CAP Pro Course - Histology - Quality Management in the Histology Laboratory

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Author: Carla Shoffeitt, MSM, HT(ASCP)
Reviewer: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBTCM

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Explain the requirements that promote quality in specimen identification and tracking throughout the path of work flow.
  • Outline procedures to ensure the quality of specimens submitted for histological testing, including appropriate handling and documentation of suboptimal specimens.
  • Discuss quality control (QC) procedures for histological processing and staining, including actions taken when QC results are not acceptable.
  • Identify acceptable methods to ensure stain quality.
  • Discuss requirements for storage, retention, and release of histology specimens to ensure postanalytical quality of specimens if required for later testing.
  • Discuss the use of quality management initiatives in the histology laboratory.

Course Outline

  • Explain the requirements that promote quality in specimen identification and tracking throughout the path of work flow.
      • Positive Patient Identifiers
      • Acceptable Labeling of Specimen Containers
      • Accessioning and Tracking of Specimens
      • Appropriate Labeling of Tissue Cassettes and Glass Slides
      • Which statement best describes the function of a chemical hazard label used on a specimen container?
      • When a specimen is delivered to the histology laboratory for processing, the histotechnician reviews the label and confirms positive patient identific...
  • Outline procedures meant to ensure the quality of specimens submitted for histological testing, including appropriate handling and documentation of suboptimal specimens.
      • Specimen Processing Requirements Based on Fixative
      • Specimen Processing Requirements Based on Fixative, continued
      • Handling Suboptimal Pathology Specimens
      • Procedures for Maintaining Specimen Integrity During Processing: Verification of Blocks
      • Procedures for Maintaining Specimen Integrity During Processing: Embedding Standards
      • Which statement describes the most appropriate handling of specimens received in the "fresh" state?
      • You have been assigned to the embedding workstation. In reviewing the workload, you notice that there are several cases of vas deferens to be embedded...
  • Discuss quality control (QC) procedures for histological processing and staining, including actions taken when QC results are not acceptable.
      • Process and Instrumentation Controls
      • Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) Control for Routine Staining and Tissue Processing
      • Special Stain Control Tissues and Quality Control (QC)
      • Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Controls
      • Which of the following best describes an accurately H&E stained slide?
      • During your assignment in the immunohistochemistry (IHC) section of the laboratory, you have been tasked with identifying and sectioning positive tiss...
  • Identify acceptable methods to ensure stain quality.
      • Special Stain Quality
      • Troubleshooting Special Stains to Ensure Quality
      • Validation of Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Antibodies, Detection Kits, and Ancillary Reagents
      • Troubleshooting Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Stains to Ensure Quality
      • Which of the following is an important consideration for ensuring consistent special stain quality?
      • When troubleshooting immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, which of the following contributes to false-positive staining?
      • You have just completed a periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. Upon review of the control slide, you observe that fungal hyphae are only faintly staining...
      • During a recent thunderstorm, the automated immunohistochemistry (IHC) stainer lost power for over an hour during an overnight staining run. When the ...
  • Discuss requirements for storage, retention, and release of histology specimens to ensure postanalytical quality of specimens if required for later testing.
      • Required Retention Times for Wet Tissues, Paraffin Blocks, Glass Slides, and Reports
      • Storage Considerations for Formalin-Fixed Specimens
      • Filing and Storage Considerations for Glass Slides and Paraffin Blocks
      • Release of Materials for Consultation or Legal Review
      • The College of American Pathologists (CAP) makes recommendations for the length of time and conditions that pathology material should be retained. Whi...
      • Which of the following should be considered when filing glass slides?
  • Discuss the use of quality management initiatives in the histology laboratory.
      • What is Quality Management?
      • Participation in Quality Assessment (QA) Programs
      • Document Control System
      • Documentation of Instrument Function and Maintenance
      • Specimen and Data Tracking in the Histology Laboratory
      • Which of the following best describes the function of document control?
      • The histology supervisor has been tasked with providing workload details related to how many blocks are being cut per hour by each histologist in his ...
      • Morgan Laboratories has just purchased two new tissue processors. Since this instrumentation plays a critical role in the daily operations of the labo...
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for HT, HTL, MLS, MT, MLT personnel, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author Information: Carla J. Shoffeitt, MSM, HT(ASCP) is the System Director of Anatomic Pathology for Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Healthcare Management as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Troy University, Troy, Alabama. She is certified as a Histotechnician and has 29 years of experience in the field of Histology.
Reviewer Information: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBTCM, has over 20 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. He is the former Director of Clinical Laboratory Technology Program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. He is currently a Program Director at MediaLab, Inc. Alex holds BS degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from the University of Georgia.