Hello good Histo people-

We need to know how folks are handling cytology slides for IHC.  We have
always
put the cytology test slides (thin preps, smears, etc) in with our surgical
slides (FFPE)
and done HIER (steamer) along with tissue controls for the cytologies.
Surgicals are
mounted on the control slide.
We realize that our cytologies are fixed in 95% ETOH and really don't
require the HIER
but as we only have tissue control slides we subject them to the same
treatment as
our FFPE controls.  To reduce any and all background in the cytologies we
have been told not 
to do HIER on these slides.  Unfortunately we only have tissue controls and
these require HIER
which diniishes their value as true controls with cytologies that do not get
HIER. 
 
 We really don't want to get into the daunting task of maintaining cyto prep
control slides if we don't have to.
Can any of you PLEASE contact me with how you handle cyto testing and
control slides ??
 Thanks very much-
Jude
Jude Carpenter,BS, HTL(ASCP)
Chief Technologist/Surgical Pathology/Histology/Autopsy
FAHC/MCHV Campus
111 Colchester Ave.
Burlington,   VT  05401
(802)656-5116
FAX : (802)656-3509
jude.carpenter@vtmednet.org