[Histonet] Interesting discussion about RE: timer calibration

[Kathleen Roberts]

God forbid that you & your pathologist see the same color 
differently...I go through this with my boss every once in a while.  An 
H&E slide will look just fine to me, but to him it's too pink, whereupon 
he tells me to go clean my glasses, change out the H&E and restain the 
slide.  :oP  Fortunately, our lab is a university research lab, so we 
don't have to undergo CAP inspection.

-Kathy
Neurotoxicology Labs
Dept of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Rutgers University

Philip Oshel wrote:

> Sure, why not? Require all histotechs to pass a "color-blindness" 
> (note the quotes) eye exam. Given that women generally have better 
> color discrimination than men in the red-green end of the spectrum, 
> female histotechs should be more valuble and able to demand higher pay.
> I can just see medical supply houses all carrying Pantone color charts 
> ...
>
> Phil
>
>> I have followed this discussion with interest and a bit of humor on 
>> the rationale for this chore.  It escapes me a bit -  but I did like 
>> the idea of an atomic clock but then saw the reply about battery 
>> failure.  Also, Greenwich time seemed the most logical over-all, 
>> always available and correct.  I was most bothered by a second added 
>> onto every year, and that means I get older by the second annually. 
>> Hmmmm - but then the need for calibrated timers for validation 
>> purposes with complex testing?  Is it the automated 
>> stainers/processors they are worried about?
>>
>> As for resetting timers to do staining, my eyes are the timer when 
>> developing a chromogen during manual IHC procedures - this is 
>> controlled with a microscope.  I have let a clock run up in time to 
>> garner a "ballpark" figure for optimal development, and found that 
>> can vary from day to day too, not an exact timing to be sure.
>>
>> I agree with Claire on silver staining, but depend on microscopic 
>> examination to monitor silver (for finalizing GMS, Jones methenamine 
>> silver) ,and other proper removal of dyes  Luxol fast blue, 
>> decolorizing tissue Gram stain.
>>
>> Now for a question:  Do you think CAP will ever require eye 
>> calibration?  Sorry to even suggest that -
>>
>> Gayle Callis HTL, HT, MT(ASCP)
>> Research Histopathology Supervisor
>> Veterinary Molecular Biology
>> Montana State University
>> Bozeman MT 59717
>>
>>
>>    At 01:02 PM 5/9/2007, you wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Why don't we all just get atomic clocks and be done with it. I don't 
>>> believe they ever need to be calibrated. (unless the laws of physics 
>>> and radioactive element half-lives suddenly change).  I agree with 
>>> Joe. Staining is a special talent anyway. I have had to reset timers 
>>> to add more incubation time on stains lots of times (especially 
>>> silver). Oh sorry, it's only Wednesday. Only two more days to go.
>>>
>>> Claire Ingles
>>>   UW Hospital
>>> Madison WI
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>>
>>> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Perry, 
>>> Margaret
>>> Sent: Wed 5/9/2007 12:42 PM
>>> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>>> Subject: [Histonet] timer calibration
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> We calibrate our timers by doing the following.  Use the telephone to
>>> call 303-499-7111.  A voice will prompt you and tell you the time.  At
>>> the minute turn on the timer and record the Coordinated Universal time
>>> and the timer time.  Listen until the next minute and turn off the 
>>> timer
>>> and record the Coordinated Universal Time and the time on the timer.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Margaret Perry HT (ASCP)
>>>
>>> IHC Lab Manager Veterinary Science
>>>
>>> Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab
>>>
>>> South Dakota State University
>>>
>>> Box 2175 North Campus Drive
>>>
>>> Brookings SD 57007
>>
>