We had a problem with contamination on our AFB stains, and we discovered that it was the control slide flaking off in the copland jar which was being used for staining the control and target slide at the same time (makes sense as a real "control'). We identified these contaminants because they were frequently large clusters (by "large" I would say 4-8 organisms) which we almost never see in real cases, and fortunately, they were also not in the same plane of focus (but that can be subtle). they did create problems. Our solution was to stain the control separately from the case. No more problems.
Bill Tench Associate Dir. Laboratory Services Chief, Cytology Services Palomar Medical Center 555 E. Valley Parkway Escondido, California 92025 bill.te...@pph.org Voice: 760- 739-3037 Fax: 760-739-2604 mail2.pph.org made the following annotations --------------------------------------------------------------------- Confidential E-Mail: This e-mail is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from disclosure. Dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail or the information herein by anyone other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail, and destroy the original message and all copies. --------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet