In this lab, all techs are to qc their own slides.  They know what the 
tissue looked like in the block - if the slide isn't of quality - they are 
to redo it before it leaves the lab.  If a recut comes back - it is first 
brought to my attention - then given back to the tech that originally cut 
it, who is to redo it STAT.  That way - not only is the tech able to learn 
from their mistakes - they are to redo it as a STAT so as not to further 
inconvenience or delay the pathologist. This also serves to add an 
additional burden on the tech of having to add this stat to their own 
workload.  This has substantially decreased the amount of recuts requested.

I do have one tech that displayed difficulty matching the numbers on the 
blocks to the numbers on the slides - so she is required to check her blocks 
against her slides each time before her slides are sent from the lab.

Otherwise, general stain quality is checked microscopically on a daily 
basis.

Hope this helps.

Louri Caldwell
Chief Histolotechnologist
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia




>From: "Coaker, Terry" <Terry.Coaker@nuth.northy.nhs.uk>
>To: 'Histonet' <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
>Subject: Quality-right first time?
>Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 09:06:56 +0100
>
>What is the most reliable, economical way of ensuring section quality
>with no transcription errors or recuts?
>Is it necessary to check every slide microscopically before issue?  If
>staff are trained to pick up only the best sections at the water bath
>and you control your staining, can you be confident in the quality and
>remove microscopic checking?  Remember the pathologists provide the
>final check.
>Are there other ways e.g checking all slides off against the paraffin
>block or using a stereo microscope to check quality at the water bath.
>
>Thankyou
>
>Terry
>
>Terry Coaker
>
>Chief Biomedical Scientist
>Cellular Pathology
>Royal Victoria Infirmary
>Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP
>terry.coaker@nuth.northy.nhs.uk
>0191 282 4445
>
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