[Histonet] Rapid tissue Programs

[WILLIAM DESALVO]

First suggestion is to remove the sponge. There will be carry over on biopsy/rapid tissue processor schedules. The sponges do require longer times to drain and exchange liquids. Your fixation times must be >6 hours. Make sure you are not applying too much heat to processing. Small biopsies are delicate and exchange of fluids/paraffin should not need physical elements to assist. Additionally, do not over dehydrate through alcohols.  You processor schedule will need to be validated, if you make time/ pressure/heat or reagent change. Good luck in the problem solving process.

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From: Vickroy, James via Histonet<mailto:histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: ‎11/‎24/‎2015 10:27 AM
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu<mailto:histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Subject: [Histonet] Rapid tissue Programs

Our latest CAP survey was returned today and although there are no major issues one possible improvement area is evident.   On all of the biopsies the area of "fixation/processing" was not rated as excellent.  The suggested possible reasons were:   fixation incomplete, nuclear bubbling artifact, tissue poorly processed.   The survey also said that many of the samples sent in throughout the country had similar  issues in the fixation/processing area most likely because of the rapid turnaround times and shortened processing times.   I am trying to be proactive here and see if we can adjust some times to improve the processing quality even though we have not had any complaints from the pathologists.   Of course we all know that other artifacts caused prior to the specimen arriving in the lab can also have an effect on the quality of the H&E slides.   Our fixation times should not be a factor so I have to conclude that maybe the rest of our processing times need to be adjusted.   Another factor that we have is that we use blue sponges for almost all of our tissues.  Our largest number of specimens are GI biopsies.    If possible can anyone share with me their rapid processing schedules or simply the approximate times they have for each dehydration or clearing step. We do run a larger overnight tissue run on any biopsy or tissue that we feel is too large for the "rapid run".    I am hesitant to run the biopsies routinely on the longer programs becase of over dehydration, etc. even though we do use an alcohol blend.

Any suggestions or similar experiences please share.    Again our pathologists say everything looks great so I don't want to change much.

Jim

Jim Vickroy
Histology Manager
Springfield Clinic, Main Campus, East Building
1025 South 6th Street
Springfield, Illinois  62703
Office:  217-528-7541, Ext. 15121
Email:  jvickroy at SpringfieldClinic.com<mailto:jvickroy at SpringfieldClinic.com>



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