We receive the placentas fresh (they are refrigerated in L&D before transport to Pathology); add lots of formalin (use 163 oz containers) and let fix overnight. Early next morning, placenta is grossed and cassettes sit in formalin til end of day. This formalin is changed at least once so that bloody formalin is replaced with fresh. Placed on processor at end of second day after receipt.
When we had L&D add formalin, there was never enough formalin added and the placentas sat unfixed at room temperature for long periods of time. This procedure works better for us. Yes, we can not meet the CAP guideline for 2 day TAT but do end up with a consistently better quality product for this tissue type. (Placentas make up a small portion of overall workload, so overall TAT is not affected). Prior to this procedure, placentas made up a disproportionate amount of reprocessed blocks. Becky Garrison Pathology Supervisor Shands Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL 32209 904-244-6237, phone 904-244-4290, fax 904-393-3194, pager -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Webb, Dorothy L Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 3:04 PM To: 'histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu' Subject: [Histonet] questions We have been having problems with underprocessed placental membrane, some of which are cut fairly thick, but am seeing it on more than just the thich samples. Does anyone out there in histoland have a special process for placentas or any helpful hints? I do know that many times the placentas sit without formalin in L&D for hours before they bring them to histo and add formalin and this seems to me it could be a factor, even though we have them sitting in formalin for a few hours before processing. Also, does anyone do the high-iron diamine stain for intestinal mucin staining? Do you do it with an Alcian Blue-PAS stain? Thank you ahead of time for any and all responses!! Dorothy Webb, HT (ASCP) Regions Histology Lab ________________________________ This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the individual responsible for delivering the e-mail to the intended recipient, please be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the HealthPartners Support Center by telephone at (952) 967-6600. You will be reimbursed for reasonable costs incurred in notifying us. HealthPartners R001.0 _______________________________________________ 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