[Histonet] Cryostat cooling time

Thu Sep 5 13:52:47 CDT 2019

The amount of time a cryostat takes to get to cutting temperature depends on the age of the machine, manufacturer, and air flow around the cryostat. We have 4 Avantiks the newer ones cool faster than the older ones and the one that is under a wall cabinet with about 2 feet from the top of the cryostat to the bottom of the cabinet takes about an hour longer to cool.  The cryostats are kept at -27. The cooling time for the quicker one is 2 hours from room temperature (70 degrees Fahrenheit) and the slower one is 3 hours.

I would suggest you plan for 4 hours and monitor the cooling time so you know for the next time you need to shutdown the cryostat. I have had Leicas and Thermo Fisher cryostats and they were different. Hope this helps.

-----Original Message-----
>From: histonet-request at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Sent: Sep 5, 2019 1:00 PM
>To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: Histonet Digest, Vol 190, Issue 3
>
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>Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: CPT Code 88172 (Webster, Thomas S.)
>   2. Re: CPT Code 88172 (Joe W. Walker, Jr.)
>   3. Re: CPT Code 88172 (Victoria Baker)
>   4. PPE for frozen sections (Moe, Barbi A)
>   5. DAKO Artisan special stain kit validations (Moe, Barbi A)
>   6. Cryostat to room temperature (Moe, Barbi A)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2019 17:31:03 +0000
>From: "Webster, Thomas S." <twebster at CRH.org>
>To: "'histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu'"
>	<histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Histonet] CPT Code 88172
>Message-ID: <c1b0151f7533491c840b8b61238a4118 at CRH.org>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>You can only bill for 88172 if the pathologist looks at the FNA slide(s) during the procedure.  Otherwise do not attempt to bill for it.  It is a physician code.
>
>
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>Columbus Regional Hospital
>2400 East 17th Street
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>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2019 18:07:26 +0000
>From: "Joe W. Walker, Jr." <jwwalker at rrmc.org>
>To: "Webster, Thomas S." <twebster at CRH.org>
>Cc: "histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
>	<histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Histonet] CPT Code 88172
>Message-ID:
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>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
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>Hi Thomas,
>
>What is your reference source for stating this is "a physician code"?  In reviewing our coding data, this code carries a facilities component in addition to a professional component.  I agree that a pathologist must perform the review in order to bill for both, but I am aware of people in New England who bill just the TC when a technologist provides the adequacy interpretation and some payers cover this charge.
>
>Joe W. Walker, Jr. MS, SCT(ASCP)
>Anatomical Pathology Manager
>joewalker at rrmc.org, www.rrmc.org
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Webster, Thomas S. via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2019 1:31 PM
>To: 'histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu' <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Histonet] CPT Code 88172
>
>[External Email] This email originated from outside of the organization. Think before you click: Don?t click on links, open attachments or respond to requests for sensitive information if the email looks suspicious or you don?t recognize the sender.
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>
>You can only bill for 88172 if the pathologist looks at the FNA slide(s) during the procedure.  Otherwise do not attempt to bill for it.  It is a physician code.
>
>
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>Columbus Regional Hospital
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>Columbus, Indiana 47201
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>------------------------------
>
>Message: 3
>Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2019 14:44:20 -0400
>From: Victoria Baker <bakevictoria at gmail.com>
>To: "Knutson, Deanne" <DKnutson at primecare.org>
>Cc: Histo Net list server <HistoNet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Histonet] CPT Code 88172
>Message-ID:
>	<CALYZRmQGL1suo_abt_Ba=sq77HNc9d9pSn4rfiH20oFuCcnN8A at mail.gmail.com>
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>Hi,
>
>I just referred back to my sometimes frustrating clear as mud 2019 CPT
>coding binder.
>88172 is not saying that it has to be done by a pathologist.  In many cases
>it is completed by a Cytotechnologist.
>The precise wording says
>"Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate; immediate
>cytohistologic study to determine adequacy for diagnosis, first evaluation
>episode each site
>The professional code comes in on 88173 where it involves the
>interpretation and report.
>
>The stance that it is a tech component comes from the
>Cytologist/pathologist obtaining the specimen.  However they are
>responsible for the adequacy of of the specimen.  The argument goes both
>ways.
>
>At this institution we use it as a professional code only.
>
>Vikki
>
>On Wed, Sep 4, 2019, 11:43 AM Knutson, Deanne via Histonet <
>histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hello Histonetters!
>>
>> I am wondering how others may be using the cpt code 88172-T?  Like in what
>> type of scenarios?
>>
>> Thank you for your responses.
>>
>> Deanne Knutson
>> Supervisor
>> Anatomic Pathology
>> dknutson at primecare.org<mailto:dknutson at primecare.org>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2019 19:47:30 +0000
>From: "Moe, Barbi A" <BAMoe at gundersenhealth.org>
>To: "histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
>	<histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Subject: [Histonet] PPE for frozen sections
>Message-ID:
>	<DM5PR10MB162558079A9E105FAAE2AA7FA1B80 at DM5PR10MB1625.namprd10.prod.outlook.com>
>	
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Could anyone share what PPE you are required to wear when performing a frozen section?
>
>If doing a frozen section on a piece of lung or mediastinal nodes are you required to wear a respirator such as N95 or even a PAP-R?
>
>Any thoughts are appreciated.
>
>Barb Moe
>Histology Lab
>Gundersen Health Systems
>La Crosse WI
>bamoe at gundersenhealth.org<mailto:bamoe at gundersenhealth.org>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 5
>Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2019 19:51:41 +0000
>From: "Moe, Barbi A" <BAMoe at gundersenhealth.org>
>To: "histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
>	<histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Subject: [Histonet] DAKO Artisan special stain kit validations
>Message-ID:
>	<DM5PR10MB16257BC4F8DC9E0364F3DB46A1B80 at DM5PR10MB1625.namprd10.prod.outlook.com>
>	
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>For those that are using the DAKO Artisan for special stains could you comment on how you are handling implementing new kits?
>
>When a new lot number on a kit is received do you run a positive AND negative control either prior to use or concurrent with a patient case?
>
>Any thoughts are appreciated.
>
>Barb Moe
>Histology Lab
>Gundersen Health System
>La Crosse WI
>bamoe at gundersenhealth.org<mailto:bamoe at gundersenhealth.org>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 6
>Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2019 20:25:59 +0000
>From: "Moe, Barbi A" <BAMoe at gundersenhealth.org>
>To: "histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
>	<histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
>Subject: [Histonet] Cryostat to room temperature
>Message-ID:
>	<DM5PR10MB1625F623ED9266EBA7776C77A1B80 at DM5PR10MB1625.namprd10.prod.outlook.com>
>	
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Does anyone know how long it would take a cryostat that is maintained at approx. -22 degrees C  to come to room temperature after being turned off?
>
>Any thoughts are appreciated.
>
>Barb Moe
>Histology Lab
>Gundersen Health Systems
>La Crosse WI
>bamoe at gundersenhealth.org<mailto:bamoe at gundersenhealth.org>
>
>
>
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