[Histonet] Need Microm AP 280-3 embedding center
The heating element for the front chamber on my formerly very dependable Microm AP 280 embedding center has burned out, right in the middle of teaching histotechniques this semester, and with grad students and me in need of it (of course!). I am wondering if anyone has a working unit of this part (AP 280-3) that might be available? Or if anyone in the Washington, DC, metro area can recommend someone who might be able to fix mine? Thank you! Esther -- Esther C. Peters, Ph.D. Department of Environmental Science Policy Biology Program, Medical Technology Coordinator George Mason University 4400 University Drive, MSN 5F2 Fairfax, VA 22030 Office: David King Hall 3057 Phone: 703-993-3462 Fax: 703-993-1066 E-mail: epete...@gmu.edu ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] cost of histology
Hi Rene and Histonet, That should be http://www.histosearch.com/rene.html Great resource, but I am not sure which article discusses how to figure cost of materials? Esther On 12/4/2012 1:29 PM, Rene J Buesa wrote: Please go to: http://www.histosearch.com(rene.html) René J. From: Margaret Horne mho...@upei.ca To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 1:26 PM Subject: [Histonet] cost of histology Hello Everyone, I am trying to figure out the cost of materials alone for Embedding, and a simple HE. We have a multi-user facility where the Researchers do the work, actually their techs ;-) , but I would like to have them replace the supplies used. Slides and blades are easy as they can bring their own, but embedding and staining is trickier. I don't have throughput numbers as the work comes in sporadically. Processing is done in another lab, so I don't need that. Does anyone have some numbers near at hand? Much thanks, Margaret ___ 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 -- Esther C. Peters, Ph.D. Department of Environmental Science Policy Biology Program, Medical Technology Coordinator George Mason University 4400 University Drive, MSN 5F2 Fairfax, VA 22030 Office: David King Hall 3057 Phone: 703-993-3462 Fax: 703-993-1066 E-mail: epete...@gmu.edu ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] A poem
I got a copy of that from my mentor, Paul Yevich, Chief Histopathologist at the USEPA Environmental Research Laboratory, some 30ish years ago, which I keep posted in my lab. I'm glad it will now be preserved forever on the Internet so we can all get a fresh copy when the paper crumbles! Esther -- Esther C. Peters, Ph.D. Department of Environmental Science Policy Biology Program, Medical Technology Coordinator George Mason University 4400 University Drive, MSN 5F2 Fairfax, VA 22030 Office: David King Hall 3057 Phone: 703-993-3462 Fax: 703-993-1066 E-mail: epete...@gmu.edu On 6/28/2012 12:15 PM, Bernice Frederick wrote: I've had this for years- don't know where I got it but thought you all might be amused. LAB HIERARCHY Chief Pathologist Leaps tall building in a single bound Is more powerful than a locomotive Is faster than a speeding bullet Walks on water, Gives policy to God Associate Pathologist Leaps short buildings in single bound Is more powerful than a switch engine Is just as fast as a speeding bullet Walks on water if sea is calm Talks with God The Department Head Leaps short buildings with a running start and favorable winds Is almost as powerful as a switch engine Is faster than a speeding bullet Walks on water in an indoor pool Talks with God if special request is approved Director of Laboratories Rarely clears a Quonset hut Loses tug of war with locomotive Can fire a speeding bullet Swims well Is occasionally addressed by God Associate Director of Laboratories Makes high marks on the walls when trying to leap tall buildings Is run over by locomotives Can sometimes handle a gun without inflicting self-injury Dog paddles Talks to animals Supervisor Runs into building Recognizes locomotives two out of three times Is not issued ammunition Can stay afloat with a life jacket Talks to walls Chief Technologist Falls over doorstep when trying to enter building Says look at the choo-choo Wets themselves with a water pistol Plays in mud puddles Mumbles to Themselves Histotechnologist Lifts tall buildings and walks under them Kicks locomotives off the tracks Catches speeding bullets in their teeth and eats them Freezes water with a single glance They are God - Anonymous Bernice Frederick HTL (ASCP) Senior Research Tech Pathology Core Facility ECOGPCO-RL Robert. H. Lurie Cancer Center Northwestern University 710 N Fairbanks Court Olson 8-421 Chicago,IL 60611 312-503-3723 b-freder...@northwestern.edumailto:b-freder...@northwestern.edu ___ 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] HT positions still available!
I am posting the following position announcements for Dr. Patricia Latham, Department of Pathology, at George Washington University (GWU), in Washington, DC. If you are interested in the positions, please contact her directly: plat...@mfa.gwu.edu. Applicants should already be located in the DC area. One position is funded for development of a histopathology core lab in the GW School of Biomedical Sciences. This lab will be expected to provide tissue processing, sections, routine and special stains and immunostaining to meet the needs of researchers at GWU, primarily in the Biomedical sciences, but all departments will be invited to submit tissues. This person will need to work independently to deliver excellent quality results in a timely manner from the get-go. The person should have good managerial skills, since there will be a need to maintain inventory and to keep track of the flow of specimens and charges. Ideally, the person would have an entreprenurial spirit since the success of the lab will determine its future existence. The position is assured for 2 years, but it could grow to full-time, if the lab does well. The second position is not available quite yet (but very soon) and this person must also be a qualified histotechnologist with experience. This is a contract position at half-time to provide a service to a Pharma project - now scheduled through May 2015. The work involved for the contract will be very limited to a select number of routine stains and one immunostain. However, the person will need to be entering data into an audit-trail database and to maintain meticulous records and interdepartmental communications on a limited but international scale. There will be significant time not involved in the contract work for research projects that I intend to pursue. It would be ideal for someone wanting to take an advanced degree or to get involved in biomedical research. This person will be more like a research assistant, except for the contract obligations. Esther C. Peters, Ph.D. George Mason University Fairfax, VA ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Histotechnologist positions at George Washington University
I am posting the following position announcements for Dr. Patricia Latham at GWU, in Washington, DC. If you are interested in the positions, please contact her directly: plat...@mfa.gwu.edu. Thank you! One position is funded for development of a histopathology core lab in the GW School of Biomedical Sciences. This lab will be expected to provide tissue processing, sections, routine and special stains and immunostaining to meet the needs of researchers at GWU, primarily in the Biomedical sciences, but all departments will be invited to submit tissues. This person will need to work independently to deliver excellent quality results in a timely manner from the get-go. The person should have good managerial skills, since there will be a need to maintain inventory and to keep track of the flow of specimens and charges. Ideally, the person would have an entreprenurial spirit since the success of the lab will determine its future existence. The position is assured for 2 years, but it could grow to full-time, if the lab does well. The second position is not available quite yet (but very soon) and this person must also be a qualified histotechnologist with experience. This is a contract position at half-time to provide a service to a Pharma project - now scheduled through May 2015. The work involved for the contract will be very limited to a select number of routine stains and one immunostain. However, the person will need to be entering data into an audit-trail database and to maintain meticulous records and interdepartmental communications on a limited but international scale. There will be significant time not involved in the contract work for research projects that I intend to pursue. It would be ideal for someone wanting to take an advanced degree or to get involved in biomedical research. This person will be more like a research assistant, except for the contract obligations. Esther C. Peters, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Environmental Science Policy George Mason University Fairfax, VA 22030- ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Water droplets on slides
I am having problems with water droplets appearing on slides when transferring the rack from the last 100% dehydrant (Richard-Allan) to either SafeClear II or xylenes. I saw that some of you had noted this problem might be in the xylene substitute, but switching to xylene seemed to solve it. I am wondering if the 100% isn't? I have poured immediately before use from freshly opened bottles, and still have the problem. Would appreciate any help (of course, the humidity is high right now, but...)! -- Esther C. Peters, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; Department of Environmental Science Policy; George Mason University ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] DRGs and Histogel
I have had the exact same results, one piece processing well and another in the same cassette shrinking and hardening, when using 1.5-2% low melting point agarose (NuSieve) instead of Histogel. I was thinking of changing to Histogel, but then this thread started last summer and now I see issues continue. I would love to know the best way to do this also! Esther Peters, Ph.D. George Mason University dusko trajkovic wrote: I also think that it is strange of the way Histogel processes. I have posted on the Histonet previously about this exact problem. I worked with Jennifer Hofec ker when she was at Vanderbilt U.(sent her my Histogel and she sent me hers) an d ended up with perfectly processed Histogel blocks at our facility and hers. I processed a couple of blocks last week and they were just terrible. No change in the processing schedule, or the way Histogel was liquefied (placed in hot wa ter that was heated in the microwave). Prior to the last two blocks, I must hav e processed at least a dozen blocks without any problems. There was an incident where I placed two histogels in the same cassete. One processed beautifuly and the other was all shrunken and dried up. I do not liquefy the entire tube, rather I scoop out the approximate amount tha t I need and transfer to another tube to heat up. If there is anyone out there in Histoland that has not had any issues with the Histogel, can you please post your procedure on liquefying the Histogel, method of cooling/solidifying and p rocessing schedule? The only thing that I do that is not exact is I do not know the temp of my hot water when i place the Histogel to liquefy. I basically hav e to wait several minutes for the gel to melt and I use it immediately. Any new information or solution from anyone, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Dusko Trajkovic From: Amy Porter [1]port...@msu.edu To: Andrea Grantham [2]algra...@email.arizona.edu; HISTONET [3]histo...@list s.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Mon, February 22, 2010 9:01:22 AM Subject: RE: [Histonet] DRGs I think it is strange that we are all doing similar techniques and wind up with different outcomes using the histogel. I would be curious how many of us are using the equipment sold with the histogel for warming and cooling opposed to any of us who don't. we did not purchase the equipment and I wonder sometimes if warming the histogel using other means causes some type of breakdown / and do any of you repeatedly reheat the same tube once it has been warmed and resolidified?? -Original Message- From: [4]histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [[5]mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Andrea Grantham Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 9:41 AM To: HISTONET Subject: Re: [Histonet] DRGs Importance: High Hi Carol, I have used histogel for these kinds of samples and also other small, thin tissues like insect antennae and insect GI tracts and midguts. Since I get all my projects already fixed in whatever fixative the investigator chooses, rinsed and placed in 70% ETOH the histogel never touches formalin. I don't use formalin on my processor but start in 70%. I've never had a problem with the histogel. We just put the sample in the histogel flat and stand it up (turn 90°) when embedding in paraffin. I use tissue prep for embedding. If you don't want to use histogel you could try to put the drg's on GN Metricel membrane disc filters. We do this with a lot of the samples I receive, actually I have the investigators or their techs do this. The tissue sticks to the membrane and orientation is a dream. The membrane presents no problem when sectioning. You can get it from VWR. Andi Andrea Grantham, HT (ASCP) Senior Research Specialist University of Arizona Cell Biology and Anatomy Histology Service Laboratory P.O.Box 245044 Tucson, AZ 85724 [6]algra...@email.arizona.edu Tel: 520.626.4415Fax: 520.626.2097 happy slicing and dicing and may all your stains work perfectly - Paula Sicurello P Please consider the environment before printing this email. On Feb 18, 2010, at 11:23 AM, Barone, Carol wrote: Histonetter's...we received a boat-load of mouse DRGs that had been prepared in histogel and are cutting...well..not so good. We normally do DRGs from FS and get beautiful results. We have used histogel before with other small sample and have never had issues... not sure if it is the Histogel or DRG's (fixed in 10% NBF and then transferred to 70% before placed into the histogel).is the issue..I seem to remember that histogel requires formalin and wonder if the transfer to 70% is causing our problem ...but, obviously there is not much room for error with such tiny- tiny samples and they are already process and in paraffin? I am not quite sure how twe can improve the ones that came in histogel, and were processed to paraffin a paraffin blockany idea's? any experience? any anything? Thx
Re: [Histonet] PLUS SLIDES
We just received an order from Fisher in which the lab tape that was sent was 2-inches wide, but the catalog numbers on the tapes and description on the Web site was for 1-inch wide tape, so we did not get what we thought we were getting either. Esther Peters, Ph.D. George Mason University Janice Mitchell wrote: Good Morning Histoland, FYI. We use fisher ink-jet plus slides with clipped corners. Recently we received a case labeled correctly that were just plain slides. We did not notice it till we had used a few of the boxes of slides. It was not to big a disaster for our lab, but it might be for others. Janice ___ 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] Clearing agent advice
Have any of you used Clearify, Naturalene, or Master Clear? I have been using SafeClear II, but need to change. Which of these might be most like SafeClear? Will they all work with Permount? Thank you very much for your insights! Esther Peters, Ph.D. Assistant Professor George Mason University ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Knife strop photo?
Does anyone have a photograph showing the use of an old steel knife leather sharpening sharp? Esther Peters George Mason University ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Steel Microtome Blades
I also have a number of these blades and an old knife sharpener, which I would like to get to a good home. Esther Peters George Mason University Wallen, Jeannette B wrote: Does anyone still use the steel microtome blades that need to be sharpened? We have found some of these blades in our laboratory and will dispose of them, if no one has any use for them. Jeannette B. Wallen, HT (ASCP) Histology Specialist/Histology Team Lead Hennepin County Medical Center Anatomic Pathology/Histology Lab 701 Park Avenue, Mail Code: PL Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 873-9108 Office, PL.731 (612) 510-5677 Pager (612) 873-3079 General Histology (612) 904-4629 Fax Email Address: jeannette.wal...@hcmed.orgmailto:jeannette.wal...@hcmed.org ___ 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] Practical Exam
As one who first came into histology by working with the lowest phyla, and has continued to teach students the procedures for whatever critter they are working on, it seems to me that the basics and criteria for producing a properly embedded, sectioned, and stained HE tissue sample are the same for all. Special stains might not always work exactly the same on different organisms (especially those from a marine environment vs. terrestrial) or demonstrate the same features (e.g., invertebrates lack myelin, fish erythrocytes are nucleated), but understanding whether someone can produce a good slide using any organism is the same. Indeed, those who work on insects, crustaceans, bivalves, and sponges, would welcome having human tissue to section! And those critters provide ample training in troubleshooting in histology! (My mentor at the marine research lab sacrificed a white rabbit for another student to work on who wanted to get the HT certification.) Just as I am sure not every piece of appendix looks entirely the same and processes exactly the same, there needs to be some standards but also some acceptance of diversity? Esther Peters, Ph.D. Assistant Professor George Mason University O'Donnell, Bill wrote: It is interesting that this topic of OJT/School/Registered/Non-registered resurfaces every so often, and that it still evokes so many responses. Time to contribute a new thought (at least new to me, you know, like buying underwear at the Goodwill) (Sorry, a little Friday humor) Perhaps the practical was too narrow in its scope. It was certainly skewed in the direction of those in clinical work. Asking for human tissues when you had no recourse to them could, force a persons hand, to reach out for help in procuring tissues. That is not cheating. I don't think anyone here would call it that either. That is resourcefulness. I was lucky, I guess, in retrospect, that I worked in a clinical lab with plenty of tissues and resources to help me get it done. It never even dawned on me that other techs wouldn't have the same resources. That's not my point. Those who choose to cheat will always be around. Taking a strong moral stand against it, that's a good thing, but also a given stance because we all learned from our first grade teacher that we aren't supposed to cheat. I'm certain if cheating could be proven in a practical exam, that person(s) would not have been certified. Tough to prove though, isn't it. I'm not defending cheating, but I still hold it was a weak reason to pull the practical. OK, that's not really my point either - sorry, here it comes.. Now, I'm opening a whole new sub-topic. I offer my apologies for those who have been trying to skip over all these registry posts :} What I'm hearing is a general desire to have the practical returned. Great, I'm all for it. But perhaps we need to look at the nature of the practical. Should there be a different one for those in veterinary histology than the one for clinical (human tissues) histologists? Should there be one that is aimed at those who do research work? It would in my opinion be logical and certainly fair-minded. The practical should be to show the you can do the work you are currently doing, albeit in a standardized way. That is everyones PAS on an appendix should turn out to the same standard for the exam. But is it fair to ask someone, especially in this economy, to do things for their practical, that are removed from their practice? Another sub-point: If I take my practical while working clinical and later take a job doing veterinary work, granted, I might have the very basic of skills down, but, as those of you in vet work can attest, it's a whole 'nother animal.(no pun intendedwell, actually it was) But the same would be true of someone coming into clinical from veterinary. Back to the main point: It would mean two or more sets of reviewers for the practical portion. Logistically this would add a layer of complication in getting started, but it is not insurmountable. If cheating can be arrested, or at least made less attractive, by something like this, and it might actually return the practical (because the cost issue is a non-issue, as it can be made up in the fees applied), it should at least be given a few seconds thought. I want to take just a little more of your time to commend all of those techs who did have to beg and borrow tissues, reagents and textbooks to finish and pass the registry practical. It shows a type of moxie we don't always see everyday. But it doesn't need to be that way if the practical is ever re-established. Now as to cheating and the general moral downfall of our society..I don't want to go there except to say that, no, I don't want to go there either. Just a few more thoughts (just thoughts and nothing more) on the subject: Should there be both a practical and written exam for each type human/non-human/research/pharmaceutical
Re: [Histonet] Histo gel Issues
We've had this happen with agarose, too, quite inconsistent results. Two pieces in same cassette, one fine, other shrunken. Would love to know how to avoid the drying and hardening! Esther Peters, Ph.D. George Mason University pam plumlee wrote: Dear Group: I'm having problems with the processing of small tissues in histogel. I follow the suggested embedding directions on the package and then process the gel blocks. The results are very inconsistent-ideally, I'll get nice soft gel blocks-but, usually in a batch of 10 I get 2 good blocks and 8 dried up, flat hard squares. They are all handled and processed the same. Anyone experience this before? Thanks for any input. Pam Plumlee H.T. Pfizer La Jolla pam.plum...@pfizer.com ___ 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
