I have to agree with Tim on this one. It is undoubtedly a good 
     machine, but after doing an exhaustive price analysis on all the 
     machines on the market, there is no way I could justify the Ventana

     Benchmark, either by purchasing outright or with a reagent rental 
     program. 
     
     And then we looked at the staining results between all the machines

     and..........well that's another story and it's too close to Happy 
     Hour to stir up another hornets' nest.
     
     Ronnie Houston
     Regional Histology Operations Manager
     Bon Secours HealthPartners Laboratories
     5801 Bremo Road
     Richmond, VA 23226


______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: RE: Justification of  Ventana Benchmark
Author:  "LaFriniere; Mike"  at
MSGHub
Date:    12/27/2002 2:41 PM


Tim,
     
I have 4 units that work excellent. Ventana will supply you with a (per 
slide) cost analysis upon request. They have a great work sheet for the 
analysis and they fill in most of the data for you! Each lab has
different 
prices, dependant on your volume. For example our lab performs 100-150 
immuno stains a day, I may obtain a price for approx. $9.00-18.00 each 
(dependant on the antibody cost), where as a lab performing 10-20 slides
a 
day may obtain a price for $15-26.00 per slide. Also check into the
lease 
options to have the instrument cost incorporated into your cost per
slide, 
this is a great plan so that you don't have to us capital funds upfront.
     
Regards,
     
Michael LaFriniere PA,HT(ASCP)
Pathology Department Manager
Memorial Hospital
Chattanooga TN
423-495-6117
     
-----Original Message-----
From: Morken, Tim [mailto:tim9@cdc.gov] 
Sent: Friday, December 27, 2002 2:20 PM 
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Justification of Ventana Benchmark
     
     
Jan, I believe you when you say it is a good instrument and you get good

results, but again, how did you justify this particular instrument when 
competing instruments are just as good, fast and easy to use (at least
from 
my own experience), but cost much less, both to buy and to operate?
Again, 
I'm not trying to put you on the spot, I'm just curious how the 
justification was done.
     
Tim Morken
Atlanta.
     
-----Original Message-----
From: Janice A Mahoney [mailto:jmahoney@alegent.org] 
Sent: Friday, December 27, 2002 2:06 PM
To: tim9@cdc.gov; APROCTOR.CMHMAIL.MAILBOX@northeastmedical.org; 
histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: RE: Ventana Benchmark
     
     
The quality. reproducibility, and ease of operation are excellent.  It 
is truly a "walk-away" instrument.  The ability to complete staining 
runs in several hours and to operate overnight make up for the limited 
number of slides tit holds.  We actually have several modules and the 
special stainer.  The Pathologists are very happy with the results.  I 
would probably have an uprising in the lab if we tried to replace it 
with something else.
You are right.   It does cost more but we still make money doing IHC.
   I have also found the Ventana support to be excellent.
Jan Mahoney
Omaha NE
GO HUSKERS !!
     
>>> "Morken, Tim"  12/27/2002 12:07:37 PM >>>
I am curious to know how the cost of a Benchmark is justified when it 
is
twice the price and does less than half the number of slides of 
competing
units, and (apparently) requires the use of  proprietary reagents that 
cost
more? We have looked at the Ventana units before but always went in 
other
directions (fast!) after quotes were given.
     
Tim Morken
Atlana
     
-----Original Message-----
From: Janice A Mahoney [mailto:jmahoney@alegent.org] 
Sent: Friday, December 27, 2002 12:36 PM
To: APROCTOR.CMHMAIL.MAILBOX@northeastmedical.org; 
histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: Ventana Benchmark
     
     
It is wonderful.  We love it.
Jan Mahoney
Omaha NE
     
>>> Alisha Proctor  
12/27/2002 11:12:11 AM >>>
Our lab director is interested in purchasing the Ventana Benchmark. 
Does
anyone have an opinion about it?