Hi all,
Does anyone know about the company Metamark
(http://metamarkgenetics.com/about-us ) and if anyone is using them for
prostate or urinary biopsy genetic testing? I am having problems finding
studies that validate their advertisements.
Any help is appreciated,
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS,
The Hologic Imaging system has been approved for both glass and ribbon
coverslips. I'd suggest you reach out to your local Hologic rep for any
specifics that you might have.
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
Anatomical Pathology Manager
Rutland Regional Medical Center
160 Allen Street,
I've used a variety of microscopes in my 20 years in the cytology field. At
this point, I believe that the optics between Olympus and Nikon are pretty much
equal. I can't comment on Leica as the last one of these that I used was over
20 years old and not worth the comparison. In a laboratory
The PreservCyt solution is absolutely the culprit. The methanol and ethanol in
that solution causes the cells to shrink and round up, thus creating your
issues of them falling off during your staining protocol. The PreservCyt does
a great job when utilized on the ThinPrep processor but not
Hi Karen,
We utilize Cerner Pathnet too. Unfortunately, reporting from the system isn't
easy, or at least it isn't for us. We are currently stuck with Discern
Analytics (not the 2.0 version), which can provide you the number of these
charges and potentially the types of IHCs you performed
Hi Nina,
How are the cytology specimens collected? This will play a role in how you
process them for evaluation on the Cytospin machine. We do not utilize the
mega funnels. However, cytology specimens should be centrifuge first to remove
any supernatant. Then equal parts of the Cytospin
What is you unsat rate with the ThinPrep? Published rates are as follows. Are
lab runs around 1.5% for ThinPrep.
CATEGORY
5th
10th
25th
50th
75th
90th
95th
UNSATISFACTORY (%)
0.3
0.4
0.7
1.8
2.5
3.2
3.8
It is also important to recognize that unsatisfactory Pap test results
Lujain,
You'd have to define what "better" mean to you and your laboratory. I've used
both systems in my career. Each have their pros and cons. You would also need
to define the specimen types you intend to process, i.e. Pap tests only, Pap
tests and non-gyn. Each company now offers a
HI Mary Ann,
If you are referring to the Pap stain for Pap tests or for Non-Gyn specimens
including FNA, you will need to verify daily that the technical quality of the
slides. This evaluation should include any preparation for the day, including
liquid based, cytospins, direct smears, and
Great reminder. Also, for outlook users (this might exist in other mail
services too), I'd suggest setting up a folder and a rule to send the daily
emails so that you can peruse them in your own time and save by topics. I find
the information shared on this list valuable for a variety of
Well, the formatting of the table went awry. Contact me personal for it.
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
Anatomical Pathology Manager
joewal...@rrmc.org, www.rrmc.org
-Original Message-
From: Joe W. Walker, Jr. via Histonet
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2018 3:03 PM
To: Rene J
This is very true, Rene but lab costs can vary widely due to group purchasing
contracts and other negotiations that are slightly outside of the lab's
control. When we performed this analysis, we look at consumable costs in
addition to technologist's salary cost to figure out total cost per
There are many reasons why the nuclei may look dark in the Pap stain.
1. What type of hematoxylin are you using?
2. What type of Pap stain are you using, regressive or progressive?
This could be due to a variety of things like: type of preparation utilized,
too long in hematoxylin, not enough
Hi Amy,
We don't have a "policy" per se but we have a process in place to help meet
these questions. We utilize Cerner and have created a custom report that looks
for cases that require a synoptic report to be used. The report displays
cancer cases where a synoptic report was not used. We
We utilize small, disposable absorbent pads, which also absorb the formalin
fumes. We obtain ours through Leica/former Surgipath. They work well and are
changed in between cases. Each case utilizes a new scalpel blade and forceps
are rinsed in water between cases. I am not aware of any cross
Hi Thomas,
What is your reference source for stating this is "a physician code"? In
reviewing our coding data, this code carries a facilities component in addition
to a professional component. I agree that a pathologist must perform the
review in order to bill for both, but I am aware of
Hi Deanne,
We utilize the 88172-TC to capture the work that our cytotechs put into
assisting with the FNA procedures. This covers them making slides, staining
them and triaging the specimen for any ancillary testing that might be needed.
The CPT code manual states, " Cytopathology,
Hi Dr. Cartun,
We have had similar discussions about this in our institution, too.
Unfortunately, according to our contracted lab compliance person, the correct
code for all skin lesions is 88305.
Below is an excerpt from Dennis Padget's coding manual (now owned by American
Pathology
In our lab, we evaluate a slide from a case in each staining run and document
the staining of the nucleus and cytoplasm that are present within the slide.
We also run a blank slide in each batch and evaluate it for any potential
floaters. Lastly, we stain our FNA specimens separately from any
Hi Terri,
At one time we did the same thing but have changed our approach in light of the
FDA's and CAP's view point on ASRs. The potential problem is that IHCs are all
validated/tested by the manufacturer on FFPE tissue. By introducing
methanol/ethanol as the first step in fixation, you
Hi Charles,
What are you collecting the FNA into? Cytorich? Cytolyt? Other?
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
Anatomical Pathology Manager
joewal...@rrmc.org, www.rrmc.org
-Original Message-
From: Charles Riley via Histonet
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2019 8:13 AM
To: Histo List
As a cytotech, that wouldn’t be my first choice for collections and FNA
specimens. The main reason is that once fixed in 95% ETOH you are limited if
you need to perform IHC stains on the cell block unless you have validated your
IHCs on ETOH fixed specimens. How do you process the FNA rinses
The CAP also offers an inspector training course, which provides lots of
helpful information. At one time this was a requirement to be a CAP inspector.
Not sure about this requirement anymore.
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
Anatomical Pathology and Interim Phlebotomy Manager
Rutland
to requests
for sensitive information if the email looks suspicious or you don’t recognize
the sender.
Hi joe,
Can you point me to the cap reg for this? I can’t find it in the ap checklist.
Is it in all common?
Thanks.
Garrey
Sent from my iPhone
> On Oct 9, 2020, at 10:49 AM, Joe W. Walker,
Any IHC that involves prognostic indications requires PT. A short list would
include ER, PgR, HER2 but there are others. CAP info is here:
https://documents.cap.org/documents/2021-Surveys-catalog-mobile.pdf
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
Anatomical Pathology and Interim Phlebotomy Manager
I respect your view point but as someone who has trained histotechs and
cytotechs, the film leaves residual dots from dotting pens making it a
challenge to test individual's ability to locate and identify tissues and cells
of interest. That is the only draw back that I have seen in my years
Don’t shoot the messenger. :)
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
Anatomical Pathology and Interim Phlebotomy Manager
Rutland Regional Medical Center
160 Allen Street, Rutland, VT 05701
P 802.747.1790 F 802.747.6525
joewal...@rrmc.org, www.rrmc.org
-Original Message-
From: Terri Braud via
https://academic.oup.com/ajcp/article/136/5/767/1766314
"Floaters represent a potential source of diagnostic error and occur in 0.01%
to 1.2% of slides. Pick up of floaters from the water bath appears most common
(∼60%). Floaters in only 1 level and mismatch with the specimen tissue type are
Your Hologic rep and/or technical specialist should be able to provide you with
this information. Their staining system is proprietary and Hologic is your
best resource.
Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
P 802.747.1790 F 802.747.6525
joewal...@rrmc.org, www.rrmc.org
-Original Message-
I don't have experience with the Leica printers.
We bought the Thermoscientific Slidemate AS for our histo and cyto
departments. The techs love them, and they have been in use for a couple of
years now. We have a service plan that replaces the print heads, which pays
for itself in order to
Do you mean a disclaimer?
DISCLAIMER
The Pap test is a screening test designed primarily for squamous cancer and
precursors of the uterine cervix and has associated false-negative and
false-positive results. It is not a diagnostic procedure. Regular sampling and
follow-up of unexplained
Well, that is a trick question and depends on how your lab is setup. Most
non-gyn CPT codes contain a technical (TC) and a professional component (PC).
In my hospital lab, we bill the technical component but our contacted pathology
group bills out the professional component. The TC from our
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