RE: paraffin block storage

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From:"Johnson, Mickey" <JohnsoM@shmc.org>
To:"'Sheila Poellein'" <sheila_poellein@deaconess.com>, "'histonet'" <histoNet@pathology.swmed.edu>
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Sheila,
We used to have room to keep 10+ years of paraffin blocks. As our volume has
increased, so has the number of years we can store. Presently, we store
about 8 years of paraffin blocks.  Our pathologists would like to keep them
longer. Good medical practice!
Mickie

-----Original Message-----
From: Sheila Poellein [mailto:sheila_poellein@deaconess.com]
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 11:10 AM
To: 'histonet'
Subject: paraffin block storage


CAP regulations state that paraffin blocks should be retained for 5 years.
In a recent CAP Today, it was suggested that this time  be extended for
either all blocks or tumor blocks because of the potential for new testing
capabilites (for example her 2-neu) that might be developed.  We have
limited storage space as well as spare time to keep two filing systems for
blocks.  I would appreciate all comments on this issue, do you keep longer
than 5 years or not?, if you do what system do you have in place?  all
blocks or selective blocks? 

thanks,
Sheila




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