Cel,
        I am not in the same setting but it strikes me that the most important
concern that needs to be imparted to these individuals who are delivering the
specimens in such a careless manner is a legal one.
Leaking chemicals and partially fixed or unfixed tissues could place the staff
and patients at risk for development of sensitivity, infections etc. The
possibility of lawsuits against institutions and individuals is usually a
powerful deterrent.
Working in histology, I consider the fact that they may be screwing up the
tissues is on a different level of responsibility, is unforgivable and should
be grounds for euthanasia.
Barry

Cel Rutledge wrote:

> We have been having a problem with the condition of surgical specimens
> that are delvered to pathology.  We have a central messenger center that
> collects specimens from the clinics and surgery on a regular time
> schedule.  They pick up specimens and then deliver them to pathology.  The
> immediate problem is the careless with which they are handled.  They
> "toss" them into a plastic or paper bag and then empty them on the
> receiving desk.  To ones complete amazement-they leak. The clinics,
> surgery and messenger supervisors have been contacted, warned, threatened,
> verbally abused, begged and pleaded with, but still no end in sight to the
> problem.
>
> We have explained the problem with contamination, having to redo the
> paperwork, and the time consuming effort involved in  handling this
> problem, but nothing.  It is a double headed problem, but I feel that if
> the messengers would not turn them every which way then the containers
> that were not sealed correctly would not leak.
>
> The clinics are furnished bags with special pockets for paperwork on the
> outside of the bag while the specimen goes inside, unfortunately the put
> the paper inside with the leaky specimen.
>
> I would like some suggestions as to how other hospitals receive their
> specimens.  Is this common?  Or, are we just lucky?
>
> Cel Rutledge
> San Francisco General Hospital

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