Dear Colleague,

On behalf of The Alabama Society for Histotechnology, we would like to
extend an
invitation to join us in the effort to reactivate our great state
society. You are missing a
wonderful opportunity to promote your profession. Please give some
consideration to
enhance your learning and professional status. Histotechnology is a
wonderful profession
and interaction with your peers is a very rewarding experience.

We are putting together an exciting day of learning and fellowship to be
held in
Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday November 6,1999. We also want to issue a
special
offer of individual membership for only $15.00 and corporate membership
for $50.00 that
will be good through the new Millennium(2000).

Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Rita Humphrey,  President (ASH)        Ph. W-(205) 581-3555
                                                                 W-(205)
581-3532


Lu Ann  Raby, Vice President (ASH)  Ph. W-(256) 551-7082







Alabama Society of Histotechnology
1999 Winter Seminar
November 6th 1999
Birmingham, Alabama

Schedule
Saturday Novenber 6,19999

8:30 AM -9:00 AM       Registration

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM    " Routine" Special Stains In The Histology
Laboratory
                                                Robert L. Lott, BS, HTL
(ASCP)

 The routine laboratory is involved in many complex procedures, however
 histotechs perform some "special" stains so often that they become
"routine."  This
 updated workshop will focus  on 12 of the most common  "routine"
special stains:
 AFB, GMS, PAS & PA-Digestion, Gram stain and Helicobacter, Trichrome,
Iron,
 Reticulin, Alcian Blue, Mucicarmine, VVG, Congo Red and perhaps the
most
 "routine" stain of all, the H&E.  Topics to be discussed include
carbohydrate
 histochemistry staining theory, discussion of the "staining mechanism"
of each
 procedure, troubleshooting, control tissues, and common problems
inherent in
 each method.  In addition, the diagnostic importance of each procedure
will be
 discussed.  This workshop is a must for students who are preparing for
the
 HT/HTL registry exam and want to understand staining theory.  Also, for
the
 experienced technician who wants to be able to troubleshoot, not just
perform,
 special stains this workshop will prove helpful.  Dual projectors will
be used to
 show kodachromes of good and bad stains side by side.

12:00  PM - 1:15 PM      Lunch

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM        Understanding  In-Situ Hybridization Techniques

                                                  Mory Segovia, HT(ASCP)

 Our workshop will start with a simple review of the basic technique of
 Immunohistochemistry and proceed with an introduction to molecular
 techniques such as in-situ hybridization, how it works and the
different types of
 hybridization techniques in practice today.  You will become familiar
with the
 technique of detecting messenger RNA, subtyping viral infections like
CMV and
 distinguishing true gene expression from exogenous protein absorption
like
 Lambda and Kappa.

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM     Alabama State Histology Society Business Meeting


Seminar Location:
Laboratory Corporation of America
Midtown Center Building
1801 First Ave South
Birmingham, Alabama   35233-1935
Phone: 205/581-3500