[Histonet] Benchmarks for full time histotech

[joelle weaver]

The numbers that I have been familiar with is about 40 blocks/hour embedding to include large "easy" ones and biopsies, more difficult orientation, including preparation such as cleaning, checking off etc. The cutting is dependant on the complexity of your protocols, but I have seen lab use about 20 slides per/hour with hand slide labeling included, which means also a mix of single section "routine" slides, and also some biopsy, or multiple section slides or levels of increasing depths on single/multiple slides. There are also published workload figures that are searchable and from most browsers, and accessible with registration to the corresponding journals. That being said, I also think that it is most useful to develop in house standards, using as parameters the work load, skill level and speed of your existing staff. The fast/slow are the end points, and an average productivity rate for routine tasks that applies to your specific situation can be developed. Productivity charts help with this, and should be combined with quality technical standards in my opinion to emphasize that speed is not the goal when it is exchanged for quality. Hope this is helpful.

Joelle Weaver MAOM, BA, (HTL) ASCP
 > From: adesupo2002 <@t> hotmail.com
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:43:51 -0400
> Subject: [Histonet] Benchmarks for full time histotech
> 
> 
>  
>  
>  Hi,
>      Does anyone know of any national benchmarks for full time histotech’s per case, slide, or specimen?  I will appreciate it, if you guys can help me to figure this out.
>  
>    Thanks,
>  
> Ade. 		 	   		  _______________________________________________
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