[Histonet] semen analysis
who out there is using automation for semen analysis and what equipment is recommended? i am considering the SQA-V from MES what say you? cheers -- Anne van Binsbergen (Hope) Abu Dhabi UAE ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Reagent Labeling Policy
Does anyone have a reagent labeling policy that they would be willing to share. Thanks in advance Allison Scott HT(ASCP) Histology Supervisor LBJ Hospital Houston, Texas 77026 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail and any attachments from your computer system. To the extent the information in this e-mail and any attachments contain protected health information as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), PL 104-191; 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164; or Chapter 181, Texas Health and Safety Code, it is confidential and/or privileged. This e-mail may also be confidential and/or privileged under Texas law. The e-mail is for the use of only the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or any authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its attachments is strictly prohibited. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Re: Histonet Digest, Vol 63, Issue 13
I do FNA biospy and adequacy at bedside with radiologists and pulmonary docs I use 88173 this includes tech component. Is anyone aware of a CPT code for a Tech assisted bone marrow aspiration and biopsy? From time to time we have been helping the Oncologist and Radiologist on these procedures. It is becoming more of a common practice and we spend anywhere from a ½ hour to 1 ½ hours and not billing for our services. Is there anyone else in a similar situation? Andrea J Weiss BST CT (ASCP) Cytotechnologist 609 653 3577 Ext 4907 awe...@shorememorial.org ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] brain sections falling off slides during IHC
Hello all, Can any of you all with experience immunostaining brain sections please help. My sections are almost completely washing off the slides. I am using 10% NBF fixed canine brain sections. Embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 4 microns on plus slides with distilled water in the water bath. The slides are dried at 65 C for 15 minutes and allowed to stand overnight. I am using a Dako Autostainer for staining. There is no antigen retrieval step. My staining procedure is approximately 3.5 hours long. At the completion of the procedure, the tissue on my slides is 50-80% washed off. Any thoughts?? Christina Thurby ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
A hospital that relies on uncertified techs to do histology work is motivated by the pursue of costs cuts (you can call it greed!) and shows total disregard for quality of work and patient care. They may end losing all those savings when settling a legal case. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 9:55 AM Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Many areas have to go to unregistered techs out of necessity due to the high vacancy rate in our field since the ASCP made changes to the career path for the HT board requirements. Many of these facilities have either formal or informal training and have turned out many very good, high quality techs. Yes, some may be skilled at the art of histology, but lack the understanding that is behind the science. These often can embed, cut and do special stains with superior quality and happy pathologists. I have seen registered techs that have all the intelligence that their sheepskins say, but totally lack the hands on skills needed to produce superior quality material for patient diagnosis. While this is only my opinion, I wish that there was still the route for OJT as long as there is a certified tech in place for training. My two cents worth, Mary Abosso From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Steven Coakley Sent: Wed 2/11/2009 7:55 AM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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
Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
What does quality issues have to do with anything ,Many certifieds have quality issues as well,It's knowledge and skill that matters.You can go on all day with this ,but in the end it's can you get it done,available techs etc.I think it's important to have the best of both worlds. On Wed, 11 Feb 2009, Steven Coakley wrote: Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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] RE: brain sections falling off slides during IHC
Just to add to Christina, Try Gold Plus Slides-Thermo Shandon (previously Erie Scientific). Linda -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet- boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Linke, Noelle Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:12 AM To: Thurby, Christina; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] RE: brain sections falling off slides during IHC Hi Christina, In my experience, there are a few things to try. First, don't soak your blocks too long before cutting, and try not to let too much water get underneath the sections as you pick them up from the waterbath. I wouldn't put them in an oven at all, just let them air dry as long as you can (overnight, a day if you can spare the time) before staining. If you're having troubles, I wouldn't use the autostainer at all (it rinses too aggressively for some tissues), I would do them manually and never let the stream from your wash bottle touch the tissue, gently rinse after each step. I hope this helps. Noelle Noёlle Linke M.S., HTL(ASCP)QIHC Manager, Histology Services Department of Pathology Laboratory Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Phone: 310-825-7397 Pager: 97471 nli...@mednet.ucla.edu -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet- boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Thurby, Christina Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:38 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] brain sections falling off slides during IHC Hello all, Can any of you all with experience immunostaining brain sections please help. My sections are almost completely washing off the slides. I am using 10% NBF fixed canine brain sections. Embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 4 microns on plus slides with distilled water in the water bath. The slides are dried at 65 C for 15 minutes and allowed to stand overnight. I am using a Dako Autostainer for staining. There is no antigen retrieval step. My staining procedure is approximately 3.5 hours long. At the completion of the procedure, the tissue on my slides is 50-80% washed off. Any thoughts?? Christina Thurby ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet IMPORTANT WARNING: This email (and any attachments) is only intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Unauthorized redisclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality may subject you to federal and state penalties. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify us by return email, and delete this message from your computer. ___ 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
Re: [Histonet] brain sections falling off slides during IHC
Hi, my experience is to use lower concentration gel-coated slides or pre-coated slide purchased from company...dont use home made one if you want to improve. second, the heating procedure shortly after mounting the frozen sections onto slides does not help a lot. My way: mounting sections from cryostat onto slide - air dry - heat plate 40-50 C or not for 10 min until the slides are a bit hot - air dry in fume hood overnight (for small section such as Olfactory bulb, coronal brain section of rat takes 1-2 days - much better) -you can stock all sections in -20 C freezer -each time before IHC, heat the section at 60 C for 10 min (dry up after taking out from freezer). I boil the slide in 95 C citrate buffer for 30 min, 1 sections from 100 falls off. 2009-02-12 TF 发件人： Thurby, Christina 发送时间： 2009-02-11 23:43:16 收件人： histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 抄送： 主题： [Histonet] brain sections falling off slides during IHC Hello all, Can any of you all with experience immunostaining brain sections please help. My sections are almost completely washing off the slides. I am using 10% NBF fixed canine brain sections. Embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 4 microns on plus slides with distilled water in the water bath. The slides are dried at 65 C for 15 minutes and allowed to stand overnight. I am using a Dako Autostainer for staining. There is no antigen retrieval step. My staining procedure is approximately 3.5 hours long. At the completion of the procedure, the tissue on my slides is 50-80% washed off. Any thoughts?? Christina Thurby ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Uh oh, here we goagain! It's just demand and economics in most areas. In the San Francisco area good luck finding a certified tech. They can command 70K with minimal experience, which is what Kaiser and the UC medical center are paying. I know one woman who was working for a service lab in the area who wanted to work on her certification but her pathologist refused to sponsor her because he figured if she got it she would leave for a place that would pay her higher salary (seems like that ought to cause to lose a medical license!). Bad move: he lost her anyway. We have found that recent college grads are fully capable of the work (at least in our area, which demands a lot of indepent work and thinking). What is missing with most OJT is the breadth of education you get when you study for the certification. I know plenty of people who cut well, do stains well etc, but are lost outside the specialties of their particular laboratory, and even outside their own little area of their own lab! But, we could also discuss the breadth of knowledge of those lucky enough to be educated in a formal school setting vs OJT and then certified. It goes on and on Tim Morken -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Steven Coakley Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:56 AM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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] Uncertified Techs
Strangely enough (but not entirely unexpectedly), beauticians and barbers in this State must be licensed. Histotechs? Nope. Sally Breeden, HT(ASCP) NM Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Services PO Box 4700 Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-841-2576 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Larry Woody Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board certified surgeon to do it and same with the Pathologist that looks at the slides so wouldn't you want a certified tech doing the lab work as well? Larry A. Woody Seattle, Wa. From: Rene J Buesa rjbu...@yahoo.com To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:58:26 AM Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology A hospital that relies on uncertified techs to do histology work is motivated by the pursue of costs cuts (you can call it greed!) and shows total disregard for quality of work and patient care. They may end losing all those savings when settling a legal case. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 9:55 AM Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] Uncertified Techs
I'm fairly certain all hair dressers are licensed. Hazel Horn Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP) Supervisor of Histology Arkansas Children's Hospital 1 Children's WaySlot 820 Little Rock, AR 72202 phone 501.364.4240 fax501.364.3155 visit us on the web at:www.archildrens.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Breeden, Sara Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:11 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Uncertified Techs Strangely enough (but not entirely unexpectedly), beauticians and barbers in this State must be licensed. Histotechs? Nope. Sally Breeden, HT(ASCP) NM Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Services PO Box 4700 Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-841-2576 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ** The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Thank you. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] RE: Reagent Labeling Policy
Our reagent labeling policy is this. When you prepare a reagent for use such as a buffer. The type of buffer is the first line, with the pH. The second line tells what date it was prepared, if there was an expiration date and the third line is the person who prepared it. When we receive new chemicals, dyes etc we label them with the date that they were received and the initals of the person who received the order. I hope that is what you are wanting to know. We also designate on the first line whether it is an aqueous solution or an alcoholic solution. If we purchase the solution ready made we have what we call a working solution bottle of those reagents that can be reused which are labeled with the solution, where it was purchased, when it was received, when it was opened. When to discard it, if known. Frances L. Swain HT(ASCP) A. A. S. Special Procedures Technician Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Center for Orthopaedic Research Barton Research Building 2R28 4301 West Markham Street Little Rock AR 72205 (501) 686-8739 PHONE (501) 686-8987 FAX swainfranc...@uams.edu email -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Scott, Allison D Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:25 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Reagent Labeling Policy Does anyone have a reagent labeling policy that they would be willing to share. Thanks in advance Allison Scott HT(ASCP) Histology Supervisor LBJ Hospital Houston, Texas 77026 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail and any attachments from your computer system. To the extent the information in this e-mail and any attachments contain protected health information as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), PL 104-191; 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164; or Chapter 181, Texas Health and Safety Code, it is confidential and/or privileged. This e-mail may also be confidential and/or privileged under Texas law. The e-mail is for the use of only the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or any authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its attachments is strictly prohibited. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] uncertified techs
Thanks for all the input. So why am I wasting my cash paying the $45 for an ascp sticker? 15 years ago I suppose I should have taken the extra time to become at least an MLT. Oh well. Thanks again ya all. :) Steve ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] brain sections falling off slides during IHC
A few years ago we also had this problem. The brains were terrible. We found that changing our processing chemicals, especially the wax, more frequently got rid of most of our problems. We use Fisher plus slides. There is a difference in plus slides. I recommend you contact several distributors and get samples and pick the one that works best for you. After cutting we have a fan that air dries the slides until the sections look dry about 10- 15 min. The slides are dried overnight on top of our embedder so that they are heated slightly. The next day they are dried for 1 hour at 60° C. We developed this method for cattle ear notches and about the only reason tissue comes off the slide now is because the tissue is necrotic or not fixed properly. Margaret Perry HT (ASCP) IHC Lab Manager Veterinary Science Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab South Dakota State University Box 2175 North Campus Drive Brookings SD 57007 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Off topic - professional licenses.
Wow. My last hair stylist/colorist and I obviously did not share the same vision of what my hair should look like. I wonder what governing body licenses hairdressers, and what is the criteria? How many of them have college? Soon in Illinois you will have to have a license to breed dogs, but you can still be a histotech without one.People should have licenses before they have a child - or 14. Flaming and it's only Wednesday. Jackie O' Horn, Hazel V hor...@archildrens.org Sent by: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 02/11/2009 11:13 AM To Breeden, Sara sbree...@nmda.nmsu.edu, histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu cc Subject RE: [Histonet] Uncertified Techs I'm fairly certain all hair dressers are licensed. Hazel Horn Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP) Supervisor of Histology Arkansas Children's Hospital 1 Children's WaySlot 820 Little Rock, AR 72202 phone 501.364.4240 fax501.364.3155 visit us on the web at:www.archildrens.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Breeden, Sara Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:11 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Uncertified Techs Strangely enough (but not entirely unexpectedly), beauticians and barbers in this State must be licensed. Histotechs? Nope. Sally Breeden, HT(ASCP) NM Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Services PO Box 4700 Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-841-2576 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ** The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it 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
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
I am sorry I seemed to have expanded this discussion. I want to be clear on part of the record. I was OJT trained in the 60's. We had even fewer schools and options then. The person who trained me had been trained by the pathologist and the Ann Preece book in histology. She knew what the pathologists we worked with wanted and saw to it that was what they got everyday. When I worked in other places later and continued my education I did learn more about the chemistry and why it worked or failed. I was in research when I took my HT and was told if I used animal tissue I would fail as no one on the board back then was experienced with it. I did not know if it was true so I quickly found a hospital where I could complete everything on human tissue I processed and stained. The person running that lab required me (thank goodness) to process every piece of tissue and do every stain manually. We did not have automated stainers back then so I learned every step. So for those who think I am picking on them for OJT training it is not that I disapprove. I believe histology is too important not to be considered professional field that requires consistent training and education. Many of us old timers have fought hard for the education clause so we would have people who were licensed and fully trained. I did get my BS and more education so I did get more on my own. Pamela A Marcum University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory (CORL) 382 W Street Rd Kennett Square PA 19438 610-925-6278 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Martin, Gary Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:27 PM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I am one of those unregistered techs. I would respectfully hope that we are not considered the villains here. My situation is; we are a small lab in a rural area that has the need for 1 1/2 Histo Techs. We were having a very difficult time attracting a 1/2 time qualified tech., and had zero backup for our one and only full time qualified tech. I have a good back ground in detail work in the art world and a good amount of experience as a pathology lab assistant. So it was easy for me to transition into the role of unregistered tech, thereby providing back for our over work Histo tech. I have been trained by my Histo tech and have completed the Freida L. Carson self instruction course under her supervision. We are happy with the results and our Pathologist are pleased. At this point (7 years into teching) there are some things that I have been innovative on some things, and our tech prefers me to do other things. I would love to get certified but the changes in OTJ have made that more of a mountain than I can climb at this time. I would like to lend voice to us who are in this situation and say the we take our duties very serious and I really don't look at my job as getting over on rules or quality or providing cheap labor. In our case it has been necessity. Thank you Gary -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Watson, Linda Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:34 AM To: Mary Abosso; Steven Coakley; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I totally agree with Mary. I have often heard that histotechs are a dying breed. That us old timers are not being replaced by the younger generation. If we want to have less uncertified histotechs then lets not make it so difficult for individuals to pursue this wonderful career. I still think it is very important for the exam to remain in place but those individuals out of high school that are maybe not thinking of attending college to obtain a bachelors degree should have the opportunity to become a certified histologist. I know that you can still obtain the HT but not the HTL. Correct me if I am wrong. Linda -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet- boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Mary Abosso Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:19 AM To: Steven Coakley; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Many areas have to go to unregistered techs out of necessity due to the high vacancy rate in our field since the ASCP made changes to the career path for the HT board requirements. Many of these facilities have either formal or informal training and have turned out many very good, high quality techs. Yes, some may be skilled at the art of histology, but lack the understanding that is behind the science. These often can embed, cut and do special stains with superior quality and happy pathologists. I have seen registered techs that have all the intelligence that their sheepskins say, but
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
I agree with you 100% Tom. No flames here. Hazel Horn Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP) Supervisor of Histology Arkansas Children's Hospital 1 Children's WaySlot 820 Little Rock, AR 72202 phone 501.364.4240 fax501.364.3155 visit us on the web at:www.archildrens.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Tom McNemar Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:56 PM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I'm sure that I'm gonna get blasted but.. I'm sorry but I stand by the statement. I have been a certified HT for 30 years now. I will take an uncertified tech who can get a quality slide to the pathologist in a timely fashion over one who can tell me about it but can't do it. We all know that they are out there. Yes, perhaps the lure was insufficient but that is out of my control and irrelevant. The bottom line is that none were willing to accept what I had to offer. Certification does not make a good histo tech. Certification is a stamp of validation. It says that someone passed a test so they must be good. There are many very good uncertified people in histology. Certification lost some of its validity when they did away with the practical part. I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it. Given my choice, I would love to have all certified techs but I live in the real world and it's not likely to happen in my remaining time. Everyone talks of quality like it comes magically from having a piece of paper. It don't. Quality comes from experience and practical training. And in the long run, that paper has very little to do with it. Let the flamming begin! Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa [mailto:rjbu...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:12 PM To: Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley; Tom McNemar Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Larry Woody Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board certified surgeon to do it and same with the Pathologist that looks at the slides so wouldn't you want a certified tech doing the lab work as well? Larry A. Woody Seattle, Wa. From: Rene J Buesa rjbu...@yahoo.com To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com
Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Well Tom they can throw me on the fire with you!!! I agree I came thru an MT program ,OJT for Histology (some MT stuff helped) got my Bachelors later and finally got my MBA- but I have been working a great deal with the new grads from colleges and while they are very nice, I have to say some OJT would have been a great deal more helpful, than being able to get an A on a test! I know generations are different but what are they being told in these colleges??? Where is work ethic, realistic work expectations? We are in healthcare not banking thank goodness! Take me back to the good old days when we were by the docs side and learned everyday. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for listening. Dana Dittus MT/HT MBA Core Lab Administrator UHS LLC In a message dated 2/11/2009 1:56:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, tmcne...@lmhealth.org writes: I'm sure that I'm gonna get blasted but.. I'm sorry but I stand by the statement. I have been a certified HT for 30 years now. I will take an uncertified tech who can get a quality slide to the pathologist in a timely fashion over one who can tell me about it but can't do it. We all know that they are out there. Yes, perhaps the lure was insufficient but that is out of my control and irrelevant. The bottom line is that none were willing to accept what I had to offer. Certification does not make a good histo tech. Certification is a stamp of validation. It says that someone passed a test so they must be good. There are many very good uncertified people in histology. Certification lost some of its validity when they did away with the practical part. I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it. Given my choice, I would love to have all certified techs but I live in the real world and it's not likely to happen in my remaining time. Everyone talks of quality like it comes magically from having a piece of paper. It don't. Quality comes from experience and practical training. And in the long run, that paper has very little to do with it. Let the flamming begin! Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa [mailto:rjbu...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:12 PM To: Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley; Tom McNemar Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Larry Woody Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board certified surgeon to do it and same with the
Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
It's not about if OTJ techs are better or worse than certified techs, it's about unifying the field and certification is one way to do that. As it stands now we are in a divided field of expertise where some places have a total lack of respect for anyone working in histology and other places go for the lowest price. Once you are in histology it's up to you how talented you are going to be but IMO this field needs to be unified for higher wages and more education about the field itself so more people get interested in it. Larry A. Woody Seattle, Wa. From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 10:56:10 AM Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I'm sure that I'm gonna get blasted but.. I'm sorry but I stand by the statement. I have been a certified HT for 30 years now. I will take an uncertified tech who can get a quality slide to the pathologist in a timely fashion over one who can tell me about it but can't do it. We all know that they are out there. Yes, perhaps the lure was insufficient but that is out of my control and irrelevant. The bottom line is that none were willing to accept what I had to offer. Certification does not make a good histo tech. Certification is a stamp of validation. It says that someone passed a test so they must be good. There are many very good uncertified people in histology. Certification lost some of its validity when they did away with the practical part. I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it. Given my choice, I would love to have all certified techs but I live in the real world and it's not likely to happen in my remaining time. Everyone talks of quality like it comes magically from having a piece of paper. It don't. Quality comes from experience and practical training. And in the long run, that paper has very little to do with it. Let the flamming begin! Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa [mailto:rjbu...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:12 PM To: Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley; Tom McNemar Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Larry Woody Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board certified surgeon to do it and same with the Pathologist that looks at the slides so wouldn't you want a certified tech doing the lab
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
If a histo tech knows how to do most everything in the clinical lab but is not an MT, should they be allowed to work there? -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of ddittus...@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 2:03 PM To: tmcne...@lmhealth.org; rjbu...@yahoo.com; slappyc...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; sjchta...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Well Tom they can throw me on the fire with you!!! I agree I came thru an MT program ,OJT for Histology (some MT stuff helped) got my Bachelors later and finally got my MBA- but I have been working a great deal with the new grads from colleges and while they are very nice, I have to say some OJT would have been a great deal more helpful, than being able to get an A on a test! I know generations are different but what are they being told in these colleges??? Where is work ethic, realistic work expectations? We are in healthcare not banking thank goodness! Take me back to the good old days when we were by the docs side and learned everyday. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for listening. Dana Dittus MT/HT MBA Core Lab Administrator UHS LLC In a message dated 2/11/2009 1:56:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, tmcne...@lmhealth.org writes: I'm sure that I'm gonna get blasted but.. I'm sorry but I stand by the statement. I have been a certified HT for 30 years now. I will take an uncertified tech who can get a quality slide to the pathologist in a timely fashion over one who can tell me about it but can't do it. We all know that they are out there. Yes, perhaps the lure was insufficient but that is out of my control and irrelevant. The bottom line is that none were willing to accept what I had to offer. Certification does not make a good histo tech. Certification is a stamp of validation. It says that someone passed a test so they must be good. There are many very good uncertified people in histology. Certification lost some of its validity when they did away with the practical part. I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it. Given my choice, I would love to have all certified techs but I live in the real world and it's not likely to happen in my remaining time. Everyone talks of quality like it comes magically from having a piece of paper. It don't. Quality comes from experience and practical training. And in the long run, that paper has very little to do with it. Let the flamming begin! Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa [mailto:rjbu...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:12 PM To: Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley; Tom McNemar Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Linda, I don't think its the same thing. Lab is so automated these days. I worked in a lab back when we did counts by hand and chemistries by actual chemistry. Today it's all instrumentation. In histology, although automation is coming slowly, the work (at least in the smaller histo labs) is mostly done by hand. The actual funtion of producing a slide is a primarily a talent. A talent born of experience. The vast majority of people with sufficient experience can produce a slide of diagnostic quality. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Blazek, Linda [mailto:lbla...@digestivespecialists.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 2:16 PM To: 'ddittus...@aol.com'; Tom McNemar; rjbu...@yahoo.com; slappyc...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; sjchta...@yahoo.com Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology If a histo tech knows how to do most everything in the clinical lab but is not an MT, should they be allowed to work there? -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of ddittus...@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 2:03 PM To: tmcne...@lmhealth.org; rjbu...@yahoo.com; slappyc...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; sjchta...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Well Tom they can throw me on the fire with you!!! I agree I came thru an MT program ,OJT for Histology (some MT stuff helped) got my Bachelors later and finally got my MBA- but I have been working a great deal with the new grads from colleges and while they are very nice, I have to say some OJT would have been a great deal more helpful, than being able to get an A on a test! I know generations are different but what are they being told in these colleges??? Where is work ethic, realistic work expectations? We are in healthcare not banking thank goodness! Take me back to the good old days when we were by the docs side and learned everyday. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for listening. Dana Dittus MT/HT MBA Core Lab Administrator UHS LLC In a message dated 2/11/2009 1:56:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, tmcne...@lmhealth.org writes: I'm sure that I'm gonna get blasted but.. I'm sorry but I stand by the statement. I have been a certified HT for 30 years now. I will take an uncertified tech who can get a quality slide to the pathologist in a timely fashion over one who can tell me about it but can't do it. We all know that they are out there. Yes, perhaps the lure was insufficient but that is out of my control and irrelevant. The bottom line is that none were willing to accept what I had to offer. Certification does not make a good histo tech. Certification is a stamp of validation. It says that someone passed a test so they must be good. There are many very good uncertified people in histology. Certification lost some of its validity when they did away with the practical part. I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it. Given my choice, I would love to have all certified techs but I live in the real world and it's not likely to happen in my remaining time. Everyone talks of quality like it comes magically from having a piece of paper. It don't. Quality comes from experience and practical training. And in the long run, that paper has very little to do with it. Let the flamming begin! Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa [mailto:rjbu...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:12 PM To: Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley; Tom McNemar Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com,
[Histonet] Sections coming off of slides
Hi all, I just had a professor come to me asking if I had any tricks to rescue a section that is partially off its slide. This is formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded mouse brain, and one section on one slide is half attached and half floating after antigen retrieval for IHC (no, I don't know which retrieval method he used, but I can find out if you need it). I've never tried to do this, and a search of the archives turned up nothing, but my keywords may be off.Has anybody managed to save a section that was coming off the slide? Thanks, Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxicology Labs Dept of Pharmacology Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Road Piscataway, NJ 08854 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Licensure/Certification
Don't get me wrong... I'm OJT-trained. I just think that we, as histotechs doing a very critical and important job, need to be interested enough in our career/profession that licensure/certification is the goal of our training. I just can't figure out why someone that cuts my hair has to be licensed and histotechs don't! I was never more proud than the day I received that letter from ASCP telling me I was qualified to use the initials HT(ASCP) behind my name! I worked very hard for that, even though I had no college degree. Which prompts me to say that on March 7th, I will have been certified for FORTY years! Send cupcakes to me at the address below and I'll add the candles (which will cause security to come a'runnin' to put out an illegal fire caused by 40 candles on a cupcake...but that's another issue). Sally Breeden, HT(ASCP) NM Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Services PO Box 4700 Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-841-2576 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] Uncertified Techs
Then go be a hair dresser,comparing one career to another is not the same balance. On Wed, 11 Feb 2009, Horn, Hazel V wrote: I'm fairly certain all hair dressers are licensed. Hazel Horn Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP) Supervisor of Histology Arkansas Children's Hospital 1 Children's WaySlot 820 Little Rock, AR 72202 phone 501.364.4240 fax501.364.3155 visit us on the web at:www.archildrens.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Breeden, Sara Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:11 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Uncertified Techs Strangely enough (but not entirely unexpectedly), beauticians and barbers in this State must be licensed. Histotechs? Nope. Sally Breeden, HT(ASCP) NM Dept. of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Services PO Box 4700 Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-841-2576 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ** The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it 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
Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Ditto On Wed, 11 Feb 2009, ddittus...@aol.com wrote: Well Tom they can throw me on the fire with you!!! I agree I came thru an MT program ,OJT for Histology (some MT stuff helped) got my Bachelors later and finally got my MBA- but I have been working a great deal with the new grads from colleges and while they are very nice, I have to say some OJT would have been a great deal more helpful, than being able to get an A on a test! I know generations are different but what are they being told in these colleges??? Where is work ethic, realistic work expectations? We are in healthcare not banking thank goodness! Take me back to the good old days when we were by the docs side and learned everyday. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for listening. Dana Dittus MT/HT MBA Core Lab Administrator UHS LLC In a message dated 2/11/2009 1:56:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, tmcne...@lmhealth.org writes: I'm sure that I'm gonna get blasted but.. I'm sorry but I stand by the statement. I have been a certified HT for 30 years now. I will take an uncertified tech who can get a quality slide to the pathologist in a timely fashion over one who can tell me about it but can't do it. We all know that they are out there. Yes, perhaps the lure was insufficient but that is out of my control and irrelevant. The bottom line is that none were willing to accept what I had to offer. Certification does not make a good histo tech. Certification is a stamp of validation. It says that someone passed a test so they must be good. There are many very good uncertified people in histology. Certification lost some of its validity when they did away with the practical part. I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it. Given my choice, I would love to have all certified techs but I live in the real world and it's not likely to happen in my remaining time. Everyone talks of quality like it comes magically from having a piece of paper. It don't. Quality comes from experience and practical training. And in the long run, that paper has very little to do with it. Let the flamming begin! Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa [mailto:rjbu...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:12 PM To: Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley; Tom McNemar Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Larry Woody Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board certified surgeon to do it and same with the Pathologist that
Re: [Histonet] Certified Techs Defense
Ok, I'll get in on this one too. And I'm sure I'll get blasted... but anyways (is it Friday yet?)... Why is everyone fussing SO MUCH about techs who went the school route? Why do people seem to portray the impression that we can't do the work? (and I quote I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it.) I graduated took my registry the last year the practical was required, so... that was 5 years ago I still consider myself to be a newer tech compared to my mentors who have been in this field a long time. But anyways, as far as the school programs, there IS a clinical componant where we learn HANDS ON and are graded for it - it's not just all book work! And now that I'm stewing over this email a little, I'm starting to feel defensive for my instructors who work very hard to teach their histotech students. There are good and bad students everywhere, and the ones who aren't qualified to pass (in both practical and book training) shouldn't be graduating from their programs. Kristen Yaros, HT (ASCP)CM ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] fixation
Does anyone know if it is possible to fix tissue for IPX in the unbuffered zinc formalin and then put it on a processor (after it is completely fixed) with 10% NBF. Will this undo exactly what you are trying to do? i.e. expose the antigenic sites Thanx Maureen ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Certified techs and so on...
My 2 cents, I have both hired certified and OJT in house trained and else where trained; I personally appreciate the mix. The experience hands show the new educated minds the manual skills and to quote an old old mentor of mine they either have skills or they don't I can remember having certified techs that chomped through blocks and required re-training, above all the OJT should be encouraged to get certified, for many reasons and science courses do not hurt for those with ART degrees as I have found can make excellent histotechs. I find it rewarding to still help transform a person's career by having a field that has opportunities to achieve from a variety of backgrounds This will be gone soon enough and the uniqueness of our field will disappear too. Vive la Histotechs!!! Richard Strauss HT, QIHC IHC/Histology Supervisor USL-East 201 Summit View Dr Brentwood, TN 37027 phone: 615 377-7151 rich.stra...@esoterix.com - This e-mail and any attachments may contain CONFIDENTIAL information, including PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION. If you are not the intended recipient, any use or disclosure of this information is STRICTLY PROHIBITED; you are requested to delete this e-mail and any attachments, notify the sender immediately, and notify the LabCorp Privacy Officer at privacyoffi...@labcorp.com or call (877) 23-HIPAA / (877) 234-4722. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Got your back on tis one, Tom. I came up through MT then OJT histo. Yes, the education helped. I have since trained a number of techs who have gone on to complete their registry. Most did well for themselves. Makes me proud. I admit it was always easier to train a person with an AS or BS. And admittedly, they were better techs for it. They also commanded better money. Respect comes from the performance, not the degree, registry or lack there-of. Yes, I would rather have registered techs, prefferably with degrees. I agree that the only way we will be better paid across the board is to have demands of registry and education. I'm in agreement with what the ASCP did in tightening up its requirements - but I was a slow convert. All that was said so that I might say this: I have worked with stellar OJTs that for one reason or another, never challenged the registry. Knowing where to find it in the book is most usually good enough. The reality is, however, that we are going to continue to have this debate for a lng, looong time. Smile, take another sip of tea and.darn there goes my timer! Good techs not always a registry make -Yoda (or some guy who looked like him)(well he was green-ish, anyway) William (Bill) O'Donnell, HT (ASCP) QIHC Lead Histologist Good Samaritan Hospital 10 East 31st Street Kearney, NE 68847 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Tom McNemar Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:56 PM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I'm sure that I'm gonna get blasted but.. I'm sorry but I stand by the statement. I have been a certified HT for 30 years now. I will take an uncertified tech who can get a quality slide to the pathologist in a timely fashion over one who can tell me about it but can't do it. We all know that they are out there. Yes, perhaps the lure was insufficient but that is out of my control and irrelevant. The bottom line is that none were willing to accept what I had to offer. Certification does not make a good histo tech. Certification is a stamp of validation. It says that someone passed a test so they must be good. There are many very good uncertified people in histology. Certification lost some of its validity when they did away with the practical part. I would prefer to have someone who can actually do the work and not just talk about it. Given my choice, I would love to have all certified techs but I live in the real world and it's not likely to happen in my remaining time. Everyone talks of quality like it comes magically from having a piece of paper. It don't. Quality comes from experience and practical training. And in the long run, that paper has very little to do with it. Let the flamming begin! Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa [mailto:rjbu...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:12 PM To: Larry Woody; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley; Tom McNemar Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work
Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Thank you for an interesting conversation on this matter. I am sorry, I am sure this issue has come up before, but I am new to the list and therefore this is the first time I have seen it. I used to run a clinical lab in the UK 5 years ago (before moving to San Francisco for a research career) and the National Health service was going the way of unskilled workers too, although the qualified ones didn't get nearly as much as they do in the USA, so really, everyone looses! Question - as a histologist with over 10 years experience who still has her UK qualifications what do I have to do to be qualified in the USA?? Thanks Caroline Caroline Miller Co-Manager J David Gladstone Institutes Histology and Microscopy Core 1650 Owens St San Francisco CA 94158 Tel: 415 734 2566 Fax: 415 355 0824 http://www.gladstone.ucsf.edu/gladstone/site/histology/ cmil...@gladstone.ucsf.edu On Feb 11, 2009, at 9:12 AM, Rene J Buesa wrote: Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology, that reflects the old assumption that if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology. That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to assist or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the lure you used was not tasteful enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org wrote: From: Tom McNemar tmcne...@lmhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Larry Woody slappyc...@yahoo.com, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu , Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Larry Woody Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board certified surgeon to do it and same with the Pathologist that looks at the slides so wouldn't you want a certified tech doing the lab work as well? Larry A. Woody Seattle, Wa. From: Rene J Buesa rjbu...@yahoo.com To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:58:26 AM Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology A hospital that relies on uncertified techs to do histology work is motivated by the pursue of costs cuts (you can call it greed!) and shows total disregard for quality of work and patient care. They may end losing all those savings when settling a legal case. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 9:55 AM Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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 ___
RE: [Histonet] RE: uncertified techs in Histology
I've been listening to this and there's so much controversy. The real bottom line of this is work ethics. It really doesn't matter if you have a degree or not. You have to work, and work hard to prove yourself. I'm proud to be OJT. I worked hard for my certification. I didn't have the theory behind things initially but I learned them thru mentoring and reading and studying and such. Some people have good work ethics and are stellar performers and others don't and some of those that don't have a degree and some don't. I've been doing this for 15 years now and I've worked with both types. I've had wonderful opportunities and have taken advantage of each and every one to learn more. I learn every day. Histology is a wonderful constantly changing field in many ways. Instead of stating negatives so much, look how far we've come and how far we can go. Jodie Robertson, HT(ASCP) QIHC Pathology Sciences Medical Group Chico, CA 95926 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of JR R Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:11 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] RE: uncertified techs in Histology I've been a research scientist and laboratory manager for over 20 years, and I learned histology by on-the-job training. Apparently I'm pretty good at it, and the people I've trained became good at it. I am slightly bothered by the fact that after all these years of experience, I'm still not considered a real histologist. Mind you, I understand that histology for diagnosing human patients ought to be more rigorous than histology for pure research. I have actually hired on certified histotechnologist, and he was the best I ever had. I mean, he was even as good as me. Jerry Ricks Research Scientist University of Washington Department of Pathology From: pmar...@vet.upenn.edu To: sjchta...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:21:52 -0500 Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology CC: It is called be cheap and don't pay for training!! Sorry that is how I see and ASCP does not seem to care or force the issue for training in histology. Pamela A Marcum University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory (CORL) 382 W Street Rd Kennett Square PA 19438 610-925-6278 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Steven Coakley Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:56 AM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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 _ Windows Live(tm): E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_ 022009___ 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
RE: [Histonet] RE: uncertified techs in Histology
Jodie, I agree, but a good program cannot be beat. I had 2 years of college back in the early 1970's and then attended a 12 month accredited histology program. I passed my registry and have been in this field ever since. However, it was not until I went back and complete my degree (just a few years ago) that I was eligible for the level of pay that my co-workers that had degrees were already earning. I can honestly say that those extra 2 years of college did not make me a better employee but it did bring a great since of accomplishment and pride. The 12 months of training in the accredited program I attended is what made be an accomplished histotech. Jeanine Bartlett From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Jodie Robertson Sent: Wed 2/11/2009 5:26 PM To: JR R; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: uncertified techs in Histology I've been listening to this and there's so much controversy. The real bottom line of this is work ethics. It really doesn't matter if you have a degree or not. You have to work, and work hard to prove yourself. I'm proud to be OJT. I worked hard for my certification. I didn't have the theory behind things initially but I learned them thru mentoring and reading and studying and such. Some people have good work ethics and are stellar performers and others don't and some of those that don't have a degree and some don't. I've been doing this for 15 years now and I've worked with both types. I've had wonderful opportunities and have taken advantage of each and every one to learn more. I learn every day. Histology is a wonderful constantly changing field in many ways. Instead of stating negatives so much, look how far we've come and how far we can go. Jodie Robertson, HT(ASCP) QIHC Pathology Sciences Medical Group Chico, CA 95926 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of JR R Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:11 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] RE: uncertified techs in Histology I've been a research scientist and laboratory manager for over 20 years, and I learned histology by on-the-job training. Apparently I'm pretty good at it, and the people I've trained became good at it. I am slightly bothered by the fact that after all these years of experience, I'm still not considered a real histologist. Mind you, I understand that histology for diagnosing human patients ought to be more rigorous than histology for pure research. I have actually hired on certified histotechnologist, and he was the best I ever had. I mean, he was even as good as me. Jerry Ricks Research Scientist University of Washington Department of Pathology From: pmar...@vet.upenn.edu To: sjchta...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:21:52 -0500 Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology CC: It is called be cheap and don't pay for training!! Sorry that is how I see and ASCP does not seem to care or force the issue for training in histology. Pamela A Marcum University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory (CORL) 382 W Street Rd Kennett Square PA 19438 610-925-6278 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Steven Coakley Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:56 AM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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 _ Windows Live(tm): E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_ 022009___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Sakura Glas Coverslipper and Xylene Sub
We use propar for a xylene substitute and refrax as a mountant. These are sold by Anatech and are created to be more compatable than propar and permount. We have used permount in the past with the propar though. We don't have any problems on our coverslipper, and they seem to dry faster. Claire From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Rene J Buesa Sent: Tue 2/10/2009 3:05 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Paula Lucas Subject: Re: [Histonet] Sakura Glas Coverslipper and Xylene Sub Xylene substitutes of terpene (d-Limonene) origin cannot substitute xylene for a cover slipper and those of alkane (35 different brand names) origin do not work very well either. I thing we are stuck with xylene for this task. René J. --- On Tue, 2/10/09, Paula Lucas plu...@biopath.org wrote: From: Paula Lucas plu...@biopath.org Subject: [Histonet] Sakura Glas Coverslipper and Xylene Sub To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 1:40 PM Hello, We use Xylene in the Sakura Glas auto-coverslipper and I would like to know if anyone uses a xylene sub in this piece of equipment. I'm looking for one that is okay to use in the equipment and one with less odor than Xylene. Thanks in advance, Paula Lucas Lab Manager BioPath MG ___ 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
Begging for a skilled, certified HT (was Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Where I come from, trained certified histotechs are rare as hen's teeth, and the work is looking for them. We employ OJT's because we have no alternatives. I wish our lab was 100% ASCP certified, program trained HT's. In all seriousness, my group could use some trained certified histotechs. If there are any trained certified histotechs out there who would seriously entertain relocating to West Texas for long term employment, PLEASE email me your resume and salary requirements. If you have any questions before you send your resume, don't hesitate to email me. Daniel Schneider On Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 8:55 AM, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com wrote: Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues *when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work?* In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
No, it's called we have a NURSE as a histology lab manager (outpatient clinic). She doesn't know what should and should not be done. We are even grossing the dermatology specimens (without extra pay, mind you). Some of us know what the quality level should be and try to exceed that level on a daily basis. Claire From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Rene J Buesa Sent: Wed 2/11/2009 9:58 AM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology A hospital that relies on uncertified techs to do histology work is motivated by the pursue of costs cuts (you can call it greed!) and shows total disregard for quality of work and patient care. They may end losing all those savings when settling a legal case. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Steven Coakley sjchta...@yahoo.com wrote: ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] RE: uncertified techs in Histology
Ok... I have to put in my 2 cents.. Bottom line... The other laboratory disciplines must be schooled, trained, and certified. Histologists were not required in the beginning because we don't make diagnoses and pathologists could teach us and not have to pay us as much. That has caused a lack of respect to our artistic, scientific, very important careers - mostly because of a lack of understanding. No one needs to put anyone down for being OJTd..even after years of school you must have OJT! The degree and certification is not what makes the tech, it is what brings a level of professionalism to our discipline that we have never had. That was what this long ardous road was supposed to lead to - not something intended to make it hard on techs. There were years for the trained techs to do whatever ever it took to get registered before the deadline arrived. We must stop whining (anyone want cheese with their whine?) and remember that the pathologist is only as good as we are. Ok... I'll hush... Have a great evening! Joyce Weems Pathology Manager Saint Joseph's Hospital 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30342 678-843-7376 - Phone 678-843-7831 - Fax Confidentiality Notice: This email, including any attachments is the property of Catholic Health East and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete this message. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] uncertified histotechs
wow! I've been sitting here reading these opinions and had to get my 35 years worth. I was a histotech long before I was a certified histotech. After 25 years of doing histology, I decided to get my certification for my own gratification, however in doing so it also made quit a difference in my pay scale but did not make me a better histotech as I feel my experience in the field was worth more than that piece of paper. I will put my slides up against anyone else, the ones before my certification and after. I have in the last 2 years had a cytotech who I have crosstrained in histology and she can put out a pretty good slide also. I do not know if she will take the certification or not, but she can work in my lab anytime. I have also in the last 2 years started doing IHC's. I hope to take my certification in IHC sometime in the next 25 years, however, my pathologists are quite pleased with my work. Cathy Boyd HT(ASCP) Beaufort County Medical Center Washington, NC ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] PAS/Alcian Blue
Can someone tell me what control tissue you use when you run a PAS/Alc. Blue (not separately, but together) Thanks, Ann ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Fwd: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology]
I forgot to send this to the group. Original Message Subject:Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:07:41 -0800 From: Victor Tobias vic...@pathology.washington.edu To: Podawiltz, Thomas tpodawi...@lrgh.org References: cb0.39876c03.36c47...@aol.com 5a2bd13465e061429d6455c8d6b40e39086ead7...@ibmb7exchange.digestivespecialists.com, 851617.95653...@web53601.mail.re2.yahoo.com 38667e7fb77ecd4e91bfaeb8d98638631d32f1f...@lrghexvs1.practice.lrgh.org Thomas, I first heard about Histology while going to school as a Nursing major. I worked at the county hospital and did Phlebotomy and covered morgue duties on the weekend. I would deliver stuff to Histology, but didn't know exactly what they did. One day the Supervisor(MT) over Histology asked me if I would be interested in learning to become a Tech. He explained about getting certified and where it could lead. I got my certification through OJT in 1979. While at the county hospital I learned plastics both GMA and Epon. I would assist the EM tech and process, embed and thick section in their absence. The opportunities were there for the taking. Some of the senior techs just wanted to put in their time and go home. I personally enjoyed the challenges. At the time I had no degree, but did get my AS in 1981. I have changed jobs over the years, but each one was a career move up. Without certification, I don't believe I could ever have gotten into management. Now I use my Histology background to help fine tune our LIS. It is a lot easier for me to communicate with the staff then a computer geek. I know the techs here got a big raise a couple of years ago after they joined the Union. Not everyone was for it, but you go with the majority. Victor Victor Tobias Clinical Applications Analyst University of Washington Medical Center Dept of Pathology Room BB220 1959 NE Pacific Seattle, WA 98195 vic...@pathology.washington.edu 206-598-2792 206-598-7659 Fax = Privileged, confidential or patient identifiable information may be contained in this message. This information is meant only for the use of the intended recipients. If you are not the intended recipient, or if the message has been addressed to you in error, do not read, disclose, reproduce, distribute, disseminate or otherwise use this transmission. Instead, please notify the sender by reply e-mail, and then destroy all copies of the message and any attachments. Podawiltz, Thomas wrote: Question for everyone. When you were in High school, college or in the military had you ever heard of Histology? How did you find out? One of our problems is no press coverage. I am a Navy trained MLT, that 3 months after graduating gave up my position in Hematology to so my wife could have it and keep her out of blood bank. I met the Chief that ran Histology and thought I would give it a try. Everyone of us in that lab in Portsmouth, VA fell were MLT's that fell in love with Histology and all were OJTs, in fact the last year that I was the assistant leading Petty Officer it was may job to train new people. What I tried to teach was how to get your knowledge to come not from you mouth but your finger tips. I would rather have a tech that knows how to embed properly, cut a complete section without cutting through the block, what a good stain looks like and above all how to trouble shoot. I never needed or wanted the know-it-all that could tell me the molecular structure of xylene, but could not grasp the concept of setting up a gross run. My point? We as Supervisor's are the mentors, it is are job to teach our techs on how we need the work performed, to me working on your certification is showing that you are committed to your profession, not all people are good at taking a test and passing the test just meant you were really good that day. Would I take an un-certified tech over a certified tech? That would depend on their attitude and how well they perform on my tests. Linda: one day I started an argument in the clinical lab at when I said Histology is an art, it is only as good as the person performing, anyone can ready a manual and run a chemistry analyzer. I'd like to say that it went over well, but I can't Tom Podawiltz, HT (ASCP) Histology Section Head/Laboratory Safety Officer LRGHealthcare 603-524-3211 ext: 3220 From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Larry Woody [slappyc...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 2:14 PM To: Blazek, Linda; ddittus...@aol.com; tmcne...@lmhealth.org; rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; sjchta...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Good one Linda! You won't get many MTs to agree with that. Larry A. Woody Seattle, Wa.
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Dear Ms.Marcum, Congratulations to you for your accomplishments, and they are many. And, to everyone else in Histoland that has grown with OJTafter all it's experience on the job that provides the opportunity to learn. Certification is a method of finding the finish line of the path through any discipline. In fact it is not the end but rather the beginning ! My own experience with Histotechnology is OJT.in the classroom, in the garage, in the basement shopwherever I have been given the opportunity to make mistakes and benefit from someone who would show approval or nudge me in the right direction. Today, as we speak , I continue to try and find a better path, a better method, a better solution to one of the problems of histotechnology. The HistoNet is a wonderful forum of learning. This is our OJL blog and I appreciate the candor of all participants. We have a common goalgood workfor the profession, and each day another OJT opportunity. Regards, J.B.McCormick,M.D. CSO Leica-biosystems, St. Louis, Mo -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Pamela Marcum Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:16 PM To: 'Martin, Gary'; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I am sorry I seemed to have expanded this discussion. I want to be clear on part of the record. I was OJT trained in the 60's. We had even fewer schools and options then. The person who trained me had been trained by the pathologist and the Ann Preece book in histology. She knew what the pathologists we worked with wanted and saw to it that was what they got everyday. When I worked in other places later and continued my education I did learn more about the chemistry and why it worked or failed. I was in research when I took my HT and was told if I used animal tissue I would fail as no one on the board back then was experienced with it. I did not know if it was true so I quickly found a hospital where I could complete everything on human tissue I processed and stained. The person running that lab required me (thank goodness) to process every piece of tissue and do every stain manually. We did not have automated stainers back then so I learned every step. So for those who think I am picking on them for OJT training it is not that I disapprove. I believe histology is too important not to be considered professional field that requires consistent training and education. Many of us old timers have fought hard for the education clause so we would have people who were licensed and fully trained. I did get my BS and more education so I did get more on my own. Pamela A Marcum University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory (CORL) 382 W Street Rd Kennett Square PA 19438 610-925-6278 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Martin, Gary Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:27 PM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I am one of those unregistered techs. I would respectfully hope that we are not considered the villains here. My situation is; we are a small lab in a rural area that has the need for 1 1/2 Histo Techs. We were having a very difficult time attracting a 1/2 time qualified tech., and had zero backup for our one and only full time qualified tech. I have a good back ground in detail work in the art world and a good amount of experience as a pathology lab assistant. So it was easy for me to transition into the role of unregistered tech, thereby providing back for our over work Histo tech. I have been trained by my Histo tech and have completed the Freida L. Carson self instruction course under her supervision. We are happy with the results and our Pathologist are pleased. At this point (7 years into teching) there are some things that I have been innovative on some things, and our tech prefers me to do other things. I would love to get certified but the changes in OTJ have made that more of a mountain than I can climb at this time. I would like to lend voice to us who are in this situation and say the we take our duties very serious and I really don't look at my job as getting over on rules or quality or providing cheap labor. In our case it has been necessity. Thank you Gary -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Watson, Linda Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:34 AM To: Mary Abosso; Steven Coakley; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I totally agree with Mary. I have often heard that histotechs are a dying breed. That us old timers are not being replaced by the younger generation. If we want to
[Histonet] Sections coming off of slides
Hi, There is a product that is carried by Newcomer Supply called Liquid Coverslip. You can use this to coverslip the slide, wait for it to cure, then soak it in warm water and float the coverslip with the attached coverslip off. Then pick the section/coverslip up on a slide that you have more confidence in. Then the coverslip can be disolved away in acetone if I recall correctly. Then start the process over and hopefully the results will be better. I'm not gonna swear to it ALL the time, but I have used this process to remove sections from slides and have stained them with IHC procedures. It would be unfortunate if after all that the section still fell off though, right? Perhaps following the other thread about brain sections falling off might help too. I can attest that hand staining is much more gentle. I'd try that too. Message: 6 Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:00:47 -0500 From: Kathleen Roberts kgrob...@rci.rutgers.edu Subject: [Histonet] Sections coming off of slides To: 'histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu' histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Message-ID: 49932e6f.3020...@rci.rutgers.edu Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Hi all, I just had a professor come to me asking if I had any tricks to rescue a section that is partially off its slide. This is formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded mouse brain, and one section on one slide is half attached and half floating after antigen retrieval for IHC (no, I don't know which retrieval method he used, but I can find out if you need it). I've never tried to do this, and a search of the archives turned up nothing, but my keywords may be off.Has anybody managed to save a section that was coming off the slide? Thanks, Kathleen Roberts Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxicology Labs Dept of Pharmacology Toxicology Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy Rutgers University 41 B Gordon Road Piscataway, NJ 08854 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Re: certified vs. uncertified techs
I am a supporter of certification as a goal. I have no problem with anyone who is OJT and took their exam. The goal of having everyone certified is to have a standardization so that we don't have such a disparity in pay. I can tell you that I have worked at a hospital where the difference in pay between certified and uncertified was significant (several $ per hour differeence) even though these individuals were performing the same tasks. Is that fair? No, but if you have the education then you get the higher pay. Now does it sound more fair? I feel that anyone who is in the position to train at a hospital should be moving toward certification, even if that means one college course at at time. Everyone should always be trying to increase their knowledge. This is what make each of us marketable. If you are not challenging yourself, how can you ever improve? There are several online programs out there for those of you in rural hospitals, so there really isn't a viable reason for not persuing certification. And just look at the end results: more pay and more respect. Just my 2 cents... ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Old Ventana Tech Mate IHC stainer looking for parts unit
Does anyone have or knows of a old Ventana Tech Mate 1000 IHC stainer that we can buy for the parts.Please let me know ,I can send pictures of what it looks like if need be. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Re: certified vs. uncertified techs
Finally, someone else gets the point of unifying the field of histology. Thank you Shelly. It really isn't about where you were trained or went to school or not. Once we are standardized we are stronger in many ways that will help us all. Larry A. Woody Seattle, Wa. From: Shelly Coker sccrsh...@yahoo.com To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:06:32 PM Subject: [Histonet] Re: certified vs. uncertified techs I am a supporter of certification as a goal. I have no problem with anyone who is OJT and took their exam. The goal of having everyone certified is to have a standardization so that we don't have such a disparity in pay. I can tell you that I have worked at a hospital where the difference in pay between certified and uncertified was significant (several $ per hour differeence) even though these individuals were performing the same tasks. Is that fair? No, but if you have the education then you get the higher pay. Now does it sound more fair? I feel that anyone who is in the position to train at a hospital should be moving toward certification, even if that means one college course at at time. Everyone should always be trying to increase their knowledge. This is what make each of us marketable. If you are not challenging yourself, how can you ever improve? There are several online programs out there for those of you in rural hospitals, so there really isn't a viable reason for not persuing certification. And just look at the end results: more pay and more respect. Just my 2 cents... ___ 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
Re: [Histonet] Antibody penetration problem
just add up to 2% triton in antibody dilution and increase the incubation time. another way is to use floating sections. 2009-02-12 TF 发件人： Amos Brooks 发送时间： 2009-02-12 08:11:23 收件人： grudow1; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 抄送： 主题： [Histonet] Antibody penetration problem Hi Gary, I am certainly not an expert on doing this, but I have done it and it worked fairly well. Why not do this as a free floating section. Take the section and place it in a glass beaker to with xylene. Deparaffinize and rehydrate as you would a slide, but not on a slide ... in a beaker. Remember to agitate the section gently. Once you are out of xylene you might want to switch to a tissue culture flask (one of those flat rectangular ones with a cap). For antigen retrieval (always avoid the microwave) put the container in a 60 deg oven overnight (cap on of course). That should do the trick. You can always tweak the procedure later to improve results. Once you get to the antibody and detection you can use a capped tube on it's side if you keep it on a gentle shaker table. Once you have the tissue out of chromagen put it in a dish and float it onto a slide. Incidentally weather you do this all on a slide or in a jar to mount later you need to make sure there is sufficient surfactant in the buffer rinses. This really aids the penetration by removing the surface tension. Also make sure your pH is correct thru the whole procedure. Failing this will affect the antibody antigen affinity (or is it avidity ... I forget). Best of luck, (and let us know how it goes) Amos Brooks Message: 12 Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:19:09 -0500 From: Gay Rudow grud...@jhmi.edu Subject: [Histonet] Antibody penetration problem To: 'histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu' histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Message-ID: 864a73846ce8f04d995603351682c29c86a851c...@jhemtexvs2.win.ad.jhu.edu Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-7 I hate to change the topic, but I have a problem with penetration of an antibody. I am using 50 ěM paraffin sections and doing an antigen retrieval step of microwaving the sections in water for 5 min. I am staining by hand using the Vector ABC Elite mouse kit. The antibody is SMI 311 which I am using as a neuronal marker. Right now, my antibody penetration is only 15 ěM. Does anyone have any suggestions to help me with this? Thanks! Gay Rudow ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
Bravo!!! -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of McCormick, James Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:31 PM To: Pamela Marcum; 'Martin,Gary'; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology Dear Ms.Marcum, Congratulations to you for your accomplishments, and they are many. And, to everyone else in Histoland that has grown with OJTafter all it's experience on the job that provides the opportunity to learn. Certification is a method of finding the finish line of the path through any discipline. In fact it is not the end but rather the beginning ! My own experience with Histotechnology is OJT.in the classroom, in the garage, in the basement shopwherever I have been given the opportunity to make mistakes and benefit from someone who would show approval or nudge me in the right direction. Today, as we speak , I continue to try and find a better path, a better method, a better solution to one of the problems of histotechnology. The HistoNet is a wonderful forum of learning. This is our OJL blog and I appreciate the candor of all participants. We have a common goalgood workfor the profession, and each day another OJT opportunity. Regards, J.B.McCormick,M.D. CSO Leica-biosystems, St. Louis, Mo -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Pamela Marcum Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:16 PM To: 'Martin, Gary'; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I am sorry I seemed to have expanded this discussion. I want to be clear on part of the record. I was OJT trained in the 60's. We had even fewer schools and options then. The person who trained me had been trained by the pathologist and the Ann Preece book in histology. She knew what the pathologists we worked with wanted and saw to it that was what they got everyday. When I worked in other places later and continued my education I did learn more about the chemistry and why it worked or failed. I was in research when I took my HT and was told if I used animal tissue I would fail as no one on the board back then was experienced with it. I did not know if it was true so I quickly found a hospital where I could complete everything on human tissue I processed and stained. The person running that lab required me (thank goodness) to process every piece of tissue and do every stain manually. We did not have automated stainers back then so I learned every step. So for those who think I am picking on them for OJT training it is not that I disapprove. I believe histology is too important not to be considered professional field that requires consistent training and education. Many of us old timers have fought hard for the education clause so we would have people who were licensed and fully trained. I did get my BS and more education so I did get more on my own. Pamela A Marcum University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory (CORL) 382 W Street Rd Kennett Square PA 19438 610-925-6278 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Martin, Gary Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:27 PM To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology I am one of those unregistered techs. I would respectfully hope that we are not considered the villains here. My situation is; we are a small lab in a rural area that has the need for 1 1/2 Histo Techs. We were having a very difficult time attracting a 1/2 time qualified tech., and had zero backup for our one and only full time qualified tech. I have a good back ground in detail work in the art world and a good amount of experience as a pathology lab assistant. So it was easy for me to transition into the role of unregistered tech, thereby providing back for our over work Histo tech. I have been trained by my Histo tech and have completed the Freida L. Carson self instruction course under her supervision. We are happy with the results and our Pathologist are pleased. At this point (7 years into teching) there are some things that I have been innovative on some things, and our tech prefers me to do other things. I would love to get certified but the changes in OTJ have made that more of a mountain than I can climb at this time. I would like to lend voice to us who are in this situation and say the we take our duties very serious and I really don't look at my job as getting over on rules or quality or providing cheap labor. In our case it has been necessity. Thank you Gary -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Watson, Linda Sent:
[Histonet] HALT
. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] automated systems
Dear Histonetters this is a plea for technical advice from end-users - who out there is using automation for semen analysis and what equipment do you recommend? i am considering the SQA-V from MES any comments -- Anne van Binsbergen (Hope) Abu Dhabi UAE ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
