Peter,
 We have external alarms on all of our processors as well as our -70 freezer.  We have a tech on call at all times and those alarms have saved us more times than I care to mention.  Since we are notified of any fault in the processors, we can then come in, assess the situation and move the tissues to another processor if need be...thus saving our TAT on those cases which would otherwise have to be processed the following day or on Monday in the case of a weekend problem.  It has also allowed us to have the processors looked at on off hours so the repair process could be initiated rather than having to wait until the following work day.  I am very much in favor of the alarms.....having worked both with and without them....they can make all the difference in the world...

Have a great day,
 Vicki
Albany Medical Center

>>> "Rippstein, Peter" <prippstein@ottawahospital.on.ca> 02/06/01 09:52AM >>>
Histoneters,

I would like to get a general consensus on the merits of external alarms on
tissue processors which would alert staff in case of an error during the
night or on weekends.
Thanking you in advance, 

Peter Rippstein, ART
Charge Technologist
Anatomical Pathology
The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus
Ph: 798-5555 ext 16589
Fax: 761-4846
email: prippstein@ottawahospital.on.ca