AW: [Histonet] Re: Number of blocks

[Gudrun Lang]

Quality has something to do with qualification and (theoretical and
practical) knowledge. 
For example in our lab only Biomedical Scientists (Austrian style) work in
the histolab. The person, that assists at the grossing, is  the same, who
embeds and therefore recognises the specimens ("ah, that's the ureter from
Mrs. Xx...).  What I want to say is, that everybody in this process-queue is
aware of quality and pitfalls. And that can speed up the process without
loosing quality.
Another example is using processing-schedules, that don't render the blocks
too hard or brittle. So the time of rehydration the block is cut down and
venetian blind is minimized. Trimming and immidiatly cutting is possible.
This said, I also think, that 50 blocks per hour is at the high end and only
possible for one-two hours, to be held through. This is for the sprinters
under the histotechs. And 50 myom-blocks will take looonger ;-)

Gudrun Lang


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] Im Auftrag von Bob
Richmond
Gesendet: Freitag, 26. Oktober 2012 06:01
An: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Betreff: [Histonet] Re: Number of blocks

As I asked before, do your pathologists have any input into any of this?

About embedding: I heard of a recently trained pathologist who, asked about
an embedding problem, replied, "What's embedding?"

We spend thousands of dollars on a bronchoscopy or an EGD to get a tiny bit
of tissue that contains a life-changing diagnosis. The specimen comes to the
pathology lab and is grossed by a prosector who isn't allowed an embedding
sheet. The embedder has no idea how many bits of tissue to look for. Then
the microtomist is expected to cut 50 blocks an hour. Then the pathologist
has to make a diagnosis on a venetian-blind section.

Good Management I'm sure. Bad medicine.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Maryville TN

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