I also have never worn gloves for embedding or cutting paraffin processed 
material although I can see the merit of wearing gloves when cutting 
unfixed frozen material. I was also intrigued by the comments about dead 
skin cells occurring on slides. It is highly unlikely that you would ever 
identify the fragments of keratin that might be shed from your hands when 
cutting sections; you just would not get cornified epithelium shed from 
the hands or scalp because these sites are heavily keratinised. You are 
much more likely to get the cornified cells deposited on slides from the 
mouth, by breathing on the block whilst cutting or onto the slide whilst 
cleaning. I have also noticed that there are times when deposited 
cornified cells increase to problem levels and this often coincides with 
the microtomist having a cold or a sore throat. I strongly feel that the 
notion of cornified cells from the hand/scalp is a myth that is passed 
from generation to generation often by practitioners who should have given 
it more thought.

>>>>"Robyn Vazquez" 
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Gloves ... a question
I have never worn gloves and I have never had a pathologist complain of 
skin cells on my slide either.
Robyn
OHSU

>>> "Terry Murphy"  03/18/05 6:50 PM >>>
I once had a pathologist complain dead skin cells on  his slides when he 
saw 
that I did not wear gloves when I was cutting.  Anyone else ever hear this 

from a pathologist?

>>> "Angela Bitting" 
>Thank you to everyone who replied to my question about wearing gloves
>during embedding and cutting blocks.
>I intentionally did not mention which side of the war I was on because I
>wanted evryone to respond without feeling threatened (Histonet is such a
>dangerous place)LOL
>Thank you again.
>By the way,
>I'm on the side of those who DO NOT wear gloves.....



                                        Regards,
                                                    Tony
Histopathology Group
Asthma Biology Department.
RIRP CEDD.
GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre,
Gunnelswood Road,
STEVENAGE,
Hertfordshire.
  SG1 2NY
tel.          +44 (0)1438 764117
fax.         +44 (0)1438 764782
email.    Tony.J.Savage@gsk.com
mobile    +44 07753609835
http://ukdiscovery.gsk.com/histopathology/default.htm
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