Cindy and Robyn,
We maintain a working temperature to approx 70 - 72F. Their suggested
temperature range is outrageous. Your pathologists might find employees
more productive with cooler working temperatures (you have to wear lab
coats, gloves etc that add to discomfort). At the risk of being "catty", I
presume your pathologists are on the "AC'd 7 am to 7 pm" schedule? What is
the reasoning behind lowering temperature in that 12 hour period other than
saving the almighty dollar. If the lab is that hot when the AC kicks in,
isn't the system working harder (costing more) to cool down a lab?
Shouldn't ALL employees have the same working conditions, including the
early morning crew. Fair is fair!
I suggest you survey your chemicals and solvents, list the flash point and
proper storage temperature for volatile, flammable and potentially explosive
chemicals you have on hand. You safety can be compromised due to improper
temperatures for chemical storage, usage/longevity. 85F to 92F is
excessive. High temperature also affects how paraffin sections.
Contact the hematoxylin manufacturer technical services, tell them of your
plight and ask them if higher temperature is a problem. They put
"controlled room temperature" on their containers for a very good reason but
have them say why they put storage conditions on the bottle. Controlled
room temperature, in one instance, had a range of 20 - 25C (68 - 77F). This
range falls into what Wikipedia defined (see below). Heat accelerates
chemical reactions, and probably contributes to the breakdown of chemical
solutions too.
The Wikipedia definition of Room Temperature was interesting:
Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term
to denote a certain temperature within enclosed space at which humans are
accustomed. Room temperature is thus often indicated by general human
comfort, with the common range of 18°C (64.4 °F) to 24°C (75.2 °F), though
climate may acclimatise people to higher or lower temperatures.
The term can also refer to a temperature of food to be consumed (e.g., red
wine) which is placed in such a room for a given time. Furthermore, it may
refer to a certain temperature within settings of scientific experiments and
calculations.
For human comfort, desirable room temperature greatly depends on individual
needs and various other factors. According to the West Midlands Public
Health Observatory,[1] 21 °C (69.8 °F) is the recommended living room
temperature, whereas 18 °C (64.4 °F) is the recommended bedroom temperature.
A study carried out at the Uppsala University,[2] on indoor air quality and
subjective indoor air quality (SIAQ) in primary schools, states that
perception of high room temperature was related to a poor climate of
cooperation. To achieve a good SIAQ, it recommends room temperature should
be at a maximum of 24.0 °C (75.5 °F).
Scientific definition
For scientific calculations, room temperature is taken to be 20 to 23.5
degrees Celsius, 528 to 537 degrees Rankine (°R), or 293 to 296 Kelvin (K),
with an average of 21 °C, about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (°F).[3]. For
numerical convenience, either 20 °C or 300 K is often used. However, room
temperature is not a precisely defined scientific term as opposed to
Standard Temperature and Pressure, which has several, slightly different,
definitions.
Good luck on solving this problem.
Gayle M. Callis
HTL/HT/MT(ASCP)
Bozeman MT 59715
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robyn Vazquez"
To: ;
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Heat & Hematoxylin
> Cindy,
> Do you have refrig/freezers, cryostats, and anything that puts out heat
> from the motor? Our lab is between 68-70, our equipment doesn't have to
> work to stay at their temps. And the equipment will last longer. And
> beside the tech have to be comfortable. It would be inconsiderate to
> employees to have them suffer in a high temp such as 85 degrees. Does
> the doctors have to stay in the lab constantly? Crank their offices heat
> up to 85 and see how they like it, I bet not. Just my opinion.
>
> Robyn
>
>>>> "Cindy DuBois" 5/19/2008 7:54 AM >>>
>
> Our doctors are being very strict with the A/C. It only runs from 7am
> to
> 7pm. When we come into the lab in the morning @ 3:30 it is 82. This
> morning I check the high for the weekend and it was 92 in the lab.
> Within the last 2 weeks, the doctors are also complaining about our
> washed-out dull looking hematoxylin. We have increased our staining
> time to
> 7 minutes (from 5) and decreased the acid alcohol to 1 dip. All the
> label
> says on the stain bottle is to keep the stain at "controlled room
> temp". I
> have mentioned this to the doctors but all I get is "85 can be
> considered
> room temp".
> Does anyone have any specifications as to what temperature should be
> maintained in a lab?
> Cindy
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