Histonet, One of our pathologists is looking at a method for cutting GI biopsies that differs in complexity from the way we currently do them. Currently we cut just 2 levels at 4 microns thick, 40 microns apart and only showing 2 sections on each level. In the new plan, if there were a maximum of 5 small pieces per block, the idea is that we would cut 10 serial sections at 4 microns thickness, split the ribbons in half on the waterbath, and then put 5 sections vertically on 1 side of the slide and the other 5 sections vertically on the other side of the slide. We would then face in 40 microns and repeat the process for a second slide for a total of 2 slides, 20 sections of tissue, 120 microns between the first and the last section. I am happy to do this if our pathologists believe that it would improve their diagnosis. Since we do about 400 biopsies like this a month, I would like to look at our workload to see how to change our staffing with this method. I would like to get an idea of the difference in time between the 2 methods. Does anyone else do a similar method and would be willing to share their experiences? I am primarily interested in the amount of time it would take an experienced tech to cut a biopsy like this. We have tried it out, but our techs are far from experienced with this method.
Thanks for your time. -- Patrick Laurie HT(ASCP)QIHC Histology Supervisor CellNetix Pathology & Laboratories 1124 Columbia Street, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104 plau...@cellnetix.com _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet