Hi Bob,

Your response below prompts my response.  I'm sure you know you are revered
for your wit and historical knowledge, whether it comes from within your
brain, textbooks or some other informational media, by many on Histonet,
including me.

I have to say, that my respect for you has been lowered by your comments
below as well as your earlier discussion of the use of the Genta stain.  You
are one of very few Pathologists on the Histonet and what you say may be
given more credence than it deserves because there are not many other
Pathologists on here to give a different point of view.  It could end up to
be taken as gospel due to a one sided opinion.

Altho I do feel that society and regulatory bodies may have gone a bit
overboard on CYA (covering your ass) regarding hazards, much of what has
been learned probably has some value.  Many of us Histotechs lived thru the
fume ridden, one or two lightbulb labs and either are still kickin' or lived
a full life.  Perhaps the younger Etches will live longer and have a better
quality of life when they retire.  I don't feel the pre 1960's, 70's
approach to fumes in the grossing area that you describe is what employee's
need to deal with.

Regarding the use of the Genta stain, you said in earlier mail that there
are no publications touting the use of the stain.  (or words along those
lines)  They do exist and as mentioned above, if there were other
Pathologists on the Histonet, we might still be discussing the subject.
Instead it died and there may have been many who have accepted your view as
golden.  The saving factor here is that the Histotech would have to convince
their Pathologist to drop it and not change the method used on their own.
Today your mail concerning a "speed phrase" stating in the report that the
Diff-Quik is negative makes me wonder if there are so many negatives due to
the method used to make your diagnosis.

Don Hammer, Retired Guy
>
> > Mike Kirby in Johannesburg asks:
> >
> > >>Does anyone have any plans or can make recommendations with regards to
a
> >
> > suitable formalin fume extraction system for our "gross sectioning
bench"? I
> >
> > am sure that there are commercial systems available, but they would be
> >
> > extremely expensive in this neck of the woods, so what we are looking
for is
> >
> > a "in house" D.I.Y system.<<
> >
> > Real men choke on the fumes while they gross! Fume extraction systems?
We
> > don't have no sissy fume extraction systems!
> >
> > The answer to this question depends very much on your local regulatory
> > agencies. In the USA we have federal regulations concerning formaldehyde
> > fumes, but many states - including the states I practice in - do not
enforce
> > them.
> >
> > Most of the small rural hospitals and "little histology labs on the
prairie
> > [or is that veldt?]" that I practice in have nothing at all, or nothing
but a
> > fan so noisy you can't dictate with it running.
> >
> > In such a circumstance, your best strategy is careful handling of
> > formaldehyde so as to expose as little of it as possible. And an
electric fan
> > purchased at your nearest department store.
> >
> > Bob Richmond
> > Samurai Pathologist
> > (still surviving the fumes at age sixty)
> > Knoxville, Tennessee USA
>
>
>