[Histonet] Training and Competency Assessment for HE Slide Review

Yes Victoria, Canadian laboratories can participate in HistoQIP as well. Eric Gagnon MLT Histology Laboratory Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu

[Histonet] Saffron

Beth, as Bob Richmond has noted regarding saffron, The most common use is as the hematoxylin-phloxin-saffron (HPS) trichrome stain. It was in use as a general oversight stain in a few pathology services when I was a resident in the 1960's... and is still in use here in Ontario by about 10% of

[Histonet] Ventana XT Closed System misnomer

Responding to Del who asked about pros/cons of Ventana BenchMark XT: Ventana is often equated with 'closed system'. This is a misnomer. The only thing I regard as closed (besides some colleagues' minds on this issue) is the detection system kit and bulk reagents that are used on the

[Histonet] HIS-Copath-Paperless Order Entry

Have any histonetters had experience with paperless order entry using a HIS-Copath interface? All our clinical laboratories have just gone to paperless order entry on patient floors and clinics, and would be interested in any other sites' experiences that use these same systems. We have

[Histonet] Block Alignment Tool

Interesting thread about block alignment. Bernice makes a good point about Newcomer's level, and the possible effects of benchtop or floor not being level; perhaps the stage-mounted tools are preferable. We have a stage-mounted tool, which brings me to another point. Before this type of tool

[Histonet] Friday funny...block alignment

Speaking of block alignment, when this topic comes up, someone invariably pipes up... Hey, is your head on straight? Eric ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

[Histonet] Ergonomics

Hi Karen, Here's a response to your question, as I haven't seen any others (?) While I haven't used the Newcomer handgrip device, I developed have DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis , a repetitive strain injury from turnin' the ol' microtome wheel for 28 or so years now. I would definitely recommend

[Histonet] IHC in Ontario Canada

Hi Sheila, What are the Ontario Laboratory Accreditation requirements questions that you have regarding IHC? We were assessed in spring/09. We run well over a hundred markers using three Ventana BenchMark XT's. Eric Gagnon MLT Histology Laboratory Kingston General Hospital Kingston,

[Histonet] Negative controls

Hi Anita, We are currently examining the negative control issue in our laboratory. We also have Ventanas. We currently use a normal goat serum as our non-immune serum. We are considering changing our SOP's to use the Ventana Neg Control Rabbit and Neg Control Mouse in dispensers.

[Histonet] HPS Stain

Hi Sheila, HPS (Hematoxylin-Phloxine-Saffron) is the routine stain we use. There are a few institutions in Canada that also still use this stain; around Ottawa and a few other places in Ontario and Quebec. Perhaps one of these institutions sent slides to your pathologist for

[Histonet] Biocare Universal Negative Control Serum may be positive

Having just validated and started using Biocare Universal Negative Control Serum, we were surprised when a pathologist brought back two cases in which tumour and/or epithelium came up positive. This staining was in the same locations as positive staining with some markers. We use Ventana

[Histonet] IHC Slides, Hotplate vs Oven

Tony's answer (62 degrees C for 25 mins) is the minimum to ensure section adheres to slide. We all have to stain slides that have been baked longer than 30 mins. However, especially for Her2, longer baking times can result in false negatives or at least diminished staining. The justification

[Histonet] Lab Refrigerator

Ours is a Sanyo Medical MPR-1013 R double glass-door model with both pullout and stationary shelves. We looked at buying a second-hand unit, but were able to buy brand-new. We call it our dream fridge having made do with some older, much less satisfactory ones before the Sanyo arrived. It

[Histonet] Leica CV5030

We have this same model which we use for routine staining, as well as the smaller Dako product we use for IHC and special stains. We've recently been advised to use microtome oil to lubricate the V-shaped grippers on the CV5030, as the previously-suggested grease was only causing more buildup

[Histonet] Blade Rationing / Blade Conservation

Desperately trying to salvage something positive out of this justifiably acrimonious thread...may I suggest the following blade conservation strategy, that though perhaps well-known, hasn't come up in this discussion yet. By using one blade as a trimming blade, the 'edge' on the next blade will

[Histonet] Dako Omnis

London, Ontario. Eric Gagnon MLT Histology Laboratory Kingston General Hospital Kingston, Ontario, Canada ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

[Histonet] Direct immunofluorescence question

Barb, Have you tried a diamond pencil? Available from a variety of sources, these pencils can be used to etch a circle or other shape around the tissue to be viewed. I believe they use lesser-quality industrial diamonds to make the tips on the pencils (i.e. not the diamond ring quality).

[Histonet] Rusting in Pathology Department

In our laboratory, we have also experienced this, especially with microtomes. As Jennifer has said, it seemed decal solution containing RDO was the culprit, when used in proximity to microtomes. Techs who used RDO for surface decalcification had more rusting on exposed metal parts of the

[Histonet] Manual Coverslipping Safety Issues

Has anyone successfully lobbied their institution for an automated coverslipper for safety reasons? Still coverslipping manually-stained IHC, neuro autopsy and special stains, sometimes hundreds per day. There has to be a better way. Under budget constraints. That's why I'm wondering if

Re: [Histonet] Manual Coverslipping Safety Issues

I should add to my earlier post this morning: -we do use an automated coverslipper for our routine HPS staining, which is several hundred slides daily as well -we do have a fumehood over the main manual coverslipping area -we have had airborne solvent levels measured, but my concern relates to

Re:[Histonet] Manual Coverslipping Safety Issues

A word of thanks for the plethora of responses regarding justification of additional automated coverslipping capacity for our laboratory. We will be considering all your suggestions, combining safety benefits with productivity gains to improve our workflow. You are all truly a valued and

[Histonet] Whole mount histology

Hi Dorothy, I concur with what Rene has mentioned. Main cost would be microtome-related, if you don't have microtomes that can handle mega cassettes. Other process-related costs i.e. fixation, tech time, supplies wouldn't be much different once process was optimized. In fact, tech time is

[Histonet] Immunohistochemistry slides drying and baking protocol

Hi Milton, We've begun baking ALL IHC slides for 2 hours at 60 degrees C. This also applies to unstained extra slides that may potentially used for IHC, including extra sections on breast cores, lymph node cores, cytology cell blocks etc. No specific room temperature drying time before the

[Histonet] C4d stain for IF

Patrick, or anyone else using the alpco product...can you give some details/feedback on how this anti human C4d (FITC-Conjugated) is working for you, and whether you were able to replace two steps with one for C4d IF staining? I checked that website, and the pdf on this product reads: The

[Histonet] How many tissues...

To add to the recent discussion about how many blocks can be cut per hour, the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario published Practice Guidelines for Medical Laboratory Technologists Practising in Histology fairly recently, in 2008, which may be of use in this context. The

[Histonet] CBG Recycler Giveaway

CBG Biotech Benchtop Solvent Recycler Model MSLV-03U, has only been used occasionally, free to a good laboratory home. If you would like this instrument, only requirement is that you pay shipping, please send email off-list to: gagn...@kgh.kari.net Recycler product information here:

[Histonet] GI biopsies

Andria, another factor may be trimming the GI biopsy blocks. If trimming increments are too large, it may rip some of the deeper tissue out of the block, causing holes or possibly the chatter you are seeing. Check the block after trimming to see if there is any unevenness to the surface.

[Histonet] Histology Workload Guidelines

To add to the recent discussion about how many blocks can be embedded per hour, the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario recently published MLT practice guidelines which may be of use. The practice guidelines are intended to support, not replace, the exercise of professional

RE: [Histonet] IF Protocol on skin

Hi Angela, We used Ventana FITC Primary Antibodies. Thanks, Eric From: Angela Bitting [mailto:akbitt...@geisinger.edu] Sent: Wed 2/11/2009 5:11 PM To: Gagnon, Eric Subject: Re: [Histonet] IF Protocol on skin Hi eric, You said you experimented with using

RE: [Histonet] IF Protocol on skin

From: Gudrun Lang [mailto:gu.l...@gmx.at] Sent: Thu 2/12/2009 10:41 AM To: Gagnon, Eric Subject: AW: [Histonet] IF Protocol on skin Hi Eric, thanks for your response. I have several further questions. Did you stain frozen renal sections in the benchmark? Or did you also try NBF

[Histonet] Control slides for Oil Red O

I was always of the opinion that since a delipidized frozen section, treated with toluene/methanol, run in parallel with the patient slide constituted adequate control. Recently though, I've mellowed and realized that only shows a difference in staining between the two slides, not the

[Histonet] Prostate Whole Mounts

Hi Allison, We cut our prostate whole mounts on the Leica RM2255 automated microtome. We obtained their Super Mega Cassette Clamp, (part no 140502 38967). This clamp mounts easily onto the microtome, and holds SurgiPath SuperCassettes ( Cat No VSP59067B-BX grey in colour). The beauty of this

[Histonet] Peggy Wenk's passing

Peggy's reach in our field went beyond borders. Here and I'm sure in other Canadian sites, we were fortunate to benefit from her enthusiasm and expertise online in forums such as this, as well as through teleconferences and blogging. Such knowledge and years of experience are not easily or

[Histonet] On the lighter side...

AKA Roll-call of the Histo-lifers! Started in Histo 1985. Spent 3.5 years in Hematology, but had to leave because I became bored with their incessant blood testing. Where were the interesting Histo bits and pieces I was so used to seeing and glomming? Our laboratory nearly-completely

[Histonet] Kidney bx transport

We receive kidney biopsies brought directly to our grossing area within a few minutes after the cores are obtained. Previously, this was done by nephrologists, but since the renal biopsies are performed in radiology, the interventional radiologist brings them. We decide adequacy first, then

[Histonet] Fixation before Decalcification?

What are you placing tissue blocks in before decalcification? We place blocks for decal in a jar of Bouin's Fixative from any time on Day 1, for specimens received in 10% NBF, until decalcification starts on Day 2. In other words, we gross specimens received in 10% NBF, then fix overnight in

[Histonet] bx levels

We currently place 3 ribbons of 5-6 sections, at each of three levels, 'down' the slide. This may be too many sections for the pathologists' needs. A suggestion for us going forward would be as Lacy Normington suggests - one or two sections at three or four levels, also, placing these short

[Histonet] automated special stains and control tissue

Agree with your opinion re: including special stain control tissue and patient tissue on same slide, Curt. Assuming you're referring to FFPE tissue, there is little if any chance of the control tissue contaminating the patient tissue on the same slide, thus causing a 'false positive' in the

[Histonet] White Benchkote product

Is anyone in Histoland using white bench-covering products, either in roll form or in sheets? (These are white, shiny-coated on one side, and have the consistency of filter paper on the other.) In the past, we have taped them to benchtops to provide a clean look. Are these still in

Re: [Histonet] ER/PR Uneven Staining

As Greg has already mentioned, placing control sections on each patient slide will assist in troubleshooting your staining issue. Joanne, I don't believe you mentioned it in your initial email, but did you attempt a repeat and if so, did the results replicate on the repeat? Occasionally there

[Histonet] Section adherence issues (IHC)

Hi Greg, Permit me a few thoughts on factors not mentioned in your email: * Do your slides 'look' baked/is the wax melted when they are removed from the oven? * Also, is there variance in your oven temperature? * Especially vexing is the fact that control sections are lifting. Are

[Histonet] FW: Formalin collection at grossing stations

Jim, Our PA's collect formalin after each specimen, dumping it into a waste 10-litre carboy. Most of the waste containers are in a small lab sink beside each grossing area. A funnel positioned in the neck of the carboy not only helps channel the formalin, it also keeps the container mostly