OK, I'll try to help, but could use a little more information.

What was the first container filled with, after it was filled?

What is meant by "fixative contamination" in the other stations?

By "how was it handled", do you mean how do you make certain
it doesn't happen again, or how do you reprocess 200 blocks?
There is a way to do it on the tissue processor. Is that what
you want?

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Been in Missouri for
their meeting. Had a great time, once I got there (long story,
bad weather). First time back on Histonet since Wednesday.
Missed you all. :-)

Peggy A. Wenk, BS, HTL(ASCP)
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073

Mary Bryhan wrote:
> 
> Hi all -
> 
> We had a nasty situation last week in our lab.  The tech that started the tissue processor weekly maintenance had to go home early due to illness.  She left a detailed note of what needed to be done to complete the process.  Meanwhile our PA decided to cassette up a months worth of Autopsies and the tissue processor had to be loaded early.  When the tech who was going to complete the tissue processor maintenance began, she saw that the first container on the processor was empty and filled it.  The results were fixative contamination into all other stations and 200 blocks that had to be reprocessed.  Pathologists looking for blood, tears and the right hands of all involved.  Here are my questions:
> 
> 1. Has anything like this ever happened to your lab?  If so, how was it handled?  (Peggy Wenk - Please give me feed back too)
> 
> 2. We are a smallish hospital lab with an extensive outreach.  We do 50,000 blocks per year - 15,000 cytology cases, 15,000 surgical cases.  We have 0 lab assistants, 0 cytology prep-techs (HT, HTL do this), 3 HTs, 1 HTL and 1 HT - Team Leader that manages all aspects of AP.  My question is what is your staffing if you are similar in size and function to us... OR what staffing recommendations would you make.
> 
> Mary Bryhan HT (ASCP)
> Team Leader - Pathology
> Northern Michigan Regional Health Systems
> Petoskey, Michigan