[Histonet] Color-Coding Biopsies

[Bauer, Karen]

Hi Joyce,

We routinely use green cassettes for all of our tissues, but when we get
prostate and breast cores, we use yellow cassettes.  This tells the embedder
and the cutter that they are dealing with prostate or breast and can handle
them accordingly.  Of course, all breast and prostate cases are always
staggered between other tissues.  If for some reason two cases are
accessioned consecutively (like at the end of the day and there are no other
tissues to put between them), the cut slides are placed on two separate
slide trays and the Pathologist is notified.

We also use a blue dye on our prostate biopsies and sometimes on the breast
cores if needed.  The dye we use is Mrs. Stewart's Bluing Solution.  It's
purchased at any grocery store, in the laundry isle.  It never gets thick,
gritty, or clumpy and stays on through the entire processing and staining
cycles.  I believe the cost is around $2.00.  We love it and have used it
for years and years (20+ or so).

Every 3 months, I do a search of all the prostate and breast cases to make
sure they were staggered between other cases.  My director wants me to do
this to make sure everyone is following procedure and we keep these on file
as part of our annual QI/QA.


Good luck to you,

Karen Bauer HT(ASCP)
Histology Supervisor
Luther Hospital
Eau Claire, WI

-----Original Message-----
From: Weems, Joyce [mailto:JWEEMS <@t> sjha.org]
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 9:45 AM
To: Histonet
Subject: [Histonet] Color-Coding Biopsies


Hello Group, 
 
Is anyone color coding prostate and/or breast biopsies to help with
identification of these little critters? The color would be dictated into
the gross description and would aid in being certain multiple biopsies of
like tissue did not get mixed up. 
 
We're thinking of doing this, and I would like to get your ideas. 
 
Thanks in advance. j:>)
 
Joyce Weems
Pathology Manager
Saint Joseph's Hospital 
5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
404-851-7376 - Phone
404-851-7831 - Fax
 


Confidentiality 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.



	********************Confidentiality  Notice********************

This message is intended for the sole use of the individual and entity to
whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged,
confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law.  Any
unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of this email message,
including any attachment, is prohibited.  If you are not the intended
recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of
the original message.   Thank you.