RE: [Histonet] RAC Medicare Audits - PAs
I haven't heard that one. Do they mean present physically or present as in their office reading slides, but a phone call or page away? Loralee McMahon, HTL (ASCP) Immunohistochemistry Supervisor Strong Memorial Hospital Department of Surgical Pathology (585) 275-7210 From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Cartun [rcar...@harthosp.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 7:19 PM To: Histonet Subject: [Histonet] RAC Medicare Audits - PAs Is anyone familiar with the new requirement effective January 1st, 2012 that states that Pathologists' Assistants can no longer teach residents unless a pathologist is present? Richard Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD Director, Histology Immunopathology Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour Street Hartford, CT 06102 (860) 545-1596 Office (860) 545-2204 Fax ___ 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] Bleaching in the histo lab
I have been told by our safety officer that it is standard practice too clean the lab at the end of the day with diluted bleach. I have noticed a chemical reaction (smell) when cleaning the main area of the lab. I have concerns that this is not a good practice due to chemical reactions as we use so many chemicals in histology. What do other people do? Also I believe it is unsafe to use bleach with anything formalin related. Please let me know if you have a standard practice or mandated cleaning from your facility. Angela ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Vendors who market slide and cassette labelers - Can you help?
I am working on a project for NSH and CAP and I thought that the list might help me to avoid overlooking vendors that I may be unaware of. I am trying to identify ALL sources of cassette and slide labeling equipment. In order avoid clogging the list I invite you or vendor reps to email me directly. This may lead to an opportunity for companies to participate in this project. here is what I have thus far: Thermo Fisher General Data Healthcare Sakura Leica TBS (triangle biomedical) I know that Ventana markets a comprehensive software product that is used for specimen management but I don't know what that includes. I thought Dako may have had a competing product but I am unsure about this. I also know that in the past there were different versions of cassette printers from RA Lamb that were offered through different vendors, so for example the TBS and old Shandon/Thermo MicroWriters were different versions of the Lamb cassette printers. any information that you can offer will be greatly appreciated. thanks Vinnie Della Speranza, MS, HTL(ASCP) Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services Medical University of South Carolina 165 Ashley Avenue MSC 908 Charleston, SC 29425 tel. 843-792-6353 fax. 843-792-8974 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Immunofluorescence staining/minimizing background staining
Hi, What fluorochromes are you using? There is a lot of autofluorescence in the FITC channel. Have you looked at an unstained tissues under the scope with each filter that you need, that may give you a clue as to where your background is coming from. In addition to an unstained slide, I suggest eliminating the primary to see if your secondary is sticking to the tissues. Are you doing single-color or double stains? If you are getting a lot of autofluorescence with one fluorochrome, I would suggest trying a different one. We use alexafluur-647 (far red) a lot because is it fairly clean (ie - very little autofluorescence in that channel) Kim Merriam, MA, HT(ASCP)QIHC Cambridge, MA From: Kasai, Miki (NIH/NCI) [E] kas...@mail.nih.gov To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 4:50 PM Subject: [Histonet] Immunofluorescence staining/minimizing background staining Hi, We are performing some immunofluorescence staining on mouse lung tissue. We are getting some nice positive staining with some of our initial antibodies (procollagen, cytokeratin). We would like to minimize the amount of background staining we are getting. We are titering our primary antibodies to find out optimal Ab concentration as well as the secondary conjugate Ab with the fluorophore of interest. We use donkey serum for general blocking. Any other suggestions? Much appreciation, Miki ___ 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] Bleaching in the histo lab
The short answer is that you need a detailed procedure for all immediate and regular cleaning of infectious materials and hazardous chemicals used in your lab. I believe the standard practice your safety officer is referring used in the clinical lab is a practice to clean all surfaces after each shift to remove/decontaminate all contaminated or potentially contaminated from the work surfaces of blood or other infectious material w/ 10% bleach solution (1:10 dilution of 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite) or other lab cleaners approved for biohazard approved contamination. The waste generated by this process should be disposed of in the non-regulated medical waste. Typically in the Histology room there should not be blood or other infectious materials (you are working w/ fixed and processed tissue samples), unless you have your frozen section and/or gross dissection processes connected to and part of the main Histology room. I suggest you use the bleach solution whenever there is known or suspicion of contamination of a potentially infectious material. For areas/surfaces and equipment where lab chemicals are used, always remove the spilled chemical according to MSDS recommendations and then clean the area w/ a damp cloth with water and a detergent and them wipe clean and dry. If or when a hazardous chemical is spilled (i.e. Xylene, Formalin or chemicals associated w/ IHC or Special staining), it should be treated as a hazardous chemical spill and there area should be cleaned according to your hazardous chemical spill protocol. Small spills (up to 300 cc) - neutralize and/or adsorption; medium spill (300 cc to 5 liters) - adsorption spill kit; Large spill (5 liters) - outside help. disposal will be in regulated hazardous waste. The main point here, instances of contamination of infectious materials or any size spill of hazardous chemicals should be treated seriously and properly. Your cleaning and disposal procedure must be very detailed to protect the employees and meet lab, municipality, state and regulatory requirements. I am very passionate about properly handling chemicals and protecting everyone that must have contact w/ these necessary solutions/products. I suggest you and your safety officer have a sit down and discuss how to document and address these issues, a drive-by by a safety officer is really not adequate. William DeSalvo, B.S., HTL(ASCP) Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 05:57:27 -0800 From: we3smi...@yahoo.com To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Bleaching in the histo lab I have been told by our safety officer that it is standard practice too clean the lab at the end of the day with diluted bleach. I have noticed a chemical reaction (smell) when cleaning the main area of the lab. I have concerns that this is not a good practice due to chemical reactions as we use so many chemicals in histology. What do other people do? Also I believe it is unsafe to use bleach with anything formalin related. Please let me know if you have a standard practice or mandated cleaning from your facility. Angela ___ 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] IHCRG where are you?
Good Morning, Just curious if any one out there knows what happened to the IHCRG (IHC review group?) It was an organization advertised in the NSH material I brought home from last September but the website doesn't exist and the email address listed was undeliverable...Just curious It sounded like an interest idea, just wondered what happened.. Thank you for any response :) ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Job Listing Houston,Tx
-- *ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 14905- T* * * *JOB TITLE: Histology Technician II * * * *DEPARTMENT:Institute of Forensic Sciences* * * *HOURS: 7:30 a.m. – 4:40 p.m. / Flexible* *Monday - Friday* * * *SALARY:Commensurate With Experience* *Based On 26 Pay Periods* * * *EDUCATION: *Completion of an Associate’s degree and completion of histology school with histo-technician certification (ASCP) American Society of Clinical Pathologist *at the time of employment or within one year of employment. * * * *EXPERIENCE: *One year of experience in a histology laboratory in which responsibilities included production of stained slides and preservation of tissue samples in both paraffin and formalin is *required*.** * * *JOB SKILLS: *The successful applicant must have expertise in the use of microtomes, manual staining procedures, manual slide coverslipping, automated slide stainers, automated slide coverslipper, tissue processors and tissue embedding. Must be capable of understanding and adhering to strict protocols for the handling, trimming and archival of tissue samples and blocks; knowledge of histology laboratory safety rules and procedures *is essential*. Good interpersonal skills *are a must*. *JOB DESCRIPTION: *Prepares stained slides of autopsy tissues in a careful, controlled environment. Prepares paraffin blocks of tissue for long-term storage and labels the samples in accordance with histology laboratory protocols; assists with archival of paraffin-embedded and non-paraffin-embedded formalin fixed tissues. Provides all tissue slides to the assigned Assistant Medical Examiner, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner or Chief Medical Examiner on a timely basis; assists with data entry into a computerized database to track laboratory efficiency as required. Other job assignments as assigned by the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner. *Position requires a high level of confidentiality, responsibility and dependability.* *PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:** *Must be able to sit and stand for prolonged periods of time; able to lift up to 40lbs; stooping and bending may be required. * * *EMPLOYMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON PASSING A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK.* * * * * *HARRIS COUNTY HAS AN EMPLOYMENT AT WILL POLICY.* *CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled* *APPLY AT:1310 PRAIRIE - SUITE 170* * * * * *UPON RECEIVING A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT, ALL APPLICANTS ARE SCREENED FOR THE PRESENCE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS.*** ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] On call Position in Chicago
Our private outpatient specialty lab has an opening for an on-call part-time second shift and weekend histologist. We are located in the western Chicago suburbs about a mile east of Oak Brook Shopping Center. If interested, please contact Andrea O'Brien at 708-486-0076 about:blank . Experienced histologists only, please. Lester J. Raff, MD Medical Director UroPartners Laboratory 2225 Enterprise Dr. Suite 2511 Westchester, Il 60154 Tel 708.486.0076 Fax 708.492.0203 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] RAC Medicare Audits - PAs
I don't know. I was hoping that there is someone in the Histonet community that is familiar with this. Richard McMahon, Loralee A loralee_mcma...@urmc.rochester.edu 2/1/2012 8:56 AM I haven't heard that one. Do they mean present physically or present as in their office reading slides, but a phone call or page away? Loralee McMahon, HTL (ASCP) Immunohistochemistry Supervisor Strong Memorial Hospital Department of Surgical Pathology (585) 275-7210 From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Cartun [rcar...@harthosp.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 7:19 PM To: Histonet Subject: [Histonet] RAC Medicare Audits - PAs Is anyone familiar with the new requirement effective January 1st, 2012 that states that Pathologists' Assistants can no longer teach residents unless a pathologist is present? Richard Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD Director, Histology Immunopathology Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour Street Hartford, CT 06102 (860) 545-1596 Office (860) 545-2204 Fax ___ 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] C4d IF on FFPE kidney
Hi! Can someone provide me a immunofluorescence protocol for C4d on formalin fixed human paraffin sections? thanks in advance Gudrun Lang ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Bleaching in the histo lab
Several questions and comments, in no particular order: 1. What percent of bleach? - 10% is all that is needed for biohazards. If you are concerned about the smell, it might be too high a percent. 2. How good is your ventilation? How long do you continue to smell the chlorine? - If you continue to smell it hours later, or even the next day, have your safety officer and maintenance people check out the ventilation. 3. After wiping down with 10% bleach, are you wiping down the counter with water? - Need to clean off the corrosive bleach off the surfaces. That would also help with the smell. But takes more time. 3. What locations in the lab are you cleaning with dilute bleach? - The only areas that need to be cleaned with a disinfectant are those areas that have fresh or not completely fixed tissue, so around the grossing stations and the cryostat. Maybe where specimens are received into the lab. - The areas where you process tissue, embed, microtome, do staining, file slides and blocks should not need to be disinfected with bleach. The tissue has been fixed in formalin, and gone through alcohol, xylene (or substitute), and placed in 60 degree C (140 degree F) paraffin. That should kill almost all microorganisms. Therefore, should not need to clean up with anything beyond soap and water. If you have a very underprocessed tissue block, and it's oozing and weeping all over the counter and microtome, you may want to disinfect the area. (If it's a CJD case, you are going to need strong solutions than 10% bleach, but that's a whole new conversation.) - So talk with your safety officer, about how there are no biohazards in the other parts of the lab. They may be thinking more of the clinical pathology labs, with blood tubes and petri dishes, needing to be disinfected with bleach every day/shift. 4. Chemical incompatibility: Bleach is incompatible with ammonia (makes chlorine gas - deadly) Bleach is incompatible with acids Bleach is an oxidizer, and formaldehyde is supposed to be kept away from oxidizers. So, yes, I would be a little worried about chemical interaction. However, wiping down the area first with water, to remove other chemicals, before the bleach, would take care of this problems. 5. What does Epidemiology suggest for disinfectant? Our epidemiology is suggesting other cleaning solutions for disinfecting, rather than bleach, in many cases. - not as corrosive - less obnoxious fumes - more green - better disinfectant and faster, than bleach Peggy Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS Beaumont Health Systems Royal Oak, MI 48073 (Comments reflect my opinions, not that of my hospital) -Original Message- From: angela smith Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 8:57 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Bleaching in the histo lab I have been told by our safety officer that it is standard practice too clean the lab at the end of the day with diluted bleach. I have noticed a chemical reaction (smell) when cleaning the main area of the lab. I have concerns that this is not a good practice due to chemical reactions as we use so many chemicals in histology. What do other people do? Also I believe it is unsafe to use bleach with anything formalin related. Please let me know if you have a standard practice or mandated cleaning from your facility. Angela ___ 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] RAC Medicare Audits - PAs
Sorry. But I thought RAC was a group of individuals who go over your billing looking for over payments to Medicare They typically get a % of what they find so it motivates them. If u have this group of auditors in your area and they Are saying this then I would just ask them to show you the rule they must be referring to a CLIA guideline somewhere. Best of luck Kim D Sent from my iPhone On Feb 1, 2012, at 2:45 PM, Richard Cartun rcar...@harthosp.org wrote: I don't know. I was hoping that there is someone in the Histonet community that is familiar with this. Richard McMahon, Loralee A loralee_mcma...@urmc.rochester.edu 2/1/2012 8:56 AM I haven't heard that one. Do they mean present physically or present as in their office reading slides, but a phone call or page away? Loralee McMahon, HTL (ASCP) Immunohistochemistry Supervisor Strong Memorial Hospital Department of Surgical Pathology (585) 275-7210 From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Cartun [rcar...@harthosp.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 7:19 PM To: Histonet Subject: [Histonet] RAC Medicare Audits - PAs Is anyone familiar with the new requirement effective January 1st, 2012 that states that Pathologists' Assistants can no longer teach residents unless a pathologist is present? Richard Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD Director, Histology Immunopathology Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour Street Hartford, CT 06102 (860) 545-1596 Office (860) 545-2204 Fax ___ 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
