[Histonet] Expiration date

[Joe Nocito]

Amos,
I understand. Many times we perform IHC on H & E slides because the lesion
is so small, but there has to be a way to use expired immuno reagents as
long as the QC is well monitored. We are throwing, literally, thousands of
dollars down the drain each year.

As for the freezer in 1080, my relatives came from the North Pole. Ice
wasn't a problem.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu]On Behalf Of Amos
Brooks
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 1:46 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Expiration date


Joe,
    A couple things come to mind here. Firstly, you must have one heck
of a good freezer to maintain antibodies from 1080 to 1990. That
predates the Magna Carta and the Battle of Hastings :-) (of course you
meant 1980, I'm pulling your leg here)
    Secondly, It is worth noting that since immunohistochemistry is
becoming so common these days one cannot assume everyone is as
proficient at quality control as anyone else. So it follows that if an
epitope becomes less intense in label over time it would not be
surprising to find a tech that doesn't notice until it becomes
problematic. This would also hold true for the less commonly used
antibodies. We often have doctors request a new antibody and the
confounded thing expires before he orders it a second time. Would I even
notice if it was less intense than it was 2 years ago? I hope so but who
knows? Granted this is fishing for a lowest common denominator, but that
seems to be the way things are going these days.
    I agree that the CAP is a bit too obsessed with dates than with QC
follow up and it becomes an expensive endeavor for labs to keep up with
it. I think as long as the doctor reading the case is content with the
signal on the test and control the CAP should leave well enough alone.
But the lab should be responsible for making sure the antibody is
reactive before using it. Let's face it we've all seen a case where
there is one and only one slide with a lesion of interest on it. In a
situation like that I'd like to know for sure the antibody is good the
first time.

Just some things to consider,
Amos Brooks

>Message: 1
>Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 12:20:47 -0500
>From: "Joe Nocito" <jnocito <@t> satx.rr.com>
>Subject: Here I go again[Histonet] Expiration date
>To: "Katia Cristina Catunda" <kccatunda <@t> uol.com.br>,	"histonet"
>	<histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu>
>Message-ID: <009701c5742a$118674c0$b4bd0b43 <@t> yourxhtr8hvc4p>
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>	reply-type=response
>
>Okay,
>I've been too quiet for too long. Here I go again.
>
>I am so tired of CAP and their ridiculous regulations. Every CAP inspection
>I fight this same question. When I was supervising the Immuno lab at AFIP,
>we froze concentrated antibodies at -70 for years. Antibodies that were
>frozen in 1080, were still viable in 1990. That means we were running
>immunos in 1990 with 1980 prices. What is so wrong about that?
>    We also ran a known positive control with each batch. If the positive
>control worked, guess what? The antibody was still good. If the positive
>control did not work, we threw out that lot number and repeated it with
>another lot number. When we saw that there was a drop in the staining
>intensity, we  tossed that lot and started another. My experience with
>antibodies is that they just don't go bad over night, they start staining
>with less intensity.
>    I think that the CAP board members have stocks in the biochemical
>companies. Please don't get me wrong, I have many close friends that work
in
>the biochemical side of this, but why would this drastic change in view?
The
>FDA? I doubt it.
>    Maybe I'm too one sides on this issue, but give me a break! If the
>positive control works in any other antibody, doesn't that mean the
antibody
>is viable?
>    I know companies have to put an expiration date on their products, but
>come on. If an antibody expires June 30, 2005, does it automatically go
dead
>on July 1?
>    As managers and supervisors, we are continuously bashed about saving
>money. This would be a great place to start, don't you think?
>    That is all. Thank you
>
>Joe Nocito BS, HT(ASCP)QIHC
>Histology Manager
>Pathology Reference Lab
>San Antonio, TX
>



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