[Histonet] Need serviceman for tbs processor in southern California.
Anyone have contact info for a local serviceman that can do PM and regular maintenance on a TBS ATP1? Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Tissue fall off and small specimen cooked
I've had a strange occurrence in my derm lab. with all procedures staying the same (processor chemicals and autostainers have not been rotated yet) my tissue keeps falling off the slides. This is happening more to the smaller specimens. Also the doctors are mentioning that the smaller specimens look cooked which I'm guessing is shrinkage. I have a few theories and am going to test a few things - but I wanted to see if anyone out there had any suggestions as to the cause. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Separation Artifact
Hello histonet! I'm trying to figure out the cause of some artifact in my ffpe he skin slides. Every once and a while I get a batch of slides with this strange separation artifact mostly around melanocytes. Its like there is a space around each cell(s). Also the collagen seems to have some odd stretching. I tried recuting to make sure there was no microtomy issues but the artifact remains. I check my waterbath temp / soaked the blocks. Not soaked the blocks. I'm at a loss. This happens to entire processing batch. The doctors say they are still pathologically readable but I still want to find a way to fix this. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Paraffin Sections
You running particularly small specimens like derm? You may need to decrease time in alcohol. Adding a little ammonia water to your ice bath and soaking after facing the block may help too. --Original Message-- From: Kathleen Roberts Sender: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu To: Nagappan, Peri Cc: Histonet Subject: Re: [Histonet] Paraffin Sections Sent: Aug 4, 2009 1:40 PM Peri, Sounds like poor infiltration to me. What kind of tissue are we talking about, and what processing program did you use? Kathleen Principal Lab Technician Neurotoxicology Labs Dept of Pharmacology Toxicology Rutgers, the State University of NJ 41 B Gordon Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854 Nagappan, Peri wrote: Hi Histonetters, When I cut the paraffin sections in the microtome, I am not getting the whole sections intact, rather some portion in the middle of the sections are brittle. But the paraffin portion surrounds the tissue is smooth, nice and intact. Thanks for your suggestion and help. Peri pnagap...@cau.edu mailto:pnagap...@cau.edu mailto:pnagap...@cau.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 Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Tissue Processor Advice
I recommend the new tissue tech. I use it in my lab and its reliable and intuitive. I strongly warn against TBS. I use one in my other lab and its been nothing but trouble. Its chemical storage is unreliable and leads to cross contamination. --Original Message-- From: Igor Deyneko Sender: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu To: Histonet Subject: [Histonet] Tissue Processor Advice Sent: Aug 4, 2009 1:43 PM Dear Histonetters! I need your advice in Tissue Processors. The one we currently use, Tissue Tek VIP 3000, is archaic and has finally died. So we are looking into buying a new one. I know that Thermo and Leica both have processors, as well as new Tissue teks, but I wanted to get opinions if you have a preference of a machine, pros and cons of each. I mostly process tumors, with occasional mouse organs thrown in. Any suggestions will be very helpful! Thank you in advance. Sincerely, Igor Deyneko Infinity Pharmaceuticals Cambridge, MA ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Start Up Lab
Dang maybe I should stop keeping my lunch in the cryostat. The fresh unfixed tissue adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the flavor. :/ Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Lynette Pavelich lpave...@hurleymc.com Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:07:07 To: lei...@buffalo.edu; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; cing...@uwhealth.org Subject: RE: [Histonet] Start Up Lab Gosh.I remember the days sipping on my coffee and nibbling on a fresh donut as I cut my morning slides! Sigh.. Merced M Leiker lei...@buffalo.edu 07/22/09 5:00 PM (lol some labs have a bench area as well as a desk area where food is allowed.) --On Wednesday, July 22, 2009 3:19 PM -0500 Ingles Claire cing...@uwhealth.org wrote: In the lab?!? For shame. :) From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Cindy DuBois Sent: Wed 7/22/2009 10:29 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Start Up Lab And a coffee pot. ___ 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 Merced M Leiker Research Technician II Cardiovascular Medicine 348 Biomedical Research Building State University of New York at Buffalo 3435 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214 USA lei...@buffalo.edu 716-829-6118 (Ph) 716-829-2665 (Fx) No trees were harmed in the sending of this email. However, many electrons were severely inconvenienced. ___ 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] Average pay rate southern cali
I'm looking for an employee in southern california to be a lead tech for a derm lab. Just wondering what the histonet sees as far as pay rate for a tech with some experience. Please give me some hypothetical ballpark figures for a certified tech as well as uncertified, keeping in mind this person will do all routine work plus some administrative work. Thanks! Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Quality Stuff
I also run a derm lab where we gross and write cassettes. The doctors medical assistants make mistakes every week so I set up a double checking system where one tech accessions and check numbers and writes slides. Then I gross and make one final qc check. this is only possible since I have low volume - not too sure about specific setups for larger lab qc Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Rene J Buesa rjbu...@yahoo.com Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:47:23 To: histonethistonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; kristen arvidsonarvidsonkris...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Histonet] Quality Stuff There are no acceptable standards for mistakes. The present tendency of implementing the 6σ method in the lab is to precisely eliminate mistakes, not to set an acceptable limit. René J. --- On Thu, 7/16/09, kristen arvidson arvidsonkris...@yahoo.com wrote: From: kristen arvidson arvidsonkris...@yahoo.com Subject: [Histonet] Quality Stuff To: histonet histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 5:14 PM Hello, I work in a derm lab and we do all the grossing. We hand write on all of our blocks and slides, so you can imagine we have mislabelings from time-to-time. I was wondering if other labs have acceptable limits set for errors such as these, and if so what are they like? I am working on setting standards and corrective actions for errors in the lab. Thank you for any input. ___ 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] HTL
Anne I think most techs I know are in the voluntary category you speak of. Most are happy being microtome monkeys and never exploring the other possibilities in the field. Nothing wrong with that if that's what you want to do. Although there are many things you can do with - like anne said- applying what you know. As far as pathologists keeping you back -i think its just like any other business. The boss will always look to keep more money and will pay his workers the lowest he can. That's when you take your experience elsewhere, or simply stay somewhere for a while to learn and beef up that resume. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Anne van Binsbergen anni...@gmail.com Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:01:24 To: Kemlo Rogersonkemlo.roger...@waht.swest.nhs.uk Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Shea'sjshea...@roadrunner.com Subject: Re: [Histonet] HTL well said!! your statement: 'Only when we step from behind the skirts of the Medics will the sun shine on us' deserves dissection (pardon the pun) are we volutarily 'behind the medics or are we conveniently 'kept' there by those same medics medics=pathologists (some exceptions) where i come from most of these 'medics' are running the (very lucrative) private labs and the techs are kept 'lean and hungry' - they are 'worker bees'' grateful for work and paid a pittance. i once voiced my desire to take unpaid leave in order to study further and was refused time off for this, on the basis that i would then cost more to employ!!! i have a 4 year diploma (now called a BTech degree) - i am licensed as a Medical Technologist with Cell Path Speciality. i am neither an HT or an HTL. i have 30 years experience and have been supervising/managing AP labs for over 15 years but because i dont have a degree i would most likely have a hard time finding employment in the USA or Canada - your loss guys. its not what you call it its how you apply what you know - having a degree does not make you a good tech. flame away!! AnnieinArabia (out of Africa) 2009/7/15 Kemlo Rogerson kemlo.roger...@waht.swest.nhs.uk Do you want the blunt truth? There's a perception, even within the other disciplines in Diagnostic Labs, that BMS's in Histology (HistoTechs) are second rate Scientists. I know that's an inflammatory remark but I've battled with it for years. Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Ots, Audiologists and Speech Language Therapists run Clinics treat Patients and are 'clinical'. The perception is that 'scientists' are not clinical and before we get appreciated for that we probably need to run Clinics ourselves but how do Histotechs/ BMS's achieve that? In the UK scientific staff are slowly doing that with Anticoagulant Clinics, with advanced dissection and the reporting of cervical smears after achieving the appropriate level of qualification. I'm hoping one day that the 'glass ceiling' will be taken off the Path Labs and that a scientist will, after obtaining his/ her degree, Masters (or PhD), like the Clinical Scientists, obtain the MRCPath and then clinically lead a discipline. Only when we step from behind the skirts of the Medics will the sun shine on us. Does that help? Kemlo Rogerson MSc MIBiol CBiol DMS CSci FIBMS (I tried). -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Shea's Sent: 15 July 2009 04:13 To: jaustin1...@gmail.com Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] HTL Michael, Ditto, very well stated. I too believe that our industry is under appreciated. Many new grads of today find a two year degree demeaning and wouldn't consider HT because of it. I don't understand how some professions like pharmacy physical therapy gain respect and grow to create 5 yr, 6yr 7yr programs. They are very well respected by the MDs and Hospital administration and have nice salaries to show for it. Why hasn't our field flourished? Jan, BS, HTL ___ 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 -- Anne van Binsbergen (Hope) Abu Dhabi UAE ___ 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] What percent of HTL's do not have a BS degree?
Hey everyone, I'm actually a early 20s histotech without a certification and run my own routine histo lab. *waits for young whiper snapper remark* But I am in the process of completing my education. In all seriousness though I have to agree many out there are looking for cheap labor - so I take it upon myself to get my cert through a local program and look for jobs that are more management based and less bench work (or high paying contract work) Honestly the only true advancement I see in my career is management or consulting, but take that with a grain of salt - and throw in some fiber while your at it :P. I've only been in the field for a year. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: pathr...@comcast.net Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:40:15 To: Colleen Forstercfors...@umn.edu Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] What percent of HTL's do not have a BS degree? Colleen, One of my points of frustration is that we have never been on the same level as MT's and MLT's. I feel that part of this is because of our level of education and requirements. After seeing little changes over the years it is frustrating. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. Yes, I would like to find another area to utilize my education and background. My apologies if I offended anyone as that was not my intention. All opinions should be respected. Ron - Original Message - From: Colleen Forster cfors...@umn.edu To: Nikki Wahlberg nikki.wahlb...@bsci.com Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 7:32:06 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Histonet] What percent of HTL's do not have a BS degree? To Ron Martinhistology IS BOTH A PROFESSION AND A CAREER! You need a new job! Colleen Forster HT(ASCP)QIHC Wahlberg, Nikki wrote: I would just like to add that in my opinion it is people who make statements like the one below that are holding our field back from being seen as a career. The hospitals as well as the doctors are also to blame. I am very proud to have a B.S. and A.S.S. degree and an HTL certification. I would really like to see a monkey do my job and still achieve the high GLP standards and high quality of work that is required to get medical devices approved for human use. It makes me sad to hear people say that this is just a job not a career. I do not believe that anyone should be allowed to just come off the street and do our job. It up to us as a community to demand that institutions require certification and recognize our educations. I don't know about anyone else out there but my education cost me a lot of money and will keep me in debt for many years. I didn't waste all that money on just a job this is my career and I am very proud of the work I do. Nikki -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of pathr...@comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:18 PM To: Michael Bradley Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] What percent of HTL's do not have a BS degree? Mike, I couldn't agree with you more. I'm in the same position as you. In the Boston, Mass. area people are taken right off the street and work for a year as a lab assistant then promoted to a tech in training. Most have a hs diploma, no ambition and expect good pay for bad work and poor work ethic. I have been in the histology field for 20 years and don't consider it a profession or a career, just a job. Ron Martin, BS, HTL (ASCP) - Original Message - From: Michael Bradley jaustin1...@gmail.com To: Joyce Weems jwe...@sjha.org Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:50:27 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Histonet] What percent of HTL's do not have a BS degree? HI all I am a rarity. I am an HTL with a Bachelors Degree. I got my HTL in the early 90s and I guess I was misguided because I thought it would open more doors for me than just an HT. I was sadly mistaken. After I passed my test I waited 9 months for a raise and promotion (which was just a greater title) and when I got my raise so did 2 other employees that didn't even have or try for their certification. I spent many nights and weekends studying and doing my stains for the test. I am proud of my accomplishments. It is a shame that our industry does not reconize the difference between HT and HTL. A few years back I was working as a traveling histotech and when I tried to get a permanent position no one wanted to hire me because I was over qualified by having over 15 years experience and a HTL certification. I worked hard to no avail. The histology world doesn't look for well qualified workers they look for cheap labor. I have heard more
[Histonet] Hemo-d xylene substitute in processor
Hi everyone. I was recently contracted to run a small routine derm lab. This is the first lab i've seen a lab use hemo-d as a xylene substitute. Are there any properties of this I should keep in mind while using it in processing / staining. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Resubmitting the question regarding 2011 CA Certification
This rumor has gone as far as my classroom. Our teacher has mentioned it for many years as a possibility. I have never seen or heard of any official source. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
