Re: [Histonet] New lab set up

[Bryan Llewellyn via Histonet]

I have sectioned both standing and sitting, and much prefer sitting. 
However, due to back problems I found it necessary to have a stand built 
for the microtome so that when I was sctioning I reached slightly 
upwards rather than crouched over. This all but eliminated the strain on 
my back. The stand was basically a five sided box with an open front 
made from heavy plywood and sized to fit my requirements. The front was 
open and very useful for slides, pens, tissues and so on. I also used a 
heavy draughting chair which was higher than a normal chair. The 
combination worked very well for daily sectioning over a 20 year period.


Bryan Llewellyn


Vanessa Avalos via Histonet wrote:

We will be setting up our lab on the 2nd floor in the next few months and since 
it's been a while since I have set up a new lab I am looking for any ideas you all 
have. Our lab is a small one that does derm/H only for our 3 locations.
I have always stood to section, but am thinking of getting a higher chair and 
sitting. What do you all think of sitting vs standing, along with counter 
height suggestions? All input whether it pertains to our lab or not will be 
appreciated because I am sure there will be something I will forget.

Thanks!
V. Avalos
AD HISTO


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[Histonet] New lab set up

[Vanessa Avalos via Histonet]

We will be setting up our lab on the 2nd floor in the next few months and since 
it's been a while since I have set up a new lab I am looking for any ideas you 
all have. Our lab is a small one that does derm/H only for our 3 locations.
I have always stood to section, but am thinking of getting a higher chair and 
sitting. What do you all think of sitting vs standing, along with counter 
height suggestions? All input whether it pertains to our lab or not will be 
appreciated because I am sure there will be something I will forget.

Thanks!
V. Avalos
AD HISTO


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Re: [Histonet] Permanent mountant for Oil Red O

[John Kiernan via Histonet]

Fructose syrup gives a hard set, but it's a bit acidic (I don't know why) and 
is therefore incompatible with simple basic dyes, but it's OK for Oil red O and 
the Sudans.
   Fructose (also called laevulose or levulose)  15 g
   Distilled water  5 ml
Leave at ~60C (in paraffin oven) for 2 or 3 days for all the fructose to 
dissolve. Don't let the water evaporate!  The transparent syrup keeps well for 
2-3 months at room temp.
With long storage fructose crystallizes under the coverslip; this can be 
retarded by sealing the adges with a resinous mounting medium such as DPX. (You 
can buy fructose powder for cooking - about $3 a pound on the the internet. Cf  
$25-80 from chemical supply houses.)

Another good one is polyvinylpyrrolidone:
 PVP (m.w. 10,000)   25g
 Water (or a phosphate buffer pH 7.4) 25ml
  When dissolved (several hours, magnetic stirring), add 1ml glycerol and a 
small crystal of thymol.
Keeps for up to 3 years. Discard if it becomes cloudy. Use the buffered variety 
if the preparation has been stained or counterstained with a basic dye like 
toluidine blue or neutral red.
This is less viscous than fructose syrup, and also has a lower refractive 
index, but with evaporation at the edges of the coverslip it gradually (weeks) 
becomes harder, and its refractive index increases almost to that of a resinous 
mountant.  Probably you won't want to wait before shipping the slides 
elsewhere.  PVP costs more than fructose (about $150 per pound for PVP10).

This short article about aqueous mounting media is rather old (1997) but 
probably still OK:
http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/aqmount.htm

John Kiernan
London, Canada
= = =


From: Hagon, Christopher (Health) via Histonet 

Sent: 15 September 2019 22:43
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
Subject: [Histonet] Permanent mountant for Oil Red O

UNCLASSIFIED

Hello Histonetters,

We do Oil Red O stains on frozen section post mortem tissue, and need to find a 
permanent aqueous mounting medium. We used to use the Thermo-Fisher  
Perm-mount, but can't seem to get it anymore. As they are looking for fat 
deposits, we can't use any solvent based solutions, and the only aqueous ones 
we've found aren't permanent. We have to send the slides off site after 
staining, so the chances of the coverslip moving in transport is fairly high.

Does anyone else have this issue and what did you end up using?

Thanks in advance,

Chris Hagon | Senior Scientist, Anatomical Pathology
ACT Pathology | health.act.gov.au
Phone (02) 5124 2874





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Re: [Histonet] Help to interview new employees for the first time

[Sheeder, Christopher via Histonet]

Hi Blanca,
Hiring has become more difficult in recent years. Most employers now only 
verify past employment. They cannot divulge any corrective actions, performance 
issues or firings.
References are hand-picked by the applicant so you don't get the whole picture 
there either.
I typically ask them about their experiences in histology. Obstacles they have 
overcome, how to handle difficult customers (angry physicians) etc.
If you can give the other techs a chance to ask the candidate questions, great, 
otherwise see what questions your techs want to know.
I fully agree with Terri Braud's response. Do not have them perform any type of 
function. That is the purpose of the probationary period.
The best interview question that was ever asked of me..."Name 12 uses for a 
pencil".
Seems silly, but it's not about the answer, it's about demonstrating your 
creative problem solving skills. (it was tough, but I came up with 12!)
Best of luck!

Christopher Sheeder, HT(ASCP)QIHC
Pathology Manager | Department of Laboratories
Seattle Children's Hospital

-Original Message-
From: Blanca Lopez 
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2019 11:48 AM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Help to interview new employees for the first time

I am going to interview people for Histotech position for the first time...what 
are the best questions to ask? How do I prepare myself? what is the I need to 
know that they are the best one? What should I ask or choose? Is good to put 
them in action like cutting or staining to check on their skills or what are 
your recommendations? thank you for your help

Blanca Lopez HT (ASCP)cm
Senior Histotechnologist
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center UTSTR Biorepository Tissue Lab
6000 Harry Hines Blvd NB5.102
Dallas, Texas 75390
214-648-7598
blanca.lo...@utsouthwestern.edu





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