While I agree that it isn't a good idea to "stopwatch" your techs, some 
guidelines are necessary to maintain a level of fairness in the lab. If not 
- what do you do if you have one tech who takes 2 hours to cut 100 blocks vs 
one who takes 6 hours for the same amount?  Then - what do you do with the 
tech that's finished 4 hours earlier?  Is it fair to make them complete more 
tasks just because they're faster?
Is it fair to expect that much less from the other tech just because they're 
slower?

Here, I think we've achieved a good balance.  All of the work is divided 
evenly - at such a level that each tech should comfortably be able to 
complete their workload without any undue stress. Those that work too fast 
have learned to slow down to improve quality - and those that were 
previously too slow have learned time-saving techniques to improve their 
productivity.

While we don't time workload here on an hourly basis (we expect a certain 
level of work completed at the end of each day), on average the performance 
level expected in this lab is as follows. Mind you, this is with a wide 
variety of specimen types,sizes, fixation levels - from numerous, tiny 
well-fixed biopsy specimens to huge unfixed nightmare blocks:

Embed 100 blocks:  1 hour
Trim 50 blocks:  30 to 45 minutes
Cut 30 blocks: 30 to 45 minutes
File 100 histology slides: if in order - 1/2 hour if not - 1 hour

Pap smears - we don't do here :)

Hope this helps.

Louri Caldwell
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602


>From: Clarke Ian 
>To: histonet 
>Subject: Performance indicators.
>Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 17:54:04 +0000
>
>I am interested in trying to assess a performance level for some of the
>standard procedures in a Histology and Cytology laboratory.These include ,
>embedding,trimming,cutting and mounting of slides.I thus would like to
>survey what other people think is realistic and doing in practise.
>
>How long to:
>
>Embed 100 blocks
>
>Trim 50 blocks
>
>Cut 30 blocks
>
>Mount 60 PAP smears
>
>Mount 60 Histology slides
>
>File 100 Pap Smears
>
>and  File 100 Histology slides.
>
>I will post the results afterwards.
>
>Ian Clarke
>Histo/Cyto
>CAH
>
>


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