Re: [Histonet] Molds- cold vs warm

2022-09-10 Thread Steven Mello via Histonet 
Very well stated!  I too have been histology for 3 decades an never ever heard 
of cold mold embedding.  Unbelievable!!
Thank you Jay for your insight…
Steven Mello, BS HT(ASCP)

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 10, 2022, at 5:47 PM, Shirley Ennis via Histonet 
>  wrote:
> 
>  Jay ,I totally agree .
> 
> Shirley
> 
> Get Outlook for iOS
> 
> From: Shirley A. Powell via Histonet 
> Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2022 8:12:35 AM
> To: Jay Lundgren ; Naira Margaryan 
> 
> Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Molds- cold vs warm
> 
> Well said Jay.
> Thanks,
> Shirley Powell
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Jay Lundgren via Histonet 
> Sent: Friday, September 9, 2022 5:37 PM
> To: Naira Margaryan 
> Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Molds- cold vs warm
> 
> Whoever is telling you to use cold molds needs to go back to clown college.
> 
> That is totally, 100%, absolutely, wrong.
> 
> There is some debate as to embed "wet" (cassettes submerged in paraffin
> bath) or "dry", and I will accept either, as mostly a matter of personal 
> preference.  BUT, in both of these cases, the molds are hot.
> 
> I have been a Histotech for five decades, trained at Armed Forces Institute 
> of Pathology (back when that used to mean something) and I have NEVER seen 
> anyone using cold molds.
> 
> It is a guaranteed way to get cold fractures and cracks in your blocks, or to 
> pop tissue out when you are cutting, which might be irretrievable. Just think 
> how much time all those re-embedded blocks are going to save you!
> 
> Also, you won't be able to easily re-position specimens in the block, to put 
> them "on edge" or "on end", for example.  The tissue will instantly stick to 
> the cold mold.  And if you want to re-position it, guess what, you'll have to 
> warm the mold up to get the tissue unstuck.  How's that (non-existent anyway) 
> time savings now?
> 
> 
> If you want to prove to whatever jackass suggested this that they are wrong, 
> get a big stack of every histopathology textbook you can find.
> There is nothing in any of them talking about paraffin embedding with cold 
> molds.
> 
> As a matter of fact, every single textbook will specify molds at the same 
> temp as paraffin.
> 
> Anyway, it doesn't even make sense, thermodynamically.  Heat travels from hot 
> to cold.  Those "cold" molds will be the same temperature as the paraffin, 
> almost instantly. Did it take a tiny amount of heat out of the hot paraffin? 
> Yes, but not enough to noticeably cool the blocks faster. The amount of heat 
> from the paraffin used to warm the mold is trivial compared to the total heat 
> of the system. That's why cold plates have huge, noisy refrigeration units.  
> You can't argue with thermodynamics.
> 
> If you are having trouble getting your blocks to release, use mold release!  
> Viola!  
> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.statlab.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cpowell_sa%40mercer.edu%7C84d81a9eddad4ba8159308da92ab72a7%7C4fb34d2889b247109bcc30824d17fc30%7C0%7C0%7C637983562331339740%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YDxIy7oMkibqOiMnl0D44LCG3XD0oKPY7jFHZBHBrsM%3D&reserved=0.
>  I used to think it was superfluous, but now I consider it compulsory.  This 
> is probably the answer to most of your issues.
> 
> I don't know who is suggesting using cold molds, but I can pretty much 
> guarantee that it's a pathologist who thinks his slides are taking too long, 
> and knows nothing about histopathology, or a lab manager, who knows nothing 
> about histopathology.  This next part is directly to them.
> 
> To Whoever Suggested Cold Molds:  The answer to getting your slides out 
> quicker is buying more equipment and hiring more techs, and holding everyone 
> to standards (30 blocks/hr cutting, 60 blocks/hr embedding).
> Making nonsensical, uninformed suggestions only exposes your ignorance.
> 
> Please feel free to show them this reply.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Jay A. Lundgren, M.S., HTL (ASCP)
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Re: [Histonet] Pregnant in histo lab. Am I safe?

2020-01-18 Thread Steven Mello via Histonet 
Val,
It is clearly not, I repeat NOT acceptable to have you exposed to xylene, any 
powdered chemicals while you are pregnant.  Changing of processors, stainers, 
dehydration or rehydration stations is an absolute No!  Anytime one of my staff 
notified me that they were pregnant the most I let them do was cut, file. 
Sounds, like a severe OSHA compliance issue!
Steven Mello, HT(ASCP)


Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 18, 2020, at 1:15 PM, Val L via Histonet 
>  wrote:
> 
> Sadly I have already been exposed to xylene several times as I cannot avoid
> the smell. It’s everywhere. There are not enough vents in the lab. I don’t
> know if it’s ignorance or malice but my manager and coworkers are not quite
> informed about the dangers that a pregnant woman face in a histology lab.
> They feel that if the lab passed a xylene vapor tests and give me a general
> purpose respirator then that’s enough for me to be safe and I can do the
> same work as everybody else. There is a negligent attitude regarding safety
> in this laboratory. Also there has been a negative attitude towards
> pregnant women like if they were are a burden in the lab.  It makes me
> nervous to work here. I don’t think is a healthy work environment.
> 
>> On Saturday, January 18, 2020, Eck, Allison  wrote:
>> 
>> Valerie
>> I have worked in histo with both of my pregnancies with my most recent one
>> just three months ago. Embedding and cutting and even grossing are fine to
>> do while pregnant. Under no condition, even with Ppe, should you be
>> changing stainers or processors or dumping waste or mixing chemicals. A
>> pregnant woman should not be near powder chemicals as they are inhalation
>> hazards and xylene in general is an absolute no no. It is a reproductive
>> toxin and you should have no contact with it.
>> Please reach out if you have any other questions but your employer mst
>> make accommodations for you while you are pregnant.
>> 
>> Allison
>> 
>> Allison Eck HTL(ASCP)cm, QLS
>> 
>> From: Valerie Laughlin via Histonet [histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
>> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2020 7:21 AM
>> To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> Subject: [Histonet] Pregnant in histo lab. Am I safe?
>> 
>> Hello everyone. I am currently in the last weeks of my first trimester of
>> my pregnancy.
>> 
>> 
>> I have asked this question to my Ob-Gyn, family and general pregnancy
>> forums but I wanted to ask people who understand the field of
>> Histotechnology better.
>> 
>> 
>> I have been very concerned about the side effects of the chemicals that
>> might have on my baby.  The lab works with the typical stuff (formaldehyde,
>> xylene, alcohol of different percentages, glacial acetic acid, stains etc)
>> They make the fixative from scratch.
>> 
>> 
>> I had to inform my supervisor and manager. I didn’t get the most positive
>> reaction from them but I don’t care as this is my personal business and I
>> have rights like everybody else.
>> 
>> 
>> I gave them a letter from my doctor informing my pregnancy and that I
>> should be kept away from the chemicals for my own safety.
>> 
>> 
>> They acknowledged the letter but still decided to buy a respirator mask for
>> me which is fine. It’s good to have protective equipment no matter the
>> circumstance.
>> 
>> 
>> I told them that I can do the same tasks I do every day such as grossing
>> but with a mask, embedding, cutting and filing but that I don’t feel
>> comfortable changing the chemicals of the tissue processor and slide
>> stainer, and mixing chemicals. Also that I can’t dump the chemicals in the
>> biohazard room as there is not enough ventilation.
>> 
>> 
>> Literally an hour after I informed this a nurse who was working in a rojom
>> close to the biohazard room had a negative reaction and had to be sent to
>> the ER where she was there for days. She blamed the chemicals  from the
>> biohazard room. Other nurses who work close to that room had reported
>> negative side effects as well. This situation made me more uncomfortable
>> specially when my coworkers think the nurses are over reacting and it has
>> to be some other cause because they don’t get the same reactions.
>> 
>> 
>> My biggest concern is that despite the letter of my doctor and what ocurred
>> in the past weeks with the nurse I am still feeling pressured by my
>> coworkers to work with the chemicals as they feel that a mask, a lab coat
>> and gloves is enough protection. I am unsure about this.
>> 
>> 
>> I didn’t get a proper fit test for my respirator by the way. I have worked
>> for another corporation where they did that right after getting hired.
>> 
>> 
>> I have read that chemicals can be absorbed through the skin too.
>> 
>> 
>> I just want to know the opinion of pregnant  lab techs and supervisors who
>> have worked with them.
>> 
>> 
>> I have read older threads about this in this forum before and everybody had
>> positive and negative experiences. Some workers were comple

Re: [Histonet] DIF on paraffin embedded tissue

2015-11-25 Thread Steven Mello via Histonet 
No way...no how
Sorry!

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 25, 2015, at 11:10 AM, Simmons, Christopher via Histonet 
>  wrote:
> 
> Useless sample
> Sorry
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Nov 25, 2015, at 11:02 AM, Rene J Buesa via Histonet 
>>  wrote:
>> 
>> No matter WHO to tell you to do WHAT, for IF purposes, that FFPE tissue is 
>> USELESS.René 
>> 
>> 
>>   On Wednesday, November 25, 2015 10:55 AM, Maryann Deathridge via Histonet 
>>  wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> We have a tissue sample that was processed and paraffin embedded.  We 
>> URGENTLY need to recover the tissue and perform Immunofluorescence on the 
>> sample.
>> Does anyone have a procedure.  HELP
>> 
>>madeathri...@pastnashville.com  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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