[Histonet] New Microwave Cap Regulation

Fri Feb 23 11:58:19 CST 2007

Be careful and check the new CAP checklist that went into effect December of 2006. ANP 29430 about the venting is not the question that addresses the lab vs. home grade microwaves. The new checklist question is as follows:

**NEW**		12/12/2006

ANP.27170             Phase I	N/A   YES   NO

Are microwave devices used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions?

NOTE:  Microwave devices should be used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, unless CAP requirements are more stringent.

And Stacey the question about microwave leakage ANP 27720 for measuring the devices annually to ensure the 5mW/cm2 leakage from the surface has been deleted. The leakage has been incorporated into ANP 28290 that is as follows:

**NEW**		10/06/2005
**REVISED**	12/12/2006

ANP.28290             Phase I	N/A   YES   NO

Are microwave devices periodically monitored for reproducibility?

NOTE:  "Reproducibility" is defined as consistency in diagnostic quality obtained from microwave equipment and procedures.  For some devices, reproducibility may be evaluated by monitoring the temperatures of identical samples after microwave processing.  For those microwave devices (particularly those incorporated into histology processing equipment) that use temperature-independent methods to evaluate reproducibility, the laboratory should have a written procedure for monitoring reproducibility that follows instrument manufacturer's instructions.  Information on such procedures is given in the reference to this checklist question (see below).

The microwave device should be tested for radiation leakage if there is visible damage to the device.

It is a good idea to go to the CAP website and print off the changes to the AP checklist. There is also changes to ANP 28860 about containers in the microwave.

Hope this info is helpful.

Lance Erickson, PA, HTL (ASCP)
Primary Children's Medical Center
Salt Lake City, UT

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Stacey Burton
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 9:05 AM
To: Hector Hernandez; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] New Microwave Cap Regulation

Thank you Hector.
This brings me to a new question - How do I test for leakage is less than 5mW/cm2 at a distance of 5 cm from the surface?  Or what type of service to I call to help me with that?
-Stacey

----- Original Message ----
From: Hector Hernandez <hhernandez <@t> pathreflab.com>
To: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>; "Luck, Greg D." <LuckG <@t> empirehealth.org>; Stacey Burton <staceylburton <@t> yahoo.com>; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 4:19:54 PM
Subject: RE: [Histonet] New Microwave Cap Regulation

ANP.29430   Phase 1
This question doesn't state laboratory or home grade microwaves.  Microwave should be placed in an appropriate ventilated hood to contain airborne chemical contaminates and potential infectious agents. Microwaves used outside a fume hood should have an integral fume extractor that is certified by the manufacturer for use in a clinical laboratory.  This doesn't say microwave has to be laboratory grade, only the fume extractor. This checklist question doesn't apply if only non-hazardous reagents are used in the device (microwave) (e.g. water, certain biological stains)  

In my opinion you can use any microwave (laboratory or house microwave) as long as you can document:
1. Leakage is less than 5mW/cm2 at a distance of 5 cm from the surface.
2. Periodically monitor for temperature reproducibility.
3. All containers used in the microwave are made from microwave-transparent material/ microwave proof.
Don't make it any harder than it is.

Hope this clears a few things,

Hector

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:19 PM
To: Luck, Greg D.; Stacey Burton; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] New Microwave Cap Regulation

Greg:
  The new CAP regulation stems from the fact that many labs used the "house microwaves ovens"(HMWO) also to fix and process tissues. That is where CAP, manufacturers and a MW task force intervened with the valid warning that fixing and processing, and even staining when the solutions are alcoholic, are unsafe procedures to be done in a regular
  HMWO,and that those procedures really require an instrument with a venting capability that will take the noxious vapors out of the lab.
  To just heat water or buffers for HIER I did that for many years and no inspector ever said anything. Perhaps they have become more demanding recently on this regulation, but for me there is nothing noxious to vent when only water, PBS or buffers are heated. In your house you also heat water and there is nothing noxious about it (and we are talking about the "sacred" home environment).
  Just my opinion though!
  René J.

"Luck, Greg D." <LuckG <@t> empirehealth.org> wrote:
  Hello all,
Would venting or use of a "Laboratory Grade" microwave be required if all that it is used for is to heat water or PBS or Tris buffers?
Thanks, Greg
Greg Luck, B.S., HT(ASCP)
Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
Deaconess Med Cntr
800 W. 5th Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
Offc 509.473.7077
Fax 509.473.7133
luckg <@t> empirehealth.org
www.deaconessmc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Stacey
Burton
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:22 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] New Microwave Cap Regulation

I am curious to know how labs have responding to the CAP Question
ANT.29430 which asks "Are microwave devices properly vented?".
Have the labs continued to utilized their regular "kitchen model"
microwaves and applied duct work to them to be vented out of the
building?
Please comment.

Thank you,
Stacey Burton, H.T. ASCP
Precision Pathology Services
San Antonio Texas

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