I'll probably get flamed here, but it's been a while since I've been flamed.
I'm having real issues with ASCP these days. Last year, two of my techs, who
I trained took the registry. They both got their tissue from the same
autopsy, processed the tissue in the same processor and stained the slides
on the same stainer. One passed, the other did not. Now, my medical director
and I looked at every slide these techs made. The techs were getting upset
with me because I was kicking back many of their slides for folds, wrinkles,
uneven staining, etc.
	I called ASCP to find out how the slides can be re-screened. I told them
that I was the supervisor and questioned whomever graded the slides. I was
told that it would cost $100 to review the slides again. I then proceeded to
tell this person what if the grader made a mistake. Too bad, it would cost
$100.
	Get this, the American Association of Pathologists Assistants (AAPA) have
aligned with ASCP. Before this alliance, to take the exam by AAPA was $150,
now, I understand that the same exam given by ASCP is going to cost me $450.
	Is ASCP in it for the money? You bet, but what can you do when they are the
only game in town?

Let the flaming begin.

Joe Nocito
Histology Manager
Pathology Reference Lab
San Antonio, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]On Behalf Of Dawson,
Glen
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 10:57 AM
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] ASCP



I came in at the middle of this thread so excuse me if someone stated this
before.

To maintain the QIHC qualification, you not only have to dig up
documentation on a minimum of 30 CEU's related to immunohistochemistry every
5 years, but you have to pay $50 to maintain it.  Although I believe it is
vital that IHC people stay up to snuff on continuing education, I think it
is obnoxious to have to pay for a qualification that you've had to pay to
obtain already.  The $50 every 5 years is not an exhorbitant amount but it
is more the principle. It seems like a fee just for the sake of a fee and it
does nothing for the person that has to pay it.

I paid to be a member of NSH for a number of years only because the mailings
I received were very aggressive and led me to believe that my certification
would lapse if I didn't pay.  I haven't renewed since I learned for certain
that this was not the case.

Glen Dawson  BS, HT & QIHC (ASCP)
IHC Manager
Milwaukee, WI

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