[Histonet] CAP Guidelines for Microwaves

Sun Mar 26 06:05:37 CST 2006

Okay,
I did put my microwave in a fume hood. I don't process tissue in the 
microwave. I did have a "laboratory" grade tissue processing microwave 
processor that fried my specimens because the magnetron went bad.
    I have been using household microwaves for special staining and immunos. 
Hey, I remember when Biogenex first came out with microwave antigen 
retrieval using a lead based liquid and I don't have an residual effects, 
residual effects, residual eeefects.
    As many of you know, we will all see what happens during onsite CAP 
inspections.
    Speaking of CAP inspections, remember, starting in April, CAP will start 
their so called "non- announced" inspections. Have a happy weekend all. I'm 
still trying to unpack the lab by tomorrow, because we have to be fully 
functional by Monday. What day is this?

Joe Nocito BS, HT(ASCP)QIHC
Histology Manager
Pathology Reference Lab
San Antonio, TX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rene J Buesa" <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
To: "Joe Nocito" <jnocito <@t> satx.rr.com>; "Joe Nocito" 
<jnocito <@t> pathreflab.com>; "'Parker, Helayne'" <HParker <@t> Skaggs.Net>; 
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Histonet] CAP Guidelines for Microwaves


> Joe:
>  If you are using a MW oven that cannot vent out the internal air volume 
> and you decide to do a "quick" fixation of a sample, the moment you open 
> the door you, and your environment, will be contaminated with noxious HOT 
> formalin fumes. It does not matter how much charcoal you place near the MW 
> oven.
>  Besides CAP, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2) states: "listed or labelled 
> equipment shall be used or installed in accordance with any instrument 
> included in the listing or labelling" in short meaning, you cannot use an 
> instrument for other purpose different to what it was designed, and 
> household MW oven were designed to heat and cook foods, not to process 
> tissues.
>  Besides that, all manufacturer now have a disclaimer stating that use of 
> the MW oven for purposes other than they are intended to, void any 
> guarantees.
>
>  The ONLY solution would be to use the household MW oven INSIDE a fume 
> hood.
>  The new CAP Anatomic Pathology Checklist for its Accreditation Program 
> ANP.29430 Microwave devices state that used OUTSIDE a fume hood should 
> have an INTEGRAL fume extractor that needs to be properly connected to a 
> house air handling system or approved stand alone laboratory air handling 
> system.
>
>  I still think that, at least for tissue processing, the message stands 
> valid: "do not use them!"
>  By the way, this has nothing to do with any "popularity contest" that for 
> sure CAP will never win!
>  René J.
>
> Joe Nocito <jnocito <@t> satx.rr.com> wrote:
>  but what about using a table top fume absorber with charcoal filters? CAP
> writes these questions so ambiguously that it becomes a joke. This is the
> main reason why I have a negative attitude towards CAP.
>
> Joe
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Rene J Buesa"
> To: "Joe Nocito" ; "'Parker, Helayne'"
> ;
> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 4:19 PM
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] CAP Guidelines for Microwaves
>
>
>> Joe:
>> It is not external ventilation to the MW oven what CAP wants, is a vent
>> connected from the microwave to an outlet and there is not a single
>> household MW oven with that characteristec so, for all practical purposes
>> the mensage keeps being: don't use them (the household appliance) for
>> histology work, specially if tissue processing is the objective of the
>> use.
>> René J.
>>
>> Joe Nocito wrote:
>> I don't believe CAP is saying not to use them. They are saying use them
>> safely with ventilation and make sure they don't leak radiation.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J
>> Buesa
>> Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:35 AM
>> To: Parker, Helayne; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> Subject: Re: [Histonet] CAP Guidelines for Microwaves
>>
>> Helayne:
>> In short, the message from CAP is: "do not use them!"
>> Unfortunate though!
>> René J.
>>
>> "Parker, Helayne" wrote:
>> I was wondering if anyone new what CAP require of us if we have a common
>> household microwave that we use for special stains.
>>
>> Helayne Parker,HT (ASCP)
>> Histology Section Head
>> Skaggs Community Health Center
>> Branson, Missouri
>>
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