[Histonet] processing fatty tissue

[Orr, Rebecca]

Message: 11
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 22:57:59 EDT
From: Gervaip <@t> aol.com
Subject: [Histonet] processing of fatty tissue samples
To: histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu

Hi, what is everyone doing in histo land when it comes to processing
breast 
tissue?  
Pearl

Hi Pearl,
We now keep a processor dedicated to (fatty)  breast tissue.  We do also
run fatty tissue with this same process.

You can check out the CAP guidelines for Breast tissue that may help
with your process.

We first had to decide if our fatty  tissues were either partially
fixed, partially cleared or a portion of both.
Each time we had unacceptable tissue we would troubleshoot back the
whole way to the OR. 
Our problem ended up as a combination of our Gross Staff (residents and
PA's) submitting thicker pieces, cramming cassettes and not enough
clearing time.

We decided our fixation time was appropriate and well within the CAP
guidelines. 

So we added more time in our 100% alcohols (you'll need to decide if you
should add more time or change reagents more frequently or add an
additional container of 100%)
We also adjusted the processing schedule and added a third station of
xylene.
Our VIP has 4 paraffin baths and we use all of them with varied times.

We now have excellent results with this set up.  ~A simple reminder
every hour on the hour to the Gross Room to "keep the tissue thin" helps
everything run smoothly!  (LOL)

It is a great help for us to have the capability to separate our tissues
in this manner with several processors.

Becky Orr  CLA,HT(ASCP)QIHC
Assistant Manager, Anatomic Pathology
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
847-570-2763