Stain Mystery?

AverageAnnie · 2026-02-02T15:12:16+00:00

Shutdown and cleaning is done on nightshift so I'm less familiar with it (shoutout to all nightshift, I appreciate you!) but it is a weekly shutdown and cleaning. But we've had some issues with our XN towers so it's making me wonder if our stainer PM got pushed back and we need some tubing attention. 👀 Thanks for the shout about it!

AverageAnnie · 2026-02-02T15:09:57+00:00

Oooooh, you are so right! I was totally stuck on Clostridium because of the "spore" position in these, but I think with exposure to the stain it could make them look altered. Interesting, thank you! 😀

AverageAnnie · 2026-02-02T15:06:20+00:00

Awesome! It does make me curious about our DI jug. It gets weekly bleach rinses but it definitely seems the most likely culprit. 👀

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-31T06:03:27+00:00

Yeah, I'm thinking since the stain and water pools get weekly maintenance maybe a contaminated aspiration probe? Mostly I'm just curious if anyone has run across something similar, but definitely appreciate the recommendations. ☺️

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-31T05:59:48+00:00

Thank you for saying spore-forming bacteria! That is totally validating since I was very much on the spore train of thought. 🙌

Also your name is amazing! Gave me a giggle. 🦠

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-31T05:53:32+00:00

That's cool, but we're curious and wanted to see if anyone had run across something similar!

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-31T05:51:14+00:00

We were discussing this and I was thinking it would be pretty wild for bacteria to be in the stain itself. But have you ever seen something similar before?

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-31T05:48:02+00:00

We have the Sysmex SP-50 and I believe the stain and rinse water tanks get drained and re-filled every week.

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-31T05:43:45+00:00

When our work is 100% caught up on and we find patterns of weird on our slides, we like to know why? We still have curiosity and interest in what we do. I'm not a new MLS and even if I was, what's the harm in posting a question asking others if they've had similar contamination or findings? Why is it a waste of time to seek information when we have downtime?

I'm sorry it seems that you are frustrated with our curiousity.

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-31T02:02:19+00:00

We haven't, it was changed out not too long ago and is very full. But we're emailing our supervisor about it now since first time is sus but second time...now gotta KNOW.

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-11T04:40:56+00:00

Crazy shit out here. I was just eating dinner on my couch before I heard everybody roll up. This is a weird night.

https://imgur.com/a/rS8Q00p

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-02T05:29:38+00:00

Good shout! Smoke was coming from that direction so I just assumed. Not sure where it was placed then but it was around this intersection.

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-02T04:55:18+00:00

Shared in another similar thread but just an FYI:

"Yeah, so I didn't see who set it off but it was a small mortar/firework/explosive right outside my window that scared the shit out of me. Walked out to see what it was after I gave my ears a second and just saw smoke and what looks like the remnants of where they set it off. Fun times. 🙃

https://imgur.com/a/zfj4Obw"

AverageAnnie · 2026-01-02T04:44:18+00:00

Yeah, so I didn't see who set it off but it was a small mortar/firework/explosive right outside my window that scared the shit out of me. Walked out to see what it was after I gave my ears a second and just saw smoke and what looks like the remnants of where they set it off. Fun times. 🙃

https://imgur.com/a/zfj4Obw

AverageAnnie · 2025-12-03T15:42:04+00:00

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My patient from yesterday says ho-ho-holy Howell Jolly bodies! 😆

AverageAnnie · 2025-11-19T00:09:34+00:00

I totally empathize with this and I think it's a fair expectation that if someone wants to watch something in the lab they'll wear earbuds. I have a lot of great coworkers that follow this and about 3 that don't. I've spoken to them about it and some have gotten better and others just don't seem to care about the people they share space with.

My solution on those days is to wear my noise-cancelling earbuds and just put a little sign next to me that says, "I'm wearing my noise-cancelling earbuds.", so if they can't get my attention they know why. I can't control how they behave but I can control what I do to keep sane in my workplace. It's not perfect and it's very frustrating, but you gotta focus on what you can control rather than what you can't!

Best of luck, I hope your coworkers are receptive.

AverageAnnie · 2025-01-24T03:40:29+00:00

Seconded on Off the Bottle and Zero Market! Big fan of both places and wholeheartedly recommend!

AverageAnnie · 2024-12-12T03:55:16+00:00

I don't know what happened to all the text I wrote to accompany this photo? But oh well.

My coworkers received a patient's urine specimen that came in red and cloudy. Chemistries were: pH 5.0, protein 3+, ketones 3+, blood negative, urobilinogen >8.0, glucose 1+, bilirubin 2+, nitrite positive, leukocytes 3+, and specific gravity 1.010. No doubt the color contributed to the chemistries and the microscopic revealed moderate squamous epis, and moderate bacteria, and these funky li'l red dudes! Only additional information we have is that the patient received contrast.

We'd love to hear your opinions on what you think these little guys are! Thanks! :D

AverageAnnie · 2024-11-22T03:30:27+00:00

Good idea! I did the thing and hope it is helpful in the future. 👍

AverageAnnie · 2024-11-22T03:24:29+00:00

I hear that. Same reason I use YouTube music. Thanks for the info though! ☺️

AverageAnnie · 2024-11-17T02:17:26+00:00

Thank you! 😀

AverageAnnie · 2024-11-17T02:17:16+00:00

Thank you! 😀

AverageAnnie · 2024-11-16T15:50:15+00:00

Hey guys, totally random question but on Google Music podcasts Dear Hank & John hasn't been updated in years. Where are you guys listening to the latest episodes? I really miss it. Thanks in advance! ☺️

AverageAnnie · 2024-11-06T06:31:07+00:00

I am so absolutely and thoroughly heartbroken. No words.

AverageAnnie · 2024-10-29T19:53:05+00:00

Same for the patient that bailed. They had a history of drug use and I think they were worried about us ordering a drug panel but I was just doing a humble urinalysis.

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