[Histonet] PROTOCOL FOR COLOR CODING BIOPSY CASSETTES

[Lester Raff MD]

"Lavender - Prostate biopsies (short run also PIN4 built into protocol)"

No! No! NO!  This is why we are running into trouble on
reimbursements!!!  PIN4 should NOT be done routinely. If you mean
cutting a slide for potential PIN4, that's fine, but no pathologist
should automatically be doing a PIN4 on every prostate biopsy 

Lester J. Raff, MD
Medical Director
UroPartners Laboratory
2225 Enterprise Dr. Suite 2511
Westchester, Il 60154
Tel 708.486.0076
Fax 708.492.0203


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Victoria
Baker
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2012 8:53 AM
To: Bernadette del Rosario
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] PROTOCOL FOR COLOR CODING BIOPSY CASSETTES

Hi Bernadette,

I know of several different color code set  ups.
Pink - breast tissue (usually has separate processing cycle for
ER/PR....)
Lt. Green - biopsy tissue (has separate processing cycle - short run)
Tan -      bone marrow (has special stains and IHC built into the
protocol)
Lavender - Prostate biopsies (short run also PIN4 built into protocol)
Aqua - skin/derm specimens
Red - "stat" or "rush" specimens"
Grey - urate crystal (special processing)
White - all other surgical material including breast tissue that does
not
require special protocols
Blue - autopsy material

In some labs they correspond the cassettes and the slides (green
cassette =
green slide).  In this context you will look at having both regular
(superfrost) and plus slides available as well.

There really isn't a set protocol it is more a way of easy
identification
for processing and also which case/specimen take priority.  Faster
identification for loading of processors (breast tissue, biopsy,
priority
cases) ,embedding (priority and embedding orientation), cutting (special
stains, add'l sections etc).

I'm not fond of the red cassettes because they are difficult to read if
not
imprinted properly, but that color stood out best and most techs
associated
it with 'move it out fast'.  I did get a chuckle when a tech once asked
me
why we had lavender for prostate biopsies and I had to tell him that the
blue had already been taken ;-).  One other thing that I had
consternation
about was putting fatty breast tissue from a reduction in white because
of
grossing/processing issues.  I could not get assistance through the
Doc's
for this so there were re-pro's until I was able to get ALL breast
tissue
put on the longer processing cycle.  It didn't make me a lot of friends
in
the grossing area though.

For the biopsies you may want to be sure you have matching mesh
cassettes.
The lavender ones I usually always used mesh.

Look at what your specimen types will be and associate them with
something
that is easily recognized by staff.  There isn't a set protocol for it
though.  Sorry and I hope this helps.

Vikki








On Fri, Mar 23, 2012 at 8:42 AM, Bernadette del Rosario <
badzrosari <@t> yahoo.com> wrote:

> Good day histonetters.We are a  new university hospital and setting up
> histopatholology lab.I used to work with white biopsy cassettes only
but
> not technicolors.Got this boss who ask me protocols on colored
cassettes
> etc...No idea about this.Is there any standard pattern  which i can
just
> base and copy (example skin-yellow;breast-pink etc..)Im trying to surf
in
> the net but cant find..Please someone help me???
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
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