The message below details a problem that I don't think should exist for
people taking the HT or HTL exams.  Why is it that some individuals
preparing for the exam are tested not only for their histology skills but
for their ability to locate a particular piece of tissue?  Locating could
come down to how many desperate phone calls or emails they can send looking
for tissue, because even though they may have piece of thyroid or a piece of
cervix its not the "correct size".  I don't understand why there is a size
requirement.  I've worked in a small hospital setting and a research
setting.  Being able to come across all the required tissues with the needed
size requirements can be tough.  That shouldn't be the tough part of the
practical.  The challenge should be obtaining quality sections with quality
stains.  Why would it be wrong for someone working with murine tissue to
take 3 mouse kidneys and put them into one block and perform a PAS.   I
would also think that some of the more challenging aspects of histology have
everything to do with size, that is small dimensions.  Being able to
sections liver, prostate, FNA's, and sectioning cell blocks, require a great
deal of skill and patience.  I think the BOR should get rid of the size
requirements and/or do more to help out the people who are trying to get
certified.  Provide blocks.  I understand you that the BOR wants to test an
applicants ability to fix and process a piece of tissue.  However, how may
techs that join a new lab and want to take the HT are  involved in coming up
with the lab's tissue processing schedule.  This has most likely been
established and the blocks that they would submit are, in most cases, going
to follow a processing schedule that the applicant did not establish.

an occasional 2 cents

Tim Coskran HT, HTL
Pfizer

I know this is a long shot but the tech in the lab I work in is currently 
doing her HT practical and needs thyroid that isn't autolysed.  We work in a

small hospital, not many thyroidectomies or posts, and everything we've come

up with isn't suitable.  We tried a neighboring hospital with no luck.  She 
needs a 1.0x1.0 piece of thyroid asap as her slides have to be sent in next 
Friday, March 16.  We're in MA and would be happy to pay shipping, etc.  If 
anyone can help, please respond off net and we can figure out logistics. 
I realize I'm asking the impossible!
Thanks.
Nancy