[Histonet] Batch Controls

[Glen Dawson]

All,
 
I place a positive control on each slide, next to the patient tissue for all of the reasons already mentioned, but we are missing the obvious one.  
 
Many of us use some kind of automated immunostainer where there is no "gaurantee" that, because the CD3 in position #4 (batch control) worked, the CD3's loaded in positions 6, 9, 13, and 21 also worked.  Perhaps a reagent ran out or there was air in a line for part of the process for any one of these other CD3's and, because there is no control on the same slide, there may be a false negative result reported due to the use of a batch control.
 
For this reason alone, one should think hard about using batch controls.
 
Just My Opinion,
 
Glen Dawson  BS, HT(ASCP) & QIHC
Histology Technical Specialist
Janesville, WI