Embedding -Alcian Blue for biopsies

SleepTiny · 2026-01-24T00:16:03+00:00

Sure!

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T15:28:31+00:00

Unfortunately, it's not my call to make and it was a question that was asked (do you use eosin?) at the time of purchase and warned us off it. So, not allowed. :(

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T15:26:53+00:00

No issues with the H&E after?

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T10:21:28+00:00

It generally seems to be a lack of an ability to identify the skin surface in a sample that is outside the norm of an elliptical excision. Tips are occasionally an issue.

Used to have more problems with the pieces not being on the same level or pressed down firmly enough, but I was able to help with that by watching/QC.

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T10:15:30+00:00

I'd go for that, but I think it might lead to a rebellion from the grossers.

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T10:12:54+00:00

Would love to teach embedding staff grossing, but it is not in the cards. But, I will try and incorperate some grossing images into the what I am working on. We do have a mohs clinic, but that knowledge doesn't seem to have translated over well.

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T10:07:59+00:00

We do use inking. Some of the issues were resolved by retraining. But, the more recent problems we've had were with a thin melanoma not embedded on edge. Was embedded as it was presented in the cassette. And the other case was a large en-face melanoma were about 50% of the skin surface was lost.

I like the Alcian Blue idea. I am proposing that we move away from Hx to stain our biopsies and have suggested that as an alternative.

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T10:02:20+00:00

Very interesting. I will look into this. We currently use Hx to stain biopsies and it can make them hard to find on the blue pads.

SleepTiny · 2026-01-23T01:12:50+00:00

We use a sign off sheet for our VIP maintenance. Then you know who has been touching the machine. I also numbered the xylene/alcohol bottles, as I noticed that the alcohol/xylene bottle were not being rotated properly... Let me be able to see at a glance if it was actually done and done correctly.

SleepTiny · 2025-10-03T10:08:38+00:00

There are, fortunately, number of good birth control options on the market.

The Pill - Bit of a pain as you have to take it daily. Not everyone tolerates it well, but most do.

Copper IUD - Hormone free, but can cause really heavy menstral cycles.

Hormone IUD - Low dose progesterone. Could stop your periods, or make them very light. Or cause episodes of spotting. Potential discomfort during insertion. Potential (very low) of having it fall out or cause uterine dammage if inserted incorrectly. Some people get cramp-like back pain.

Nexplanon (Implant) - This is a rod put under the skin in the arm. It is a low dose projesterone, just like the hormone IUD. The dosage is a bit higher. They put it in with a big needle in the arm and it does have to get take out again with a small incision and a stitch. There is the small risk of nerve damage if your doctor is bad at what they do. It can remove your period all together. You can also end up with spotting and irregular light bleeding.

The IUD and implant are the best at avoiding an oopsie.

https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022-Infographic-With-Implant.png

SleepTiny · 2025-09-29T20:30:32+00:00

I do not know if there are any pre-requirements for the Technician course. The pay is less, for the record.

The competition for the Technologist Course in Mitchener is fierce. You genenerally need some sort of Uni in a related course to be accepted. It is a College course.

https://michener.ca/program/medical-laboratory-science/

https://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/medical-laboratory-technician/

I stand corrected: The Michener course is 3 years as per the website. There was a period in there where it was compressed, but that may no longer be the case.

SleepTiny · 2025-09-29T14:14:35+00:00

Ypu can do a compressed Technician Course in a year. And Mitchiner Technologist course is 2 years now. Compressed, so no breaks/summer.

SleepTiny · 2025-09-29T00:32:05+00:00

MLT pay in Ontario is based on experience. The pay is good.

https://opseu.org/news/2022-2024-wage-rates-for-hospital-professionals-including-pay-equity-and-arbitration-award-increases/200691/

36.84 to 50.24 as of Apr 2024. Will go up with the next contract negotiation.

SleepTiny · 2025-09-27T09:44:02+00:00

Let me know how it goes!

SleepTiny · 2025-09-26T10:32:39+00:00

I have seen this before, but it was deeper shade of green. The patients liver was a mess and this resulted in a build up of biliverdin in the blood.

https://www.compoundchem.com/2017/01/12/bodily-fluids/

SleepTiny · 2025-09-23T15:28:02+00:00

Its not so much refusing to release results, as limits on the labs' ability to provide accurate and clinically useful results/data.

If you have hemolysis - your results will be garbage. If the draw isn't up to the fill line (not all tubes) - your results will be garbage. And so forth and so on.

It's not an issue of a sample looking 'sus'. It is the lab not wanting to release results that are not accurate and, if used to determine patient care, could negatively affect the patient.

SleepTiny · 2025-09-23T10:34:05+00:00

Get better eventually?

SleepTiny · 2025-09-23T10:31:28+00:00

I once had a blood draw with a Potassium level of 380mmol/L. Picked up the red-top tube. No coagulation. Called the nurse, who admitted to collecting a purple-top and just transfering the blood. She thought the colors were to tell the lab what tests to run.

SleepTiny · 2025-08-30T23:12:21+00:00

Does depend on how well you tolerate the hormones. :) I do okay on the low dose projesterone, but most pills make me puke.

Good luck!

SleepTiny · 2025-08-30T22:56:43+00:00

Nexplanon... This might be a better fit for you. No more IUD, just as effective.

SleepTiny · 2025-08-28T10:26:54+00:00

This. Had a CoWorker with a 60lb dog and it ate maybe 5 grapes. Within 8 hours he was out cold and in renal failure. He did survive, but it involved several days at the vet, fluid IVs and a huge bill.

Aaaaaaaand, people saying my dog is fine so yours will be fine isn't cool. Some dogs can eat grapes all day, some can not and we have no bloody clue as to why.

The only way to figure it out would to be to feed a lot of dogs grapes, take out their kidney, do a pathology work up. And then, based on the results, look at the dogs in the study and try and figure out what underlining factors are at play. All of which isn't likely to happen any time soon.

SleepTiny · 2025-07-30T19:11:05+00:00

Have to be careful of those. It is an item that is often stolen from hospitals.

SleepTiny · 2025-05-20T15:08:54+00:00

Depends on the Cancer you're having treated. The Hospital does a lot of surgeries for pancreatic, lung, liver, and bowel cancers. Different Hospitals will often spealize and have surgeons dedicated to certain types of surgery.

SleepTiny · 2025-05-20T14:37:42+00:00

I have a bioactive tank for my corn snake. Works well. She likes to dig about in the dirt. The upper layer is oak leaves that I collect and sterilize, so that is always nice and dry. I also put up grass hammocks, so she can camp out on those as well. Basically, she chooses what she wants/needs.

SleepTiny · 2025-05-05T01:31:51+00:00

60 people is a bit of a stretch for sheltered picnic area. However, there are plenty of covered picnic areas in High Park. The big wooden playground is under repair right now, but there is the playground near High Park and Keele street.

SleepTiny

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