[Histonet] All,

[Barry Madigan]

Hello Pat

I find the major limiting factor in performing Immunostains is the cutting
of the sections.
We have two Bond X Immunostainers that can handle a total of 30 slides each.
These Immunostainers provide us with the flexibility of performing a run of
up to 10 slides without tying up the whole machine, thus allowing further
slides to be added. This is an enormous bonus when Pathologist like to have
their request done urgently.
We have had the Bond X Immunostainers for about 18 months now and they have
made a major difference in our work flow in Immunohistochemistry.
We do not have any cut off point for request and have two staff working in
this area. One works from 8am to 4 pm and the other starts at 10am and
finishes at 6pm. Before we purchased these stainers we had a cut off point
of 10am.
Pathologists receive their immunos the same day as requested or at least
early the next morning for those request that are received late in the
afternoon. For these late requests an overnight run is started just before
6pm using these immunostainers.

The biggest impact we made to our workload a number of years ago was to
place control material on the same slide as the test. 
This led to a reduction by at least a third in the total number of immuno
slides.

Apart from the cutting aspect the only other limiting factor is that our
Pathologist occasionally batch their immuno requests or place them in the
Laboratory when leaving for the day.
This problem is being addressed by introducing an electronic ordering
system.

Regards
Barry Madigan
Immunohistochemistry
QHPS-RBH campus
Brisbane
Queensland
Australia


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Patricia
Karlisch
Sent: Friday, 22 April 2005 12:43 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] All,

All,
   We are interested in knowing how some of you handle the volume of
Immunhistochemistries in your department if you are limited by staff and
autostainers.  Do you have cut off times for ordering; do you prioritize
the work or do you have a turn around time that must be met and what is
this time from ordering to finished slides.
   We have two autostainers that can only handle 20 slides each and
10-15% of the volume is performed manually.  One tech of two rotates
into this lab.  
    I appreciate any help you can give me.
    Thank you,
    Pat Karlisch

Pat Karlisch
Supervisor, Histology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Mail Code H179
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone (717) 531-6072
Fax: (717) 531- 7741
email: pkarlisch <@t> psu.edu


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