In our lab, PPE is required when handling fresh tissue, or body fluids
when slashing might occur.  PPE is not required at the embeding area,
cutting bench or coverslipping.
Pat Q
Olean, NY

On Sat, 13 May 2000 22:43:35 -0500 "Garza-Williams, Sara"
<Garza-Williams.Sara@tchden.org> (by way of Histonet) writes:
> 
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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