[Histonet] CAP standard for formalin and xyelene testing

Tue Jan 19 08:55:35 CST 2010

Jan, You are correct. It is the task. Must like when doing proficiency 
testing, rotate employees on all of these task. While I agree with Karen 
that it is probably best practice to do all of them, it is not required. 

Kim Donadio 
Pathology Supervisor
Baptist Hospital
1000 W Moreno St.
Pensacola FL 32501
Phone (850) 469-7718
Fax (850) 434-4996

"Percival Karen" <KPercival <@t> wyeth.com> 
Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
01/19/2010 08:47 AM

To
"Mahoney Janice A" <Janice.Mahoney <@t> alegent.org>, "sjkitten <@t> live.com" 
<sjkitten <@t> live.com>, "Silverman' 'Jeffrey" <pathmaster <@t> yahoo.com>
cc
"histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Subject
RE: [Histonet] CAP standard for formalin and xyelene testing

Some time ago, I had tested each one of my staff doing the same procedures 
for both formaldehyde and xylene.  Procedures included, autostaining, 
processor changes, staining rack changes, recycling, and disposal 
procedures.  Everyone except for one person was within normal limits. This 
one person was tested several times over, and his/her results continued to 
be outside of the acceptable range for both long and short-term exposure 
limits.  Finally, we had to physically observe this person doing his/her 
job for both the short and long-term exposure tests. 

Long story short, this person was simply working too quickly and was not 
being as cautious as s/he should have been.  Splashing occurred all too 
frequently.  Although s/he followed the same procedures and protocols for 
all of his/her activities as the other staff members, his/her level of 
carelessness caused his/her monitor badge readings to constantly be above 
the acceptable limits.

Test everyone.

Karen Percival, BS, HT
Research Scientist II
Pfizer Research DSRD
1 Burtt Road
G3025
Andover, MA 01810
888-577-1500 x 4058
kpercival @wyeth.com

>>> "Mahoney,Janice A" <Janice.Mahoney <@t> alegent.org> 1/19/2010 9:15 AM >>>

My understanding is that it is the job, not the employee that must be 
monitored.  So if you have three people using the same process of changing 
the stainer, only one of those people needs to be tested.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks,
Jan Mahoney
Omaha, NE

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Jeffrey 
Silverman
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 4:19 PM
To: sjkitten <@t> live.com 
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
Subject: [Histonet] CAP standard for formalin and xyelene testing

CAP standard says formaldehyde testing should be done for each employee as 
an eight hour exposure and a short term exposure limit. If two tests done 
at least one week apart are under action levels, there is no need for 
further ongoing monitoring unless new process, employee, or other factor 
that might increase exposure is introduced. Or if an employee feels they 
have a problem and requests it. So I guess each employee is tested twice 
and then that's it unless you over the limit.

Xylene is similar- once you have two tests under action levels, there is 
no need for ongoing monitoring unless things change as above.

Jeffrey Silverman HT HTL QIHC (ASCP)
Pathologists' Assistant- Lab Safety Officer
Southside Hospital NSLIJHS
Bay Shore, NY USA
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