An experienced histotach can cut regular blocks at a rate of 24/hour. What you describe will reduce the productivity to 8 to 10 blocks/hour. René J.
--- On Wed, 12/9/09, Weems, Joyce <jwe...@sjha.org> wrote: From: Weems, Joyce <jwe...@sjha.org> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Cutting GI biopsies with multiple levels To: "Pat Laurie" <foreig...@gmail.com>, histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 1:55 PM It takes a while to get experienced, but it doubles, sometimes triples the time. Joyce -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Pat Laurie Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 13:34 To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Cutting GI biopsies with multiple levels 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 Confidentiality Notice: This email, including any attachments is the property of Catholic Health East and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete this message. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet