrument.  The Benchmark XT slide heaters keep going out and the 
H. pylori is awful, Ventana swears it's the instruments fault.
Thanks,

--
Ms. Gareth B. Davis, HT, QIHC (ASCPcm)
Yuma Gastroenterology
Yuma, AZ 85364
928-248-5259
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[Histonet] automated special stains and control tissue

[Curt via Histonet]

Re: automated special stainers, are you all running the patient tissue with a 
control on it, like IHC? we're wrestling with the idea of a control on each 
slide or a batch control... the pathologist wants a batch control, thinks the 
control may contaminate the patient tissue (PASF for example). My argument is 
that this process is different in that each slide is stained independently and 
should be treated as a separate stain, not like the old days running a bunch of 
slides in a Coplin jar... if there's a mechanical error and some reagent is 
dropped on a slide but the error didn't  occur on the control slide then the 
control would still stain properly but the patient tissue would be negative... 
we will never know if there isn't a control. I  think they should be treated 
like IHC...

Anyone else have this issue?
Thoughts?

Curt

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[Histonet] unsubscribe

[Curt via Histonet]

Thanks,



CURT TAGUE | President/CEO
PATHOLOGY ARTS | 1159 Pomona Road, Suite E, Corona, CA 92882 | 951.270.0605 
Office
949.616.9911 Cell |http://www.pathologyarts.com/I  
c.ta...@pathologyarts.com |


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[Histonet] embedding and microtomy "medical waste"

[Curt via Histonet]

So here's a good one for you all... we had the county health department come 
through the lab and ding us on medical waste... specifically the plastic 
disposable lids at embedding, the lens paper used for wrapping specimens such 
as ECC and EMB. Then they got us on the Kim Wipes used to clean the water bath 
at microtomy... those papers have human tissue on them so they need to be 
treated as medical waste... NOW we have to have red cans next to all microtomes 
and embedding stations. The obvious issue outside of cost and logic is that 
these medical waste cans all seem to have self closing lids which really 
interferes with the rhythm and pace of work when one needs to reach over with a 
food to open the lid after every block is embedded and when they water bath is 
cleaned after every block...

Simple question(s): 1)does anyone else have to do such things to contain the 
waste, 2) does anyone know of a source for medical waste cans that do not have 
these frustrating self closing lids... if we could simple remove the lid and 
replace it when done then we could deal with it, the cost is one thing but 
slowing down work flow is a problem.

And just for a little more humor, they actually wanted me to contain and 
dispose of the water runoff from our two automated slide stainers, we run about 
2200 slides a night... that would be many gallons of waste water every night 
and would not be within the budget We in turn ran a fish kill test which 
demonstrated that the water runoff which contain little Hematoxylin, bluing and 
clarifier do not pose any significant threat to the environment, not even in 
California

Bottom line to all this, I need some red trash cans with removable lids, if 
they're still out there somewhere Anywhere.


Thanks for your input,

Curt

Ps, I didn't proff read thie smail... if something is not spelt correctly, 
don't hold it against me

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[Histonet] hello histonetters, looking for a little control tissue help

[Curt via Histonet]

We are looking for some control tissue that we're having trouble finding. Would 
like to see if anyone is interested or able to barter some tissue...

Now this is going to be the fun part... they're all the hard ones to find..

AML
EBV
Hairy Cell Leukemia
Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Mesothelioma
Thymus

It's never easy asking for help, inconveniencing other people, hate to ask but 
we just can't find any from our local sources.

Best regards and thanks for any help,

Curt

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