Ian,

I do 3 sets of runs using 3 Dako Autostainers per day: I start one at 7:00
am and slides are out by around 11:30 am.  I start the second run @ 10:00 am
and slides are out by 3:00 pm.  The third run is started @ 1:00 pm and is
out by 5:00 pm.

My lab has 2 FTE's (including myself) working a staggered shift.  I lost my
3rd shift person to a better paying hospital(surprise, surprise) but she
still gives me 4 hours on Sunday night because she loves me so much. 

We average 70 IHC's daily.  It typically ranges anywhere from 40-140 a day.

In a pinch, I use a hair dryer to dry my slides followed by 10 min. in a 68
degree centigrade oven.  Usual drying time is 20-60 minutes @ 68 degrees.  I
know this sounds like it's not enough, but it works well for me and I surely
don't have docs who have the patience to allow an over night drying time.

HIER is performed using a waterbath to maintain consistent staining.  35
min. @ 99 degrees centigrade with a 20 min. room temp. cool down.  I don't
believe in varying times for HIER under any circumstances since the IHC I
perform today should, ideally, look like the IHC I performed yesterday.

Unless the order comes in after 1:00 pm, the pathologist will receive their
IHC same day.

Main histology has biopsy H&E slides out by 6:00 am.  Histotechs are on-site
24/7.

My employer took the liberty of signing me up to perform research for the
Pathology staff at the Medical College, since I have so much free time and I
do all IF's as well.  I just threw this one in for your pity.

We maintain a menu of about 150 Antibodies in house and I work up a new one
about once a month or so when I can sneek it in.

I'd be interested in the answers you get on this post so I hope everyone
replies to all.

Good Luck,

Glen A. Dawson  BS, HT & QIHC (ASCP)
Lead IHC Technologist
Milwaukee, WI





-----Original Message-----
From: ian clarke [mailto:clarke.ian@virgin.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 9:31 PM
To: HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re Turnaround times


Dear All
Thanks for all the information on the trimming around the edges of the
tissue cassette.I have been asked to gather some information about
turnaround times for Immunohistochemistry.At present in our laboratory we
cut the sections one day leave overnight in an oven at 55c and then they are
put onto the Ventana Nexes for staining the next morning 24 hour lag.We
mainly do microwave HEIR

1 Does your pathologist receive their immuno the same day it is requested?
2  If so what time  is your cut off for receiving immuno requests from the
pathologist?
3 How many immuno slides would you stain/day?
4 Is your HEIR mostly Pressure cooker or Microwave?
5  Is there any difference in time scale between a Ventana Nexes and
Benchmark ( for us it would mean we would not have the 24 hours overnight in
the oven/and no microwave HEIR.)
6 What are the minimum and maximum times for your HEIR

7 On a side issue what time would first H&E biopsies/cases be going to the
pathologist?( how many cases)
Thanks again
Ian Clarke
CAH