An anonymous query: >>I was just curious about how your institutions handle GI biopsies, specifically how many slides you cut off the bat. We presently cut 2 levels on each GI biopsy block, but I'm hearing that more and more places only cut 1 slide per GI biopsy block. Please share what you are doing at your establishment.<<
Well, I take what I can get. Many histotechs lack the skill, or are unwilling to lay more than one ribbon on a slide. I do like more than one level. A more serious problem is maintaining the quality of GI biopsy sections, one of the most difficult quality assurance issues in histopathology. (It was reviewed in J HIstotechnol last year - I can find the reference.) The problem is at its worst with duodenal biopsies, where some services never prepare an adequate slide. As the "celiac disease" fad spreads and bread is the Evil Food of the Year, I am really concerned about signing out duodenal biopsies where I can't even distinguish the lymphocytes. Edwards Deming lives! Bob Richmond Samurai Pathologist Maryville TN _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
