Newsletter
Durability & Longevity in Storage – The Need for On-Site Extended Storage
In last month’s article, ‘Box Storage Utilities’, we discussed the primary containment material used in routine Histology laboratories, that of an organized cardboard box construction. We discussed,...
Box Storage Utilities – The Simplicity of Active Files & Long-Term Storage
Histopathology, both clinical and research, can develop into decades of endless storage and archiving of samples. Many specimens must be kept readily accessible for a short period of time while...
Safety Forgotten Part 3 – Personal Protective Care
Due to an increased interest in the subject of simple overlooked safety considerations, a third segment has been added to this series; that of developing an overall consciousness towards personal...
Safety Forgotten Part 2 – Air Quality
In Part 1 of this series the emphasis was on basic personal safety practices that are so elementary that they are often overlooked. In this second part our focus is on air quality and the ‘assumed’...
Safety Forgotten
While the histopathology laboratory has progressively become more efficient, with a vast diversity in applications and techniques, the replication and monotony of routine tasks have caused some of...
The Benefits of On-Site Storage
The continuous accumulation of biological specimens in diagnostic anatomic pathology, make the inevitable need for ‘off-site’ storage (OSS) a reality. When the remodeling of rooms/space begins to...
A Simple Approach to H&E Stain Optimization
Within the realm of the clinical Histopathology laboratory (hospital or reference lab), the Hematoxylin & Eosin stain has become a procedural doctrine; validated and written in stone, and...
Right Tissue – Wrong Cassette
In today’s Histopathology laboratory, particularly large volume labs, tissue cassette selection and use has been standardized down to one or two models of cassette; chosen to accommodate the general...
The Importance of Fluid Transfer in Tissue Staining
Within the simple basic protocol of slide staining, we see the same science of fluid transfer that is employed in routine tissue processing. Optimal fluid transfer is the foundation of successful,...
Workflow Optimizations in the Histology Lab – Part 3 Communication
In the first two articles of this series, we discussed the workflow impediments of Silos and minimal Cross-Training among personnel. It was emphasized that both are extreme liabilities to the...
Workflow Optimizations in the Histology Lab – Part 2 Cross-Training
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed workplace silos as the first major impediment to optimized workflow. Silos only superficially cover vital tasks or stations within the workflow process, such...
Workflow Optimizations in the Histology Lab – Part 1 identifying SIlos
Managing today’s multi-disciplinary lab environment is challenging in many aspects. Most clinical (hospital and/or reference lab) environments are marginally to severely understaffed, resulting in...
Polymers & Additives in Paraffin Wax – Part 2 Additives
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the theory and science of wax infiltration in routine tissue processing. A key point stablished was that the basic paraffin molecule is a simple straight chain...
Polymers & Additives in Paraffin Wax – Part 1 Science of Infiltration
Paraffin wax is used in the tissue processing sequence where, after fixation, dehydration, and clearing, the tissues are infiltrated with wax to give it structure and support during microtomy. There...
Solutions for hard storage necessities part 2
In Part 1 of this series on hard storage systems, we discussed low volume options for the original pathologic sample items (raw tissue, tissue blocks/tissue slides) upon which the diagnosis was...
Solutions For Hard Storage Necessities Part 1
The discipline of Anatomic Pathology is understandably one of the greatest hoarders in the medical profession. While so many other fields of medicine have transitioned to electronic data retention...
Small Specimen Retention Part 2 (Biopsy Cassettes)
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed enhanced methods to guard against specimen loss during tissue fixation and processing. In this second part, we will continue that discussion from the...
Small Specimen Retention
In the world of Histopathology, seldom do we still see the need for large, hunk-like specimens surgically removed for patient diagnoses. In the mid-2000s the profession began to see a transition...
Quality Control Monitors for High Volume H&E Staining
In the previous series titled, “Understanding H&E Staining”, it was stated that high volume H&E staining laboratories would experience some degree of moderate to significant loss of stain...
Understanding Hematoxylin & Eosin Staining Part 3 – Balance of Coloration
In this third and final piece of our series on H&E staining comprehension, we will discuss a) the steps involved in achieving the optimal stain; a concept known as balance of coloration; and b)...
Understanding Hematoxylin & Eosin Staining Part 2 – Counterstain
In Part 1 of this article, we discussed the origin, general qualities, and staining mechanism of the basic dye, hematoxylin. In this feature, Part 2, we will discuss the most common and appropriate...
Understanding Hematoxylin & Eosin Staining Part 1 – Dye, Counterstain & Quality Assurance
For centuries scientists and researchers have used tissue specific dyes to advance the knowledge and comprehension of cells and organs. After developing methods of preserving tissues, then...
Maintaining Optimal Fixation Part 2 – Process & Consistency
In Part 1 of this series on maintaining fixation, we discussed fixation from a histochemical perspective illustrating the process and molecular changes in tissues. Two key factors that were...
Maintaining Optimal Fixation Part 1 – The Histochemistry of Fixation
The preservation and study of tissue and cells is dependent upon one’s ability to stop all cellular degradation and autolysis once tissues have been removed from the body. Cells must be suspended...
Introduction to Basic Microwave Staining Technique
Long before the discovery and advent of Immunohistochemistry in Histology, pathologists utilized and relied on the diagnostic tools of Special Stains. Within this tool founded on the concept of...
The Economy of Storage
Economy in storage products and practices is a necessity that must be woven into present day lab operations and more importantly, planned for the future. In Histopathology laboratories, as in most...
The Science & Mystery of Microtomy Part – 2 Troubleshooting
In the opening of this series on microtomy we discussed factors involved in success, such as training and technique. Also discussed was an unknown intangible mystery that frequently arises. It is a...
The Science & Mystery of Microtomy | Part 1 – Training & Technique
Histotechnology is often spoken of as an art and a science. This can also be said in reference to one of the principle components of histotechnology, microtomy. In truth, microtomy extends beyond...
Developing a Basic Airborne Infection Control Policy, Part 2
In Part 1 of this guidance on ‘Developing a Basic Infection Control Policy (AICP)’ we discussed the most basic gear and equipment that must…
Developing a Basic Airborne Infection Control Policy – Part 1
The subject title of this article can easily be misinterpreted as an introduction to a complicated set of guidelines and directives that require overly specialized safety equipment, voluminous...
Histology Block & Slide Storage Options
The maintenance and storage of Histology paraffin blocks and slides is a never-ending challenge that exists throughout the life of a laboratory. Many labs confront this challenge with strategic...
Early Development of Multi-Tissue Control Panels for Diagnostic Dermatopathology
With the early onset of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the anatomic pathology laboratory in the early to mid-1980’s, it soon proved to be a useful tool in a number of different areas of specialty in…
Reorganizing the Small Stuff
During this season of viral pandemic crisis, we see healthcare being affected in numerous different ways; none more obvious than a reduction in non-essential surgeries, outpatient services, and...
Histopathology Intervention in Renal Disease
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) can be defined as a condition of renal function that has digressed to the point that the kidney no longer performs at a level that is self or even life sustaining....
The Unseen Heros of Healthcare
The laboratory technologist is one of the seldom heard of or acknowledged of healthcare workers. In the hospital, the physicians, the nurses, even the custodial staff servicing the rooms; they are...
Enhancing PPE Methods Amidst COVID-19 Crisis, Part 2
Part 2 - Environment Safety The first installment of this series (Part 1) on laboratory safety amidst the Covid-19 crisis dealt with enhancing your personal body protection. The focus was on...
Enhancing PPE Methods Amidst COVID-19 Crisis, Part 1
Part 1 – Enhancing Personal Body Protection The definition of a ‘novel’ virus is a virus that has not been previously seen or documented in its present form. While a new virus may be in the same...
Optimal Fixation & Processing, Part 2 – Tissue Processing
The preceding article (Optimal Fixation), discussed fixation as the foundation of tissue processing, upon which the success of all other steps is dependent. In this article we will discuss the post...
Optimal Fixation & Processing, Part 1 – Fixation
A quote from a well-respected teaching manual in Histology states, “Fixation, the stabilization of proteins, is the singularly most important step in producing good histologic slides”. Further, “The...
Slides & Adhesives
Since the late 18th century glass slides have been a major platform for microscopic and diagnostic study of plant and animal morphology. The translucency of the glass material made it a perfect...
Technique – Induced Microtomy Artifacts
Histotechnology is often and appropriately referred to as an ‘Art & Science’. Art, because it requires skilled craftmanship in manual operations such as microtomy, mounting multiple sections/ribbons...
Conflict Management & Resolution
Within any environment there can and most often is, some degree of conflict. Mild or severe, because we all have our own innate likes and dislikes, there are things that cause friction within our...
Bench Safety
One of the most immediate areas of safety consideration for the Histotechnologist is in microtomy. Countless technicians over time, particularly those who have been in the profession long enough to...
The Power of Professional Networking
The word networking can be applied to a number of subjects: business, social, community, etc. Each one has a similar focus, but distinctly different goals and agendas. The similar focus is that e…
The Origin of Tissue Cassettes & Molds
Historically the Histology industry has seen a transition from the origin in tissue cassette and mold design that many would view today as rudimentary, even archaic, in its beginning. Histologists…
Maximizing Room & Workflow Efficiency Through SMART Storage Solutions
One of the most precious commodities in multi-functional labs today is space. From the grossing stations, to the processing/embedding rooms, to the microtomy workstations, and even just general cou…
Microtomy Workstation Hygiene & Maintenance
The rotary microtome is the central core of clinical histopathology instrumentation; and even though it has been modernized from manual to semi and fully automated units, basic manual hygiene and m…
Mobile Gross Pathology Stations
While CT scan, X-ray, MRI, and other forms of graphic imagery provide a visual picture of internal anatomy, gross pathology is a pathologist or assistants intimate assessment of morphology that can…
The Anatomy of Bone
Within the wide array of tissue types in the human body, each has its own specificity based on the purpose and function it provides. Muscle contracts and expands and enables movement of and within the body. Epithelial covers the body…
The Origin & Processing of Wax
Natural or organic wax has a recorded history that dates back to ancient Egyptian culture. Beeswax was discovered and used by the Egyptians as far back as 4200 B.C. \as part of their embalming proc…
Manual Staining
The expansion of special staining as a diagnostic tool in histopathology saw a meteoric increase in the 1980s and 90s. Special stains had always been a comfortable diagnostic confirmation to path…
High-Density Storage Cabinets
Histopathology has seen a meteoric expansion in knowledge, technologies, and diagnostic capabilities; all leading to the advancement of detection and treatment of disease states. With this expansion…