RE: Safety of employees handling paraffin embedded tissue.
From:
"Bartlett, Jeanine" <jqb7@cdc.gov>
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=769162610-30052001>Greg:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=769162610-30052001>I do
not use gloves when embedding or sectioning, but most of the other techs in my
lab do. With the sectioning I was told it was more to keep cornified cells
from making their way onto the slides or into the water bath than for safety
reasons. I have not heard of anyone contracting an illness from not
wearing gloves while embedding or sectioning.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=769162610-30052001>
<P><FONT size=2>Jeanine Bartlett, HT(ASCP)<BR>Centers for Disease
Control<BR>Infectious Disease Pathology Activity<BR>Atlanta, GA 30333
</FONT></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> ScubaD100@aol.com
[mailto:ScubaD100@aol.com]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, May 29, 2001 11:18
PM<BR><B>To:</B> histonet@pathology.swmed.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> Safety of
employees handling paraffin embedded tissue.<BR><BR></DIV></FONT><FONT
face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>I have recently heard of a previous employee
of a pathology laboratory suing <BR>for being exposed to and contracting
Hepatitis C from handling the paraffin <BR>blocks. I have never seen
anybody wearing gloves during the embedding and <BR>microtomy of properly
fixed tissue sections. Has anybody else heard of any <BR>similar
circumstances and if so, should we all wear gloves during embedding <BR>and
sectioning. I know if I tried to cut tissue sections with gloves on, I
<BR>may not be exposed to Hepatitis C, but I would probably be looking for
finger <BR>prosthesis. <BR><BR>greg.good@tenethealth.com</FONT>
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