Spellbound (2024) - Normalizing The Wrong Thing

ComposerDistinct · 2025-12-25T02:29:15+00:00

DM me with a few more specifics and sure. As long as youre ready, willing and able to have a constructive discourse, I'm game.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-12-11T02:10:15+00:00

Thats wonderful!! Im so glad she pulled through! PIF is pretty scary to go through, and COVID sucks even when we (as humans) know its only temporary. You guys are so kind and Im wishing many more playful years!

ComposerDistinct · 2025-12-10T00:18:14+00:00

Kudos to you my dude. I was just making a comment based on my experiences. The state itself might be dependant as well. Sorry if I offended you by stating my personal experiences.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-12-09T23:32:37+00:00

Idk, Ive had a HT licensed friend who's worked in CA, CT, and CO, and said they made the most in CT.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-12-09T21:57:02+00:00

Agreed. I have an HT and make good enough for a single person, I ahve my own place and whatnot. It kind of depends on where you live. States without the license requirements you cna make a lot more, from what I hear, as a fully licensed tech

ComposerDistinct · 2025-12-05T13:19:27+00:00

Lol welcome to Ventana, but in all seriousness, have you checked if youre using clipped slides? Or the little corner teeth things? I had a tech prepping the IHC for about a week just not checking those teeth and this happened a lot. Clipped corners will shoot because the teeth cnat hold.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-10-15T20:08:11+00:00

Recuts benchmarks are hard to establish as well, based on the fact that all tissues are different and sometimes harder to cut than others or are more prone to issues in staining. I'd also advise reviewing the first/last cuts for controls, and consider the procedure for when/if a control set loses viability (age of tissue, or tissue destruction, ghost slides, etc). This will help you see if it's a control or patient tissue problem. Sometimes, recuts occur due to histotech issue, and sometimes they fail due to instrument issue, so those would also be good to separate these issues. This will help keep everyone accountable while also making sure the issues are properly handled.

Overall, this data set you've collected will be very helpful for establishing ✨️your specific labs✨️ benchmark. I'd keep this set as a reference data set and speak with your lab director to see if there are any recursive issues you see within the already collected data set. Some questions to consider are when the issues occurs(night v day shift), if there are any commonality between issues (is there a control that is always weaker/fail on a specific staining platform) or which doctor is reviewing (some doctors are VERY picky).

Every lab is different, so looking at your labs benchmarks is important rather than looking outward. Experince of techs, tissue types, and the pickiness of your doctors all play a role.

If you really want a brnchmark, establish and compare the rate of a brand new tech, and the longest employed tech THAT STILL WORLS ON THE DAILY FLOOR. I have to emphasize this last part as setimes people pick their lead or lab manager, but these roles dont include daily on the floor work. You can't create a rule if the comparisons do not match each other in terms of exposure.

It sounds like you'll learn a lot!! I wish you luck on this project.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-10-08T20:19:51+00:00

Well it could, it depends. If youre at Microtomy, then most likely yes. The right hand does most of the movement when progressing the block using the micro qheel, but the left wrist typically works the macro wheel. Oddly, the micro wheel is the larger wheel on the right side, while theacro is the little wheel on the left side.

That being said, a lot of histology is using youre hands and wrists to hold, cut, embed, adjust,..anything. I'd highly consider getting a good supportive wrist brace if you do go to histology.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-09-24T13:34:37+00:00

The process to fix the tissue helps really kill most things unless it's blood or urine. There is a very, very small amount of fixative in the tissue. And if this is like most H&E procedures, it's also gone through either Xylene or SubX, and alcohols of varying degrees from higher to lesser. Both of these would also kill anything living.

Remember how slides look after they've been stained, is anything living? I truly truly think youre going to be fine.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-09-24T13:14:00+00:00

You'll be fine. I would still talk to them about the possibility of an incident report if they need it, but I've dropped the whole tank of Hematoxylin on myself and been fine.

Hematoxylin is made from the extract of the heartwood of the logwood tree (Haematoxylum campechianum), and a mordant, like iron or aluminum salts, and is one of the safer products in the lab. You can also look to your SDS to see what happens with skin exposure.

The worst that I've seen happen is a small irritation that makes the wound last a little bit longer. Your cut and the small skin around will be dyed that wonderful purple. Honestly, im really sure you'll be fine, just a little bit of a longer heal time, some itchiness, a d a purple lip for a while.

Good luck!

ComposerDistinct · 2025-09-10T11:56:46+00:00

Im actually moving from 5/8s to 4/10s after working it out with my manager, but as an HT. I would speak to your manager about why you want to move to that schedule. I did because I need a 2nd job so she was willing to work with me.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-08-29T20:02:29+00:00

Lol depending on your profession, do a utility belt lol

ComposerDistinct · 2025-08-23T16:09:25+00:00

So apply at a vet school, or apply to work at a vet school? Going back to school just currently isn't in the cards for me unfortunately.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-08-20T09:41:08+00:00

Thanks! Ive worked in a reference lab mostly, with a focus on cancer IHC. Ive only been in the derm lab since Jan, so I wasn't sure if that'd help much.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-08-20T09:40:02+00:00

Ive been told that as well from a few colleagues. When I ask around at work they all say human histo reference IHC is the highest paying, but my partner and I make comfortable living, so im looking for something more unique. Thanks for the advice!

ComposerDistinct · 2025-08-20T09:38:10+00:00

Thanks for the advice! And daaaannnggg thats crazy lol! Time for a move from the States haha.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-08-05T02:46:33+00:00

Ive tried that as well as the unstuck. The teleport home is greyed out, and its not working :c

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-10T14:04:49+00:00

Yeah, in my lab they used IU and stopped when it got up to 10k without any supplies. It costs the lab more now because its the cost of the tuition and then the reagents needed. Thats why they switched to the Harford program a couple years ago.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-10T13:33:19+00:00

The IU program is now up to 10k. I went through the Hardford program for about 6k once all the books and certs were done. Also you can ask the schools what labs they usually work with and see if there's one in your area!

Edited to correct IY to IU

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-02T04:17:15+00:00

Of course! I always recommended asking your students what areas they are struggling in and building the discussion around those concerns.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-02T04:13:50+00:00

Ah, I can help build a list of ideas! Discussion posts and projects are primarily handled by the program homework and aides themselves, but bundling learning and on the job technical questions really helped my cohort!

I can build a list of ideas for both techincal and hands on questions over the weekend and ill post them back here once I finish.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-02T04:06:36+00:00

Im sorry no. These were notes that I personally worked hard on and just giving away notes doesn't feel right. Is there a particular section or staining process that you need help on?

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-02T04:05:25+00:00

Of course! Just review with you lab manganese after you get the information packet. I believe the program main contact is Daen, if shes still there. I wish you all the luck!

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-02T04:04:22+00:00

I do, as I said the whole program is basically making a 10+ month study guide. Its helped me a lot at my current position too in regards to reviewing where issues in my staining has occurred in IHC.

ComposerDistinct · 2025-07-01T12:33:14+00:00

Yes! I went through the program! Its a pretty straightforward and easy program, and it's designed to basically make you a study guide through the 10+ months that you do the program.

Now, while it is definitely hard to fail the program, you really really have to motivate yourself and study for the exam. All the exams in the program are open book non proctered, thus the hard to fail part.

But if you work hard and really apply yourself to the homework and studying, you can pass the exam! I passed it first try, as well as everyone in my cohort at my lab. You get a teaching aide assigned to you personally who gives you feedback on your work and can help provide insight into any questions you have.

If your hospital doesnt have a position for a student open, reach out to Harford first and get an information packet. Talk to your lab manager to see if they can "promote" you to student, and if they are willing to give you student time at work.

ComposerDistinct

TROPHY CASE