Yes we actually used the exposure to xylene to justify the purchase of a coverslipper in our lab. Ventilation in our lab is very poor to non-existent and we were successful in our push for the coverslipper. I also had an employee who was having difficulties with the fumes, etc. It has made a world of difference. Good luck!
Martha Ward, MT (ASCP) QIHC Assistant Manager Molecular Diagnostics Lab Dept. of Pathology Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Winston-Salem, NC 27157 336-716-2104 -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Gagnon, Eric Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 12:24 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Manual Coverslipping Safety Issues Has anyone successfully lobbied their institution for an automated coverslipper for safety reasons? Still coverslipping manually-stained IHC, neuro autopsy and special stains, sometimes hundreds per day. There has to be a better way. Under budget constraints. That's why I'm wondering if anyone has used concerns about histology staff safety, specifically techs under direct exposure to toluene/xylene, to enable purchase of an automated/robot coverslipper. I'd be interested in anyone's experience with this approach, successfully or unsuccessfully. Eric Gagnon MLT Histology Laboratory Kingston General Hospital Kingston, Ontario, Canada _______________________________________________ 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