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.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

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