We do not 'require' lab coats at all times.  There are obviously times when
they are certainly appropriate and it is stressed at those times.

Tom Mc Nemar
Pathology Supervisor
Licking Memorial Hospital
Newark, Ohio

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Garza-Williams, Sara [SMTP:Garza-Williams.Sara@tchden.org]
> Sent:	Saturday, May 13, 2000 11:44 PM
> To:	HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	Clothing etiquette for the bench tech.
> 
> 
> 
> Please, please I need the your help regarding my argument to a CAP
> inspector (lab general).
> 
> 
> She gave me a huge "Ding" regarding the fact that our techs were not
> wearing lab coats(in the cutting and staining area), they do wear gloves. 
> She also justified her point by indicating because the techs were wearing
> jeans it was "unprofessional".  Of course, I could hardly contain myself
> and had try very hard to control myself from stating what I really wanted
> to say...
> 
> 
> I did tell her,  specimens were never triage in the main lab, so full PPE
> was irrelevant.  Our techs do wear nitrile gloves for protection from the
> reagents and chemicals. 
> 
> 
> She said full PPE was essential because the blocks and slides were
> considered infectious. So of course I said "At what point does the slide
> and/or block ever become non-infectious-when it reaches the pathologist?" 
> She said "They should continue to be considered infectious and that the
> pathologist should be wearing lab coats when they read out slides."  I
> said
> "Should the pathologist wear gloves as well, they have to touch the
> slide".  Our exchange went on and on until she said "I have to give you
> the
> deficiency".
> 
> 
> My pathologist went ballistic, as I did.  He and I would like to know what
> do other labs do?
> We are determined to argue for principle sake only.  My pathologist feels
> that PPE is essential when you consider every situation with logic but he
> doesn't care if the techs cut naked (metaphorically). in the lab because
> they do such good work and work safe.
> 
> 
> So my question is,  Do you require techs to wear a lab coat in the main
> part of the lab?  What is your lab policy?  Our policy (approved by the
> Infectious Disease department)  specifically states that no PPE is
> required
> in the main lab area, but full PPE is required in the gross room ,morgue
> or
> when cutting frozen sections.
> 
> 
> Of the hospitals that I've seen (a least a dozen) none of them require
> their techs to wear coats.
> I'd love the hear from other labs.  Sorry about the long story but I'm
> still steaming....
> 
> 
> Thanks
> Sara
> 
> 
> 
>