[Histonet] H-QIP

[Terri Braud]

I just reviewed the 2008 H-QIP B Final Critique with my staff.  For want of a more practical discussion, their one overwhelming response was, "GET REAL!!!"  
Case in point and I quote, "Fixation - the spleen should be weighed, measured, sliced into thin sections, laid out, and placed into a large among of fixative as soon as they are brought to the laboratory." 
In a busy working lab, few have the luxury of staff and time to perform the steps necessary for the perfection of fixation and processing that these surveys seem to desire. Also, frequently, a histotech has no input or control over the initial fixation step. Histotechs often process a wide variety of tissues together, and for the sake of turnaround time, not all tissues are processed optimally, but NEVER suboptimal to the point of compromising an accurate diagnosis. 
I see the benefit of the H-QIP discussion on how to achieve perfectly processed and sectioned tissue, but often, the survey results and resulting followup are forwarded to people outside of laboratory medicine.  Those outside of Lab Medicine don't understand the subtle, qualitative difference between "readable" and "perfect", and I, for one, would appreciate that difference included in the Final Critique on H-QIP.
There, I feel better now.  Thank you for listening.

Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP)
Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
Laboratory
Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center
1648 Huntingdon Pike
Meadowbrook, PA 19046
(215) 938-3676 phone
(215) 938-3689 fax


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