T.A. Brecken in Florida asks:

>>I need help. The pathologists in our lab ask that histotechnologists
perform evaluation of adequacy on renal biopsies. I would like to know who
usually does this function in path labs and if there are any
regulations/guidelines from NSH or other agencies about who should perform
evaluations of renal biopsies and what training is needed. Also, does anyone
have any tricks of the trade on evaluating renals. The radiologists take the
sample in ultrasound or CT.<<

"Adequacy" of a renal biopsy specimen means that it contains glomeruli
(rather than just tubules). This can be ascertained by looking at the gross
specimen with a dissecting microscope, an item not usually permitted to
histologists and pathologists, but you might be able to get by with a strong
hand lens or the scanning objective of a microscope.

I'd want to try this out - or train somebody - with an autopsy or nephrectomy
kidney before doing it in prime time. I would think that, after being checked
out on it once, that a histotechnologist would be able to identify glomeruli
in a renal biopsy specimen very handily.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN