[Histonet] Recycled reagents in VIP processor

[Jay Lundgren]

Yes, it was my suspicion that if you add in tech time , there is not a
savings.  The histotech is, after all, the most expensive piece of
equipment you have in the lab.

In my personal experience, most labs that start recycling don't keep it up,
when they discover it doesn't really save them money.

 Plus, I think recycling xylene is a tremendous fire risk.  Maybe they are
safer nowadays, but I knew a  lab superintendent in the Air Force who had
won an Airman's Medal (the highest non-combat award for heroism in the Air
Force) for dragging a co-worker from a flaming room when the xylene still
blew up.

  I talked to the airman he saved, who described being absolutely unable to
stand up on the ultra-slippery floor covered in a slurry of paraffin and
xylene, and totally resigned to burning to death.  Until the heroic
superintendent swam/wriggled across the burning floor to drag him to
safety.  Something to think about the next time you recycle your xylene.


On Tue, Feb 28, 2017 at 2:57 PM, Gareth Davis <garethdavisyuma at gmail.com>
wrote:

> When using Xylene in a lab, it's my opinion that the savings is associated
> with the size of the lab.  I am in a very small lab, where I am the only
> Histotech.  I recycle both alcohol and Xylene and monitor both closely.
> For me, it would cost effective to recycle and use as much as possible,
> instead of purchasing fresh.  But, I agree, if it's a larger lab it may not
> be as cost effective.  Also, if the lab is in the position to order a
> substitute for Xylene, where it would be cheaper, than that seems to be the
> optimum thing to do.
>
> On Tue, Feb 28, 2017 at 1:39 PM, Margaryan, Naira <
> naira.margaryan at hsc.wvu.edu> wrote:
>
>> Absolutely agreed!
>>
>> Naira
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Frazier, John [mailto:john.frazier at roche.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 2:31 PM
>> To: Jay Lundgren <jaylundgren at gmail.com>
>> Cc: Margaryan, Naira <NMargaryan at luriechildrens.org>; Gareth Davis <
>> garethdavisyuma at gmail.com>; histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu;
>> Margaryan, Naira <naira.margaryan at hsc.wvu.edu>
>> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Recycled reagents in VIP processor
>>
>> As a six sigma consultant to histology laboratories, it has been my
>> experience that recycling xylene and alcohol overall is not a cost saver.
>> When you factor in both capital dollars and operational dollars, the
>> savings is neutral. In addition to the neutral cost in recycling, you have
>> to concern yourself with the quality of your in product on a daily basis.
>> The last piece in the equation is the handling of Xylene with multiple
>> touch points in between.  A movement within the histology world has begun
>> with handling xylene (hazard
>> waste) as little as possible and/or reducing or eliminating its use where
>> possible.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> > On Feb 27, 2017, at 6:25 PM, Jay Lundgren <jaylundgren at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > When people say they are saving money by recycling reagents I always
>> > wonder if they are including tech time (to run the still) in their
>> calculations.
>> >
>> >                             Sincerely,
>> >
>> >                                     Jay A. Lundgren, M.S., HTL (ASCP)
>> >
>> > On Wed, Feb 22, 2017 at 2:32 PM, Margaryan, Naira via Histonet <
>> > histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
>> >
>> >> WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS WELL - IT IS WASTE OF MONEY....
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >> Naira
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Ranked nationally in all 10 pediatric specialties by U.S. News &
>> >> World Report  (LCHOC Ver 1.0)
>> >>
>> >>
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>> >> ________________________________________
>> >> From: Gareth Davis via Histonet [histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
>> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 2:23 PM
>> >> To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> >> Subject: [Histonet] Recycled reagents in VIP processor
>> >>
>> >> Hi,
>> >> I was always told not to use recycled reagents, i.e. Alcohol and
>> >> Xylene, in processors.  I am using a VIP 300, refurbished, and I
>> >> would rather not use recycled reagents in it.  But, during the last
>> >> CAP inspection they suggested I use the recycled to save money.  And
>> >> now my administration wants to cut cost.  Just wanted to know what
>> labs were doing.
>> >> Thanks,
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Ms. Gareth B. Davis, B.S., HT, QIHC (ASCP)cm Yuma Gastroenterology
>> >> Yuma, AZ 85364
>> >> 928-248-5259
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Ms. Gareth B. Davis, B.S., HT, QIHC (ASCP)cm
> Yuma Gastroenterology
> Yuma, AZ 85364
> 928-248-5259 <(928)%20248-5259>
>
>