Charles,

Great debate...Demonstrates great information,communication, and
resources..on the net!! 

I still strongly feel that when I give out information to somebody seeking
help, is to give all information that I can give. This particular instant, I
felt it was imperative that Susan understands that there are other
regulations to consider and need to have prior to making a decision on how
often to monitor her laboratory air quality. You gave your "personal
opinion" "that once a year was excessive and a waste of funds". However, as
I stated that she needs to check her State regulations prior to determining
how often to monitor. From Susan's' first request to obtain information, it
was not apparent that she knew to check into the State requirements where
her lab resides. Furthermore, CAP inspections/inspectors want laboratories
to use common sense when determining "open ended" requirements/standards. I
would feel, as a Manager with 22 years of Pathology experience it would be
expected and appropriate for me or any laboratory in the US to monitor the
xylene level at least once every five years, and would recommend that to any
laboratory. This would limit liability with OSHA and demonstrate that the
laboratory management cares at maintaining expected "vapor concentrations"
for associates. Lab Mangers should never be "afraid" of any CAP
inspector/inspection. CAP inspections are a learning tool for both the
inspector and the inspectee! These inspections assist laboratories who may
need help, most CAP inspectors are "PRO" active and are there to assit, not
to be negative. Should anyone experience a negative inspector, they should
be reported to CAP immediately, even during the inspection if necessary.

PS.. we probably need to debate this further if necessary through private
email...the net may start to demonstrate some rivalry concerning this
issue...feel free to contact me...thanks!!



Regards....
Michael LaFriniere,PA,HT(ASCP)
NSH Region III Director
Manager Pathology
Memorial Hospital
Chattanooga TN
423-495-6117   

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles.Embrey [mailto:Charles.Embrey@carle.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 12:48 PM
To: 'LaFriniere, Mike'; Charles.Embrey; 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: RE: Frequency of Xylene monitors


Michael, The original question was -"Does anyone know if there is a CAP
recommendation on how frequent you should
monitor for Xylene."  Not state law or personal opinion.  The last sentence
on the CAP note for ANP.24150 reads "There is no requirement for periodic
monitoring of xylene."  That seems pretty straight forward.  It really burns
me up when CAP inspectors take it upon themselves to "interpret" something
so plainly stated in black and white to mean something else.  It's CAP
inspectors like that make lab managers afraid of the inspection process.
Charles R. Embrey Jr. PA(AAPA), HT(ASCP)
Histology Manager
Carle Clinic, Urbana Illinois  

-----Original Message-----
From: LaFriniere, Mike [mailto:Mike_LaFriniere@memorial.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 11:42 AM
To: 'Charles.Embrey'; 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: RE: Frequency of Xylene monitors


CAP ANP.24150 states : ' ARE FORMALDEHYDE AND XYLENE VAPOR CONCENTRATIONS
MAINTAINED BELOW THE FOLLOWING MAXIMA EXPRESSED AS PARTS PER
MILLION....ETC...

In addition many states require monitoring that are more strict than CAP
requirements. As a inspector for CAP I would expect a laboratory to at least
monitor the xylene levels over a peroid of time, it may be anywhere in a
five year period, or when a major procedure change in the laboratory.
Mainily to include monitoring when a production or construction change has
taken place. The question Susan proposed was if every three months was
appropriate. Every three months is excessive, however, Susan needs to check
her State requirements. I have not known a State to require any more than
once a year.I would not give an opinion of less than yearly unless I knew
her individual state requirements.

It is the managers/Supervisors responsible to prove that the xlene vapor
concentrations are "maintained" below the maxima on CAP inspection. A one
time monitor in a five year time span would be unacceptable to me and on
CAP inspection I would recommend the laboratory have an additional monitor
performed.

Regards..

Michael LaFriniere PA,HT(ASCP)
Pathology Manager
Memorial Hospital
Chattanooga TN
423-495-6117 

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles.Embrey [mailto:Charles.Embrey@carle.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 11:40 AM
To: 'LaFriniere, Mike'; 'Walzer Susan'; 'Satterfield, Marirose';
'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: RE: Frequency of Xylene monitors


No where in CAP does it say that you have to repeat xylene monitoring after
a procedure change.  Only formaldehyde levels need to be rechecked after  a
"change in production, equipment, process, personnel or control measures
which may result in new or additional exposure...".  If we are talking
specifically about what CAP REQUIRES.  Once a year is not required and in my
opinion a waste of funds.
Charles R. Embrey Jr. PA(AAPA), HT(ASCP)
Histology Manager
Carle Clinic, Urbana Illinois  

-----Original Message-----
From: LaFriniere, Mike [mailto:Mike_LaFriniere@memorial.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 10:33 AM
To: 'Walzer Susan'; 'Satterfield, Marirose';
'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: RE: Frequency of Xylene monitors


Susan,

Once a year is adequate for monitoring xylene and unless you change a
procedure or have a high reading, then you must monitor following the
procedure change, i.e., staining or processing in a new room with open
xylene, or continue monitoring if you have a high reading until you find the
reason for the high reading, FYI, if you have a high reading of xylene fumes
then you would have a major problem do to the fact the (US) OSHA acceptable
guidelines for xylene fumes are extremely high, ( I think currently they are
in the range of 50-100 ppm).

Regards...

Michael LaFriniere,PA,HT(ASCP)
Pathology Manager
Memorial Hospital
Chattanooga TN
423-495-6117

-----Original Message-----
From: Walzer Susan [mailto:Susan.Walzer@HCAHealthcare.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 10:54 AM
To: 'Satterfield, Marirose'; 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: RE: Frequency of Xylene monitors


We do it once a year, have never had a high  reading.

-----Original Message-----
From: Satterfield, Marirose
[mailto:marirose.satterfield@MercyMemorial.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 9:54 AM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: Frequency of Xylene monitors


Does anyone know if there is a CAP recommendation on how frequent you should
monitor for Xylene. Currently we do it every 3 months and would like to do
it less if we could.
Thanks
Mari