Metal molds vs Disposable molds We too have chosen metal molds. We clean them by placing them in a random processing basket and running an extended purge cycle with xylene and alcohol. It has worked very well for us. Slide disposal: I believe the CAP guidelines from 2005 state that slides should be kept for a minimum of 20 years. I don't know if this has been recently revised. Here in Alberta, Canada, the retention guidelines for slides is 30 years.(College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta) We also package into plastic pails to be picked up by a disposal company. They are never put into a regular dumpster as there is definite danger of slide breakage and potential injury to anyone who comes in contact with them. I realize that this is an added expense however, with a longer retention time, the slides are not discarded as often. Karen J Kay, MLT Pathology Supervisor Chinook Health Laboratory - Chinook Regional Hospital 960 - 19 st South,Lethbridge, Alberta,CANADA (403) 388 - 6061 (Phone)
Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Sharon Campbell Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 3:57 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] slide disposal Hi everyone! Thank you for all the great responses to my last question about metal vs. plastic molds. I have another question being debated however, How to dispose of slides once the required time is up (10 years for us). We have put the slide in sharps containers and then into biohazard, but are they really bioharzard, the slides only contain the patients accession number - no personal ID on the slides? How do you guys dispose of your slides when space and money are an issue? Thank you Sharon Campbell, HTL(ASCP)CM, BSBM Histology Supervisor Celligent Diagnostics, LLC Formerly Pathology Associates Services 101 East W.T. Harris Blvd, Suite 1212 Charlotte, NC 28262 800-524-6779 ext. 104 704-970-3304 Direct Line shar...@celligent.net - This communication is intended for the use of the recipient to which it is addressed, and may contain confidential, personal and or privileged information. Please contact us immediately if you are not the intended recipient. Do not copy, distribute or take action relying on it. Any communication received in error, or subsequent reply, should be deleted or destroyed. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet