[Histonet] fume hood

[Feher, Stephen]

Hi Brandy,

I have recently had the opportunity to build a Path lab from scratch.
In the design we decided to completely separate the grossing area from
the microtomy and IHC area of the lab.  We built a "room within a room",
made it negative pressure, installed 2 Thermo elevating grossing
stations that are vented to the outside.  Since we are using the
hospital ventilation system in addition to the blowers built in to the
back draft, downdraft capabilities of the grossing stations, we were
able to set these to pull at 500 cfm each.  We also put 2 Peloris
processors, with their own charcoal filters, within this room.  The
result is that we are well under the limits for all fumes and, in the
event we get fresh tissue, we can segregate the area from the rest of
the lab.  Many labs that have to do autopsy on babies or near full term
fetus' use their grossing stations to do so.  Since we are in a separate
area, we can block these procedures from view.

We also put in a Labconco Fume hood (vented to the outside) in the IHC
area of the lab and a Thermo Bio Hood in the cytoprep area.  This has
all worked out very well for us and it affords us the opportunities to
have these items in place for future growth.  A renovation done
correctly, with an eye towards strategic planning for the future, will
go a long way towards saving the hospital money in the long run. 


Steve Feher
Pathology Supervisor
Catholic Medical Center
Manchester, NH

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Brandi
Higgins
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 9:51 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] fume hood

Hello,

Our hospital is doing some renovation and we need to look into new fume
hoods for our new location.  Currently we have one fume hood over our
grossing area, and one fume hood in our coverslipping area (two
different rooms).  The hospital wants to put our grossing room and
histo/cyto rooms together.  I am still going to need two separate hoods.
Does anyone have any experience/knowledge/input about fume hoods?  I'm
trying to look into the ductless ones, although I imagine changing the
filters will end up being more expensive over time (I have no idea what
would be involved in running a duct/vent).  Also I have seen a benchtop
downdraft type that sucks the air down, and does not have a top.  It is
advertised as being good for xylene.
Does anyone use this in their coverslipping area?  Any input would be
greatly appreciated.  I'm pretty clueless on the whole issue.  I want to
make sure that what I get will be safe for me and my coworker as we will
be spending most of our day in this room.  Any input is appreciated!
Thank You!

Brandi Higgins, BS, HT(ASCP)
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