Re: [Histonet] delivery time of last tray of H&E

From:Kathleen Roberts



Dawn-

That is the story of EVERY technician, not just histo techs.  :o)  I am 
a lab tech here at Rutgers who learned how to section and stain (both 
H&E and specials, plus some IHC every now and then) as part of my 
duties, and between that and everything else-running the lab, teaching, 
maintenance (both lab and computer), plus my own graduate research, my 
list rarely ever gets shorter.  If it does, it never stays that way for 
long.

In my former tech job, I had a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon of Calvin saying, 
"God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things.  
Right now, I am so far behind that I will never die!"

Hang in there,
Kathleen
Principal Lab Technician
Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Rutgers University

Dawn Cowie wrote:

>Laura,
>  Thank you so much for the detailed info. I will keep this in mind if we decide to try microwaving again (we probably will, its just a question of when). If I'm ever up in that area I'll contact you and see if we can arrange a visit. I understand you being busy, its the same here. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything you need done. My list of "to do" things doesn't seem to get shorter.
>   
>  Dawn
>
>"Galiotto, Laura"  wrote:
>      Hello Dawn,
>    This microwave system can process tissue as thick as 5 mm , does not restrict reagent use (buying reagents from them only leads to increase in cost), it is versatile and has many other programs  such as rapid decal, gross hardening and lymph node detection using saline, and gives the freedom of modifying programs. I purchase the same reagents I have always used. I continue to fix in 10%NBF, this is a requirement for FDA approved testing. I have modified the programs to meet our needs, this includes ambient fixation in formalin prior to rapid fixation allowing us to put fresh tissue on it. I am getting a second unit so I may stagger start times and use the other options to help create a safer lab and improve time and quality on case. My next phase is to process breast cores that are thicker than 3mm and bone marrow core biopsies same day. 
>  When I was in the market to purchase our first unit, I discovered this system had more flexibility than other units, others had restricts to size, where we purchase the reagent from and they did not have the versatile use such as rapid decal. 
>  We are located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, near the Arlington Horse Race Track. If you give me a couple days notice I will make sure my schedule is clear. I spend a lot of time in meetings.
>   
>  Laura Galiotto, PBT,HT(ASCP)
>  Histology Manager
>  Northwest Community Hospital
>  Arlington Heights, Il 60056
>  847-618-6190
>    -----Original Message-----
>From: Dawn Cowie [mailto:dlcowie@prodigy.net]
>Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 5:27 AM
>To: Galiotto, Laura; histonet
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] delivery time of last tray of H&E
>
>
>  Hello Laura,
>  Thanks for the info on the RHS. What do you mean by "limitless system"?
>  Where is your lab located? I would like to see another lab running this microwave.
>  Thanks,
>  Dawn
>
>"Galiotto, Laura"  wrote:
>      Hello Dawn,
>    We have the RHS-1 and are getting a second one. I like the limitless system. We are processing tissue as thick as 3mm starting the run at 10:30 and handing in the slides at 16:00. It also does not restrict you to a different reagent or vendor for reagents. I continue to use 10%NBF for fixation and ethanol & Isopropanol for dehydration, then immediately into paraffin. 
>  If you are ever in town stop by to see it.
>  Thanks 
>  Laura 
>    -----Original Message-----
>From: Dawn Cowie [mailto:dlcowie@prodigy.net]
>Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 10:11 AM
>To: Galiotto, Laura
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] delivery time of last tray of H&E
>
>
>  Laura,
>  It is definitely hard to find certified techs willing to do those hours. I'm lucky at the moment - the techs that work these hours want to. I'm not sure what we'll do when 1 of them retires probably in the next couple of years.
>  What kind of microwave processor do you run? We are going to look at this again. We tried the RHS-1 a few years ago- docs didn't like results - too labour intensive for the techs.
>  thanks for your response,
>   
>  Dawn
>
>"Galiotto, Laura"  wrote:
>        Hello Dawn,
>  Yeah, however you do bring up a very valid point. I do get the specialist, ie.. oncologist,pulmonaryologist, that come in very early to check slides before the pathologist gets in. My biggest problem is finding certified technicians that will work the night shift, practically non-existant. 
>  Thank goodness for our microwave processor. We now are processing most biopsies sameday.
>  Laura Galiotto, HT(ASCP)
>  Histology Manager 
>
>  
>  
>---------------------------------
>  From: Dawn Cowie [mailto:dlcowie@prodigy.net]
>Sent: Fri 3/23/2007 3:03 AM
>To: Douglas D Deltour; 'Marshall Terry Dr, Consultant Histopathologist'; 'Akemi Allison-Tacha'; 'Rene J Buesa'; Galiotto, Laura; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] delivery time of last tray of H&E
>
>
>    We do what we are required to do by the pathologists. I don't know why they think they need all H&E's so early - they can't look at them all at the same time and sign them out -  except that they have them just in case a clinician calls. The trend these days is certainly toward faster and faster turnaround time.
>   
>  Dawn L. Cowie, HT (ASCP)
>  Histology Supervisor
>  Pensacola Pathologists, PA
>  Pensacola, Florida 32503
>  850-416-7251
>
>Douglas D Deltour  wrote:
>  I don't get it either. We have a little histo pixies that comes in while we
>sleep and the slides magically appear on the pathologist desk in the
>morning. :)
>
>
>Douglas D. Deltour HT(ASCP)
>Histology Supervisor
>Professional Pathology Services, PC
>One Science Court
>Suite 200
>Columbia, SC 29203
>(803)252-1913
>Fax (803)254-3262
>
>*****************************************************
>PROFESSIONAL PATHOLOGY SERVICES, PC
>NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
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>-----Original Message-----
>From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Marshall
>Terry Dr,Consultant Histopathologist
>Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 12:28 PM
>To: Akemi Allison-Tacha; Rene J Buesa; Galiotto, Laura;
>histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: RE: [Histonet] delivery time of last tray of H&E
>
>This is all bloody unbelievable. Don't any of you sleep?
>What is the point of working at night?
>
>Terry 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Akemi
>Allison-Tacha
>Sent: 22 March 2007 17:25
>To: Rene J Buesa; Galiotto, Laura; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: Re: [Histonet] delivery time of last tray of H&E
>
>René--That was similar to the protocol I followed in the old days before
>24/6 . We provided rush's 1st, followed by bx's by 8AM, we did however,
>provide special stains and recuts and IHC's by 2-3 PM, depending if it
>wasn't a lengthy procedure. 
>
>If you have off site facilities to provide for, that is a different
>situation. You have to work around courier sheduals for delivering to off
>site facilities. Everyone needs their slides and time is money!!
>
>With the new microwave processing technology that is now in use, there has
>been a shift to having the majority of staff starting at 10 PM at night.
>MUCH TO THE DISLIKING OF HISTOTECH"S. 
>
>The day shift is minimum. IHC is done during the day shift, after the
>pathologist has determined to do so. 
>In most situations, a battery of IHC's tests are pre-set, as well as with
>special stains.
>
>Akemi Allison-Tacha BS, HT (ASCP) HTL
>President
>Phoenix Lab Consulting & Staffing
>Specializing in Histology, SS, IHC, & Microarray Madison, WI
>Tele: (925) 788-0900
>E-Mail: akemiat3377@yahoo.com
>
>--- Rene J Buesa wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Laura:
>>For a laboratory I used to manage with quite similar annual workload 
>>we had the following
>>schedule:
>>1- last tissue accepted at 7:00 PM;
>>2- two VIPs atarting with delay to be finished at 4:00 AM next day;
>>3- Rushes ready for the pathologists at 8:00 AM next day;
>>4-All slides ready, the latest, at 1:00 PM.
>>5- All IHC ready by 2 PM
>>6- all HC ready by noon.
>>René J.
>>
>>"Galiotto, Laura" wrote:
>>Hello Fellow Histo Tech's,
>>Will anyone be willing to share the delivery time of the last tray of 
>>H&E for the days workload to the pathologist reading them?
>>What is your cutoff time for specimen acceptance?
>>What is your annual case workload?
>>I am trying to improve the TAT from specimen gross to the H&E 
>>delivered to the pathologist. Unless we change the cutoff time I can 
>>not see how I can do this? Any suggestions?
>>We process 22,000 cases a year an average of 280 blks a day consisting 
>>of types of tissue.
>>Please Help
>>Laura
>>
>>
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