We went through this several years ago and by inspection two years ago were no longer treating them any differently. I removed the procedure from the manual but was sited for not having one. For those of you not treating them differently, what kind of procedure do you have? I need to be correct for inspection coming up in October!Thanks,JoyceJoyce WeemsPathology ManagerSaint Joseph's Hospital 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NEAtlanta, GA 30342404-851-7376 - Phone404-851-7831 - Fax-----Original Message-----From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]On Behalf Of hymclabSent: Friday, September 02, 2005 10:20 AMTo: 'Horn, Hazel V'; Stephen Peters M.D.;Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.eduSubject: RE: [Histonet] sentinel biopsiesI wrote my own policy but referenced that I received the radiationinformation from the Hospital Radiation Safety officer.We do the same as Dr. Peters here.  The Radiation Safety officer (which is aRadiologist here) said we were in no danger.The only thing he suggested and I have it in my procedure is to have anypregnant histotechs avoid handling the fresh sentinel nodes just as aprecautionary measure.Hope this helps,Dawn-----Original Message-----From: Horn, Hazel V [mailto:HornHV@archildrens.org] Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 2:36 PMTo: Stephen Peters M.D.; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.eduSubject: RE: [Histonet] sentinel biopsiesIn getting ready for my CAP inspection, CAP states there must be apolicy for these types of specimens.   My question to all of you is, whowrote your policy?   Did you write it or did your Radiation SafetyOfficer write it? Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP)Histology SupervisorArkansas Children's Hospital800 Marshall      Mail Slot 820Little Rock, AR   72202 phone- 501.364.4240fax- 501.364.3912 visit us on the web at:   www.archildrens.org-----Original Message-----From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of StephenPeters M.D.Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 1:46 PMTo: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.eduSubject: [Histonet] sentinel biopsiesThis is a difficult question. Our advisors in radiation here assure us thedose is quite minimal and does not require precautions. They say theexposure is similar to walking down the street ( I am guessing the street isnext to a nuclear facility). We handle these as routine specimens,  cutfrozens and take no special percautions. Below is a consensus article fromthe Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology that coversthis topic.  This article recommends a variety of precautionary steps.  Fitzgibbons, P, et al. Recommendations for Handling Radioactive SpecimensObtained by Sentinal Node BiopsyThe American Journal of Surgical Pathology 24(11):1549 -155, 2000.  I do not have a good answer to this question. I would hate to see peopletaking a lot of  unnecessary precautions, on the other hand, I hope my otherhand doesn't fall off! Stephen Stephen Peters M.D. Vice Chairman of PathologyHackensack University Medical Center201 996 4836 Pathology Innovations, LLC410 Old Mill Lane,Wyckoff, NJ 07481201 847 7600www.pathologyinnovations.com _______________________________________________Histonet mailing listHistonet@lists.utsouthwestern.eduhttp://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet------------------------------------------------------------------------------The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidentialand protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not theintended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering thismessage to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that anydissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictlyprohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notifyus immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from yourcomputer. Thank you. ==============================================================================_______________________________________________Histonet mailing listHistonet@lists.utsouthwestern.eduhttp://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet_______________________________________________Histonet mailing listHistonet@lists.utsouthwestern.eduhttp://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonetConfidentiality Notice ** The information contained in this message may be privileged and is confidential information intended for the use of the addressee listed above. If you are neither the intended recipient nor the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.Thank you. Saint Josephs Health System, Inc.