Ms Hacker,
when I replied that I used to smoke while coverslipping was meant as guide
to see how far we have come as a profession.  I never said it was right.
Just like smoking was okay in the 1940's, the more information we discover,
the better our decisions can be.
    My junior techs have been trained to coverslip and embed with nitrile
gloves,(yes, I did train them) we coverslip under a fume hood, and I monitor
the xylene exposure twice a year.  In the three years that this lab has been
opened, the highest xylene reading recorded was 14.45 ppm, well below the
government ceiling of 100 ppm.
    Do I take chemical exposure seriously? You bet!

Joe Nocito, BS, HT (ASCP) QIHC
Histology Supervisor
Pathology Reference Lab
San Antonio, TX
jnocito@pathreflab.com
----- Original Message -----
From: sue hacker (IAH-C) 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 3:17 AM
Subject: Coverslipping without gloves


> Dear All,
> I have read all the mail on this subject with disbelief. I cannot believe
that in this age of health and safety there are senior Histologists who are
condoning coverslipping without gloves and even sounding proud of the fact
that they are being so irresponsible.
> They are setting a very bad example for junior staff. To say that they
have carried out this practice for many years without being ill is no
excuse.They are as bad as heavy smokers who are proud of the fact that they
have not yet succumbed to cancer.  My lab became a Xylene free environment
some years ago and believe me our health is much better for it. You may
think you are not suffering any ill effects from Xylene, but you probably
are! Even with a safer Xylene substitute we always coverslip with nitrile
gloves and it is no more difficult than without gloves.(I have done both as
I have over 20 years service).
> Susan Hacker
> IAH, Compton,
> Berks.
>
>
>