[Histonet] Re: Fixatives

[Horn, Hazel V]

And not all bottles say exactly what the formalin fixative is.   Some
labels are just a formalin warning label.  Our fixative is Zinc buffered
formalin.  Most would probably assume the label was for 10% NBF when in
fact it is not.   We use ARUP Labs for a few tests we do not do and
their requisition asks what fixative was used.

Hazel Horn
Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP)
Supervisor of Histology
Arkansas Children's Hospital
800 Marshall    Slot 820
Little Rock, AR   72202

phone   501.364.4240
fax        501.364.3912

visit us on the web at:    www.archildrens.org


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Weems,
Joyce
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 6:17 AM
To: Katri Tuomala; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: Fixatives

"Surely the bottle, that the specimen comes in, is labelled with what
ever 
the fixative is, along with the pertinent patient information. It should
be 
just as simple to say " specimen received in formalin (Bouins, Zenkers 
etc.)". There is no need and it is not advisable to smell it."

   If this statement were true,  there would be no question. However,
not   
   everyone uses prefilled containers, and the labeling is not always
ideal. I'm
   sure this is the situation to which Dr. Bob refers...j

Joyce Weems
Pathology Manager
Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
404-851-7376
404-851-7831 - Fax



-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Katri
Tuomala
Sent: Tue 5/23/2006 11:01 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Re: Fixatives
 
I have always read with respect Dr. Richmond's opinions, but here I have
to 
disagree.

Surely the bottle, that the specimen comes in, is labelled with what
ever 
the fixative is, along with the pertinent patient information. It should
be 
just as simple to say " specimen received in formalin (Bouins, Zenkers 
etc.)". There is no need and it is not advisable to smell it.

It is an interesting mindset among many, not all, pathologist to insist
in 
processing all tissues the same day (TAT!) ending up with inadequately
fixed 
and consequently poorly processed tissue, which we technologist then
have to 
struggle to produce well stained, wrinkle free, representative sections.
As 
an immuno tech I can testify for even bigger problems in producing
reliable 
results with immunohistochemical procedures.

For purposes of immunostaining, it is important to know the time of
fixation 
in formalin, adequate or not (24 hours is considered adequate, not 4 or
even 
8), so that we know what we are faced with and sometimes method can be 
adjusted to fit the fixation time. I would prefer doing immuno stains on
a 
specimen, that is "overfixed" in formalin rather than underfixed.

If I ever ended up with breast cancer, I would make sure, that at least
one 
tumor section got fixed 24 hours.

This is my Tuesday Rant!

Katri
Katri Tuomala
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RSRICHMOND <@t> aol.com>
To: <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 4:22 AM
Subject: [Histonet] Re: Fixatives


> Patti Loykasek at PhenoPath Laboratories notes >>We are a reference
lab 
> and
> receive specimens from all over the USA. One of my "pet peeves" is
that it 
> is
> rare to see in the report exactly what type of fixative the specimen
was
> received in or subsequently processed in. I know we have no standard
form 
> of
> reporting, but it just seems like best practice to me to include this 
> information on
> the report. One of my favorites is "...received in fixative..." - not
very
> helpful.<<
>
> That's exactly the phrase I use in my gross descriptions, and for a
very 
> good
> reason. I'm not about to stick my nose into every specimen bottle to 
> verify
> that it contains formalin and not alcohol, water, or pine-scented
floor
> disinfectant (used at one hospital I know as a "fixative" for
placentas). 
> I'm willing
> to smell-test a very occasional container where I'm suspicious that
the 
> wrong
> fixative has been used, but not every time!
>
> Time of fixation is the dead horse in the middle of the living room 
> floor -
> nobody wants to hear that the HER2 immunostain for breast cancer
requires
> overnight fixation, for example.
>
> Bob Richmond
> Gastonia NC
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet 


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