FYI (As I had promised I would keep histonetters informed on
histology related articles in "Laboratory Medicine"), the
September issue has:

1. An article on "Five Bugs that "Bug" Us", about Chlamydia pneumoniae, 
Cyclospora cayetanensis, Helicobacter pylori, multidrug resistant 
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Pneumocystis carinii, with some 
mention of histology for some of the organisms. Good review of
these organisms, their life cycle, their role in diseases of humans,
their impact on society, and laboratory diagnosis.

2. There is also a report from on Board of Registry on the stats for
the 1998 certifications (21) and qualifications (3). Included are 
the fact that:

Histologic Technician (HT):
	Pass rate = 52% (NAACLS accredited schools = 67%)
	Number pass = 235 (NAACLS accredited students = 48)

Histotechnologist (HTL)
	Pass rate = 60% (NAACLS accredited schools = 100%)
	Number pass = 55 (NAACLS accredited students = 4)

Qualification in Immunohistochemistry (QIHC)
	Pass rate = 70%
	Number pass = 56

3. There is a little editorial (by me (blush)) on how
all laboratorians (med tech, histotech, cytotech, etc.)
are involved in searching for microorganisms, and how
we must all share what we learn with each other.

Just keeping my promise to keep everyone informed.

Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)
Schools of Histotechnology
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073
(and on the Editorial Board of ASCP "Laboratory Medicine")