[Histonet] RE: Slide Printing Systems

[Oneil, Beth Ann]

In response to the following question from earlier:



"We currently are using Thermo-Fisher print-mate and slide-mate.  I am not very happy with the printing of the slides.  Some days I feel like spend most of my time re-writing and labeling printed slides. Then when the units  are  sent out for repair and it arrives back it is not a whole lot better.  Before we get our new LIS system and our Docs will be scanning the bar code(that sometimes do not print) I need to find a better system.  I will not be able to deal with how often my name will be called out when the scanning of the slides fail.



I would like any input on other systems pros and cons that are currently being used in histology labs.   I know no system will be perfect but something has to be better.



Thanks, Janice"


Our laboratory has been using the Slide Mate for almost a year and it was a very rough time for everyone because it didn't work as smoothly as we had seen at another institution.  We had a lot of issues with the print quality of our slides as well and we were always being given some excuse.  After months of complaining, our sales rep finally gave us a tip-sheet for maintenance of the printers and that has really helped a lot.  We have also seen issues with the printing of the cassettes.  We have gone through at least 3 new print heads in less than a year.  We keep asking for a spare print head so that we can install it ourselves and eliminate any downtime, but we have yet to receive one.  We also have issues with the barcode scanners. Some work better than others.  It was a very frustrating process and my only recommendation is to keep complaining to your sales rep and hound them constantly until you're satisfied.

Beth Ann O'Neil, MT(ASCP)SC, HTL, QIHC
Histology Supervisor/Technical Specialist
West Virginia University Hospitals
304-293-7629 (office)
304-293-6014 (lab)