[Histonet] Contamination..processor?

Wed Mar 24 12:19:17 CDT 2010

You might want to check the holes that the forceps stand in on the 
embedding center too, if you have one like that. That seems to be a 
forgotten contributor at times. 

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

tigger13b <@t> aol.com 
03/24/2010 12:15 PM

To
Kim.Donadio <@t> bhcpns.org
cc
histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu, 
histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject
Re: [Histonet] Contamination..processor?

The cells are definitely in the blocks.  And we are filtering the formalin 
bath also.  Thanks all!
Brandi

(prev response I received included here just for everyone's info)
I would be more suspicious of the formalin "bath" that the tissues are
sitting in while they await being placed on the processor.  Those
containers of formalin are often very cruddy by the end of the day -
bits of tissue that may be on the ends of gloves, etc often end up in
the container.  Strain out the bits of tissue one night and see what
kind of debris is floating amongst your blocks!  It is very important to
begin each day with a new container for formalin. 

Tissue can migrate too - we have seen very messy endometrial biopsies
that "share" with the blocks adjacent to them in the rack.  It can
happen. 

Sheila 

-----Original Message-----
From: Kim.Donadio <@t> bhcpns.org
To: tigger13b <@t> aol.com
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; 
histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Sent: Wed, Mar 24, 2010 1:00 pm
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Contamination..processor?

You are definite that the cells are in the block? If so I would change all 
the paraffins out as well, even the paraffin on your embedding center. 

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

tigger13b <@t> aol.com 
Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
03/24/2010 11:40 AM 

To
histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
cc

Subject
[Histonet] Contamination..processor?

Hello everyone.

    Today we have a problem with contamination.  The pathologist notes 
cells from tonsil specimens here and there on our GI biopsy slides.  The 
cells are in the block.  I'm trying to ascertain the source of the 
contamination. 
    The grossing pathologist grossed the tonsils AFTER all GI specimens 
yesterday (not source of contaminant).  We (the techs) embedded all GI 
specimens first, trimmed, cut, floated and stained ALL GI specimens BEFORE 
the tonsils (not source of contaminant).  The only other source of the 
contamination I can think of is from the tissue processor.  We have a 
Tissue Tek VIP closed processor.  Has anyone ever experienced any problems 
like this?  We had a similar issue a few weeks ago.  I thought the 
contaminant cells may be from a bladder tumor, which had multiple sections 
submitted.  In this instance the cells showed up days work of the bladder 
tumor, and in the following days work also (though the pathologists could 
not say for sure the cells were from the bladder case).  We changed our 
formalin solutions in the processor and the problem did not present the 
next day.  We also started putting all bladder tumor specimens in the 
microcassettes, to prevent tissue from escaping.  Has anyone had any 
problem like this, or does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this in 
the future?  We had not seen this problem until these past two incidences, 
and this tonsil problem is particularly strange to me because we process 
tonsils and GI specimens in the same workload on a regular basis and have 
never had this issue before.  Any help is appreciated! 

Thanks!
Brandi

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

----------------------------------------- All electronic data 
transmissions originating from or sent to Baptist Health Care Corporation 
(BHC) are subject to monitoring. This message along with any attached 
data, are the confidential and proprietary communications of BHC and are 
intended to be received only by the individual or individuals to whom the 
message has been addressed. If the reader of this message is not the 
intended recipient, please take notice that any use, copying, printing, 
forwarding or distribution of this message, in any form, is strictly 
prohibited and may violate State or Federal Law. If you have received this 
transmission in error, please delete or destroy all copies of this 
message. For questions, contact the BHC Privacy Officer at (850) 434-4472. 
Rev.10/07. 