Yes Dr. Richmond GI biopsies are prone to processing issues and shatter/chatter artifact. I like to put three true levels on one slide with unstained for later SS & IHC , OR put two parallel ribbons on one slide, ( 2 slides of 2 ribbons, for 4 actual levels). I put three ribbons for Hirshsprungs on each slide to provide the section numbers without making multitudes of slides. I have a hard time getting this accepted- The pathologist almost always wants three ribbons on 2-3 slides, and I think that is because only some of the sections are truly "readable"- the section quality is too variable for these specimens for them to feel comfortable. I like to reveiw these under the microscope since when they are tiny, it is hard to see the shatter, folds and fragmentation on the water bath. I agree it is definately a quality problem to be addressed.
Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC > Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 08:37:46 -0400 > From: rsrichm...@gmail.com > To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > Subject: [Histonet] Re: GI biopsies > > 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 _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
