Hi Jeanine - I can't remember the last time that I had any cross contamination in the tissue processor. If the tissue is properly grossed without contamination, secured within a cassette (we use blue pads for tiny hard tissue; lens paper for fragile biopsies, such as liver; and nylon mesh bags for fragmented specimens) then there should be no cross contamination within the processor. Possible block contamination sites are at gross, and at embedding (we only open one cassette at a time, and wipe forceps with gauze in between cassettes). Slides can be contaminated with "floaters" from the waterbath during cutting, but a CAP study about 10 years ago found that most cross contamination occurs during grossing. We actively monitor for contamination and have not had any in 15+ years. I hope this information helps. Terri
Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP) Anatomic Pathology Supervisor Laboratory Holy Redeemer Hospital 1648 Huntingdon Pike Meadowbrook, PA 19046 ph: 215-938-3689 fax: 215-938-3874 Today's Topics: 5. processing cross-contamination (Sanders, Jeanine (CDC/OID/NCEZID)) Message: 5 Date: Thu, 19 May 2016 10:39:35 +0000 From: "Sanders, Jeanine (CDC/OID/NCEZID)" <j...@cdc.gov> Subject: [Histonet] processing cross-contamination Morning everyone, I would like to know how many labs experience issues where tissue from a typical, sealed cassette is lost in the processor and ends up inside another cassette. Really. Thanks, Jeanine Sanders CDC Atlanta _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
