Curt, 

Yes, but that is the test, not the personnel, and specifically applies to the 
interpretation of the test, not the running of the machine. In AP the "testing 
personnel" is the pathologist, not the tech running the machine. Only the 
pathologist interprets the stains and reports a result. They also have final 
signoff on any QC. I have never seen an explicit explanation from CAP about how 
the CLIA regs fit with histology. CLIA was written for the clinical lab where 
the MT's report results directly. CLIA considers all histology personnel as 
"Processing Personnel" not testing personnel. CAP has taken it up a notch, 
which they are allowed to do, but they have not provided any explicit guidance 
as to how it applies in histology. For instance, why is IHC  high complexity 
but special stains are not? They are similar in complexity of processing. 

I give workshops on competency testing in histology. This question is the 
number one question. Where does high complexity apply? All I want is for CAP to 
produce a document explaining their rational so people don't have to call them 
to get answers, or, god forbid, depend on a CAP inspector for the answer, most 
of which are contradictory from one inspector to another.

Tim



-----Original Message-----
From: Curt [mailto:c.ta...@pathologyarts.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 10:43 AM
To: Morken, Timothy; Jesus Ellin
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: Personel

I recently had this same discussion with Jesus, please follow this link he gave 
me: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCLIA/Search.cfm

At the top, enter "Test System / Manufacturer" for example, we enter Ventana, 
it will list all tests that qualify as High Complexity. There are 4-5 different 
tab/pages... even operating something as basic as a DAB detection kit appears 
to qualify as High Complexity...if you enter Leica, then you get much less but 
the detection kit is listed as High Complexity still so it would serve to 
reason that someone not qualified for high complexity testing cannot even load 
slides... maybe they can if a qualified person is the one prepping the machine, 
loading detection kits and AB's???

High Complexity testing personnel requirements per CAP: 

1. MD or DO with a current medical licenseĀ¹; OR 2. Doctoral degree in clinical 
laboratory science, chemical, physical or biological science; OR 3. Master's 
degree in medical technology, clinical laboratory, chemical, physical, or 
biological science; OR 4. Bachelor's degree in medical technology, clinical 
laboratory, chemical, physical or biological; OR 5. Associate degree in 
chemical, physical or biological science or medical laboratory or equivalent 
education and training (refer to 42CFR493.1489(b) for details on required 
courses and training); OR 6. Individuals performing high complexity testing on 
or before April 24, 1995 with a high school diploma or equivalent with 
documented training may continue to perform testing only on those tests for 
which training was documented prior to September 1, 1997 (refer to CLIA 
regulation 42CFR493.1489(b) for details on required training)

Curt

-----Original Message-----
From: Morken, Timothy via Histonet [mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 10:17 AM
To: Jesus Ellin
Cc: Histonet
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Personel

Jesus, that is very interesting information. 

Does anyone know of any CAP accreditation documents that state explicitly  that 
IHC slide staining is high complexity? I have not seen any. If anyone has those 
documents I'd like to see them. The only reference from CAP about that 
classification I have seen was in a Q&A session transcript from a CAP webinar 
on competency testing. The webinar had no information about IHC and complexity. 
However, a presenter answering a question about whether IHC staining at the 
bench is a high complexity "test," did state that IHC staining is high 
complexity so the techs doing the staining must have competency testing. Very 
strange!

That's not to say I don't think IHC is high complexity - I do, and so is every 
other test in histology. But under CLIA the testing personnel is the 
pathologist, not the bench tech. CAP can deem IHC bench testing as high 
complexity if it wishes (CLIA is a baseline and deemed accrediting agencies, 
and institutions, can have stricter requirements). But it seems the only way 
anyone can find out if CAP classifies IHC as high complexity is to call them 
and ask.

Your comment about new technology is interesting. In a modern scenario, which 
tech is the person who is "staining" the slide? And which of these is the "high 
complexity" part of the process?
1) person collating slides to stain
2) Person who programs the stainer
3) Person who dilutes the antibodies (still done!)
4) person who loads reagents on the stainer
5) person who loads the slides on the stainer
6) person who starts the stainer
7) person who unloads the slides from the stainer
8) person who labels and distributes the slides.
9) Person who checks QC slides (BTW, not a "test,").

In our lab these tasks are traded off by many different people throughout the 
day 

How about the person doing the validation of the stain? They are not doing a 
"test" but they are making the test possible to do.

Just some questions to ponder over the holidays!



Tim Morken
Pathology Site Manager, Parnassus
Supervisor, Electron Microscopy/Neuromuscular Special Studies Department of 
Pathology UC San Francisco Medical Center



-----Original Message-----
From: Jesus Ellin via Histonet [mailto:histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 9:36 AM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Personel

So I know I am going to open Pandoras box,, but have people been paying 
attention to the Personal requirements from CAP.

I called the CAP and asked them about the criteria concerning Moderate or High 
complexity testing, after discussing with them the situations,   IF you have a 
tech that is Licensed and Also has a QIHC, but does not minimum requirement 
Defined by CLIA in education ,, they CAN NOT do any QA/OC of IHC and antibody 
work up,, as IHC is defined as High complexity testing.

I also asked about the test systems.  The grandfather clause is only good for 
test systems that occurred for those time periods.  For instance if CLIA 
defined the test system after those dates of 1997,, then they are not included 
and the person cannot perform test and technology created after those dates, 
since the testing was not in place during the grandfather clause time.  In a 
nut shell meaning if the IHC staining and antibody was developed after those 
dates,, you are not covered by the grandfather clause to do the testing ,, can 
some help clear this up,,

So any help on this matter will do

______________________________________________________________________
This message is confidential, intended only for the named
recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged or exempt from 
disclosure under applicable law.  If you are not the intended recipient(s), you 
are notified that the dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message 
is strictly prohibited.  If you receive this message in error, or are not the 
named recipient(s), please notify the sender at either the e-mail, fax, 
address, or telephone number listed above and delete this e-mail from your 
computer. 
Thank You.
______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
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

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

Reply via email to