Texas Society for Histotechnology Symposium/Convention

Texas Society for Histotechnology Symposium/Convention

Omni Corpus Christi Hotel

March 31-April 2, 2006

900 North Shoreline Blvd.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Registrants, Speakers and Vendors:

Welcome to the 2006 Texas Society for Histotechnology Symposium/Convention.

I am very pleased at the wonderful educational program we have to offer everyone in the field of histotechnology. As always a big “Thanks” goes to the convention committee for all their hard work to make this convention great for everyone.

Thanks to all who are interested in continuing education and take time out of their busy schedule to attend.

Without the time and effort of all of our speakers we would not be able to have such a wonderful meeting year after year. TSH appreciates all you have done for us.

And I could never leave out the vendors, for without their continuous support of the field of histotechnology we would not be so successful.

So, please enjoy the workshops and social activities. Make new friends and get together with old ones.

Veronica Davis HT (ASCP)

TSH President

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Friday, March 31, 2006

Executive Board Meeting - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Registration Opens- 9:00-10:00am 1:00 pm to 6:00 p.m.

House Of Delegates Meeting- 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Presidents Reception – (Exhibit Area) 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Friday, March 31, 2006 10:00am-5:00 p.m.

NSH Sponsored Workshop

HT (ASCP) Examination Readiness – Glenda Hoye BS, HT (ASCP)

Saturday, April 1, 2006

First Timers Continental Breakfast - 7:00 to 8:00 a.m.

Registration Opens - 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

General Membership/Awards Luncheon11:30 a.m. to 1:00p.m.

District Meetings - 4:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 1, 2006 8-11:30 a.m.

A.M. Workshops

#1 Reagent Alcohol-Can’t Drink It-So What is It? Pam Marcum HT(ASCP)

#2 Technical Immunohistochemistry: Achieving Reliability and

Reproducibility of Immunostains. Rodney Miller, M.D.

#3 Thinking LEAN in Histology R. Stephens HT(ASCP) QIHC

#4 ASCP Certification Maintenance Program Evelyn Sandberg, HT(ASCP)HTL

Saturday, April 1, 2006 1:00-4:30 p.m.

P.M. Workshops

#5 IHC Mathematics in the LaboratoryJoel Martinez /Fatima Natar

#6 MonKey Business-the Key to Delegation Jan Gardner ,MBA,HT(ASCP)/

Judi Stasko, BS, CLT

#7 ISH/FISH Theory and ApplicationNoemi Sebastiao

#8 Gross Tissue ExaminationCharles Embrey,BS, HT(ASCP), PA(ASCP)

Social Event-9:00p.m.-Midnight

Sunday,April 2, 2006 8:00-11:30 a.m.

Registration Opens - 6:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

AM Workshops

#9 CSI: Corpus Christi, Case Study Investigations Mike Reichenbach, HT (ASCP) QIHC/

Debra Flynn, HT(ASCP) QIHC

#10 Ready or Not Here It Comes: Microwave Technology Donna Willis, HT(ASCP) HTL

#11 Do You Know What Your Laboratory Workflow Is? Ritu Ward, MT(ASCP) MAOM

#12 Making Job Descriptions Work for You Jan Gardner, MBA, HT (ASCP)/

Judi Stasko, BS, CLT

POST BOARD MEETING11:45 a.m.-1:00p.m.

All room assignments to be announced

Exhibits Hours

Exhibits are located in Corpus Christi Ballroom B&C

Friday, March 31, 2006 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 1, 2006 9:00 – 11:30a.m.

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 2, 2006 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Please plan to visit the vendors, without their continued contribution to TSH our meeting would not be a success.

A Special Thanks to PolyScientific, StatLab Medical, Ventana Medical Systems, Pathology Partners Inc. and ProPath Laboratory for sponsoring speakers.

First Timers Continental Breakfast

Saturday, April 1, 2006

Saturday, April 1, 2006 – 8:00 –11:30 a.m.

A. M. Workshops

Workshop #1 Reagent Alcohol-Can’t Drink It-So What is It? -

Pam Marcum HT(ASCP)

Reagent alcohol has become the basis for most alcohol requirements in Histology laboratories, replacing pure taxed ethanol. Reagent Alcohol is a blend of ethanol, methanol and isopropanol in various percentages. Did you think they were all the same? They are not and the changes in the percentages can cause very minor to severe changes in the your processing and staining results. Learning which reagent alcohols to use and knowing what the differences are, is becoming critical. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) of the US government are regulating what we can use and how it is mixed whether in industry or the laboratory. Alcohol is a basic and we should understand it to improve our daily work. Know why and how it can affect your routine processing, staining and IHC slides. Cheaper isn’t always better and can hurt us in ways we don’t expect if we do not understand how and why reagent alcohol exists and its many uses. Find out why you can’t drink it and what prohibition has to do with it.

Xylenes and other reagents that are affected by government regulation for histology will be discussed as well.

Workshop level: Basic

Workshop #2 Technical Immunohistochemistry : Achieving Reliability and Reproducibility of Immunostains –

Rodney Miller, M.D. ProPath Laboratory, Dallas, Texas

This workshop addresses technical aspects of diagnostic immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a comprehensive fashion, and is directed to those who have some degree of experience with the staining techniques. Although the presentation is mainly geared toward manual IHC, many of the principles discussed apply equally well to automated IHC staining. All steps involved in the staining method will be considered individually, and manipulations of these steps to optimize the quality and reproducibility of the stains are discussed. Topics covered include effects of fixation, protease digestion, epitope retrieval (using microwaves, pressure cookers and ultrasound), effects of epitope retrieval on endogenous biotin, blocking of endogenous biotin, methods of quenching endogenous peroxidase, “blocking serum” steps, antibody and detection complex incubation conditions (including methods of “batch staining” with link antibody and detection complex), optimal tittering of antibodies, interpretation of true-positive and false-positive staining, chromogen incubation, post-chromogenic enhancement, and special counterstains for heavily pigmented tissues. Quality control and the role of multi-tissue tumor blocks are discussed in detail. An approach to working up a new antibody is reviewed. IHC on previously stained slides is discussed, including the use of cell and tissue transfer techniques. Artifacts that can cause confusing results are illustrated and discussed. The presentation concentrates on paraffin section IHC, although IHC on cryostat sections and cytologic specimens will be briefly discussed, and the effects of epitope retrieval on cytologic preparations will be illustrated. Additional suggestions for optimization of IHC staining of cryostat sections, blood and bone marrow smears, and cytologic specimens are reviewed in the handout. Finally, a number of “Cardinal Rules” of diagnostic IHC are presented.

Workshop Level: Intermediate

Saturday, April 1, 2006 – 8:00 –11:30 a.m.

Workshop # 3 Thinking Lean in Histology-

Randy Stephens, HT(ASCP) QIHC Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona

In today’s competitive environment, with labor and resource constraints, efforts must be made to produce more with less. Efforts must be made to retain skilled technologists, maintain their interest, and provide opportunity for advancements. Successful integration of automation and technological advancements in the pathology lab can provide opportunities to increase productivity and delegate highly skilled personnel to more complex and challenging duties. This workshop is designed to encourage laboratory professionals to consider utilizing the principals of Lean as a tool to reduce turn-around-time (lead time), improve consistency (quality) and reduce redundancy (improve productivity) by reducing manual errors. It will include a review of the processes required to produce stained slides and will transition to discussions on advances in automated instrumentation that have allowed laboratories to automate most of the processes. LIS integration will be discussed as a means of linking instrumentation and automating the slide tracking and QC processes. Video will be used to demonstrate efficient instrument placement to improve workflow, reduce the need to move slides from one area to another, which causes additional handling and motion by the lab personnel.

Workshop level: Basic

Workshop # 4 Get On Board With the Board! ASCP Board of Registry CMP (Certification Maintenance Program)-

Evelyn D. Sandberg, HTL(ASCP)HT

The ASCP Board of Registry has long been concerned with improving and assuring the competence of medical laboratory personnel. The Board of Registry began a series of studies addressing the issue of continued competence in 1977 and as these studies a program has been developed. Individuals newly certified beginning January 2004 are required to participate in the BOR Certification Maintenance Program in order to maintain their certification status. It won’t be long until all of us who where registered prior to 2004 will be required to participate in this program also, so get on board NOW! This workshop will cover the requirements of the BOR (CMP) program. The speaker is a HTL (ASCP) HT and has completed the requirements to the program and is certified in the program for 3 years. Material from the ASCP will be provided to get you on your way to being ASCP (CMP). Continued education is important to your career as a ASCP registered professional.

Workshop level: Education

General Membership/Awards Luncheon11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m.

Saturday, April 1, 2006 – 1:00 –4:30 p.m.

P.M. Workshops

Workshop # 5 Immunohistochemistry Mathematics in the Laboratory –

Joel Martinez, BS,- Biocare Medical, Walnut Creek, CA.

Fatima Natar– Biocare Medical, Walnut Creek, CA.

As the field of immunohistochemistry continues to evolve and grow for both clinical and research laboratories, so does costs. Concentrated antibodies can be tedious to workup, so this hands-on workshop will demonstrate dilutions, appropriate diluents, storage and needed supplies. Diluents play a very important role in optimal staining, immuno assays with different diluents will be performed. The importance of pH in the laboratory will also be discussed along with the titration of pH. Determining cost per slide for immunohistochemistry reagents will also be demonstrated and actual mathematics scenarios will be setup and worked up.

Workshop Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Workshop #6 MonKey Business-the Key to Delegation-

Jan Gardner ,MBA,HT(ASCP), Palestine Regional Medical Center, Palestine, Texas

Judi Stasko, BS, CLT, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa

Do you carry a monkey on your back? Are you overwhelmed with people dumping their problems on your desk? Are you asked to do more with less and never have time for you? This workshop will enlighten individuals on how to identify problems, delegate, insure the assignment is with the rightful owner and schedule a checkup for the problem. Delegation is a very useful process that encourages employee satisfaction and job involvement, which in turns demonstrates the individual’s commitment and dedication to an organization. Employee involvement will lead to accountability, ownership of the organization, increase job satisfaction and promote an individual’s general attitude toward their job. Reach delegation by couching and managing the team. It’s a zoo out there! Don’t be caught managing those monkeys (problems) inside the cage-increase delegations techniques and achieve the ultimate degree of management-getting problems done through the help of others.

Workshop Level: Intermediate

Workshop #7 Introduction to In Situ Hybridization in the Clinical Lab-

Noemi Sebastiao-Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona

This is a beginner to intermediate level lecture providing an introduction to concepts of in situ hybridization and its application for the use of clinical probes. This overview will focus on the movement towards molecular markers, automation of the ISH process and its impact on standardization and application to patient care. It will include a short description of cellular growth and the cell cycle, the major functional steps of the in situ hybridization procedure, standardization aspects of the ISH process and the clinical utility of some commonly used probes. The presentation will also briefly address tissue preparation and fixation, some sources of false positives and negatives.

Workshop Level: Basic/Intermediate

Workshop #8 Gross Tissue Examination –

Charles R. Embrey, BS, HT(ASCP), PA(ASCP), Carle Clinic, Urbana, IL

This workshop will cover grossing of simple to complex specimens and the importance of understanding the concepts of accurate tissue description and understanding anatomy. On hour of the lecture will be devoted to placental pathology to help the student understand the hidden complexities of what many would consider a simple, uncomplicated specimen. There will be discussion on the Pathologists’ Assistant profession, covering its history and newly acquired certification with the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and what that may mean to a grossing histotechnician.

Workshop Level: Basic/Intermediate

District Meetings - 4:45 - 5:15 p.m.

Rooms to be announced

Sunday, April 2, 2006 – 8:00 –11:30 a.m.

A.M. Workshops

Workshop #9 CSI: Corpus Christi, Case Study Investigations -

Mike Reichenbach, HT(ASCP) QIHC, Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona

Debra Flynn, HT(ASCP) QIHC, Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona

Join our team of investigators as we assist our pathologists in determining correct diagnosis through the use of Undifferentiated Tumor Panels and Secondary Tumor Panels in IHC. Actual patient cases will be presented, which may have been relegated to the “unsolved mysteries” file, were it not for the technology of IHC. Basic IHC theory, covering topics of antibody validation, control tissues, explanation of tumor panels and general IHC antibodies, and latest FDA-cleared therapies will also be covered.

Workshop Level: Basic

Worshop #10 Ready or Not Here It Comes: Microwave Technology

Donna Willis HT (ASCP) HTL, Milestone Medical

Are you interested in making improvements in your laboratory? Have you considered implementing microwave technology to accomplish the task? During this workshop, participants will learn how to reduce turn-around-time and operating budget while increasing quantity and quality. Microwave specimen preparation will be discussed from fixation to slide distribution. Handouts will include written procedures for fixation and processing for light microscopy, decalcification, special stains and immunohistochemical techniques, as well as written documentation of cost savings and CAP regulations and CLSI guidelines. View a video and see microwave specimen processing in action. Microwave technology IS here to stay.

Workshop Level: Basic/Intermediate

Workshop #11 Do You Know What Your Laboratory Workflow Is?

Ritu Ward, MT(ASCP) MAOM,VP Lab Operations,Pathology Partners, Inc. , Irving Texas

Laboratory error is a failure of process. Historical management activities such as quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) have not prevented lab errors or positively impacted the bottom line of laboratory practices. Today’s Histology supervisor or manager is faced with multiple administrative and financial challenges. The old paradigm has been to name, blame and discipline the individual contributing the most to the failure. This bias is being replaced by a significant awareness of improvement in the laboratory workflow process when measured on a Six Sigma scale.

Workshop Level: Intermediate

Workshop # 12 Making Job Descriptions Work for You

Jan Gardner ,MBA,HT(ASCP), Palestine Regional Medical Center, Palestine, Texas

Judi Stasko, BS, CLT, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa

People are the most valuable asset in the laboratory. The primary purpose of a job description is to identify all aspects of the job you are offering while considering all regulatory laws. Job descriptions offer the basis for clear employer/employee communication and sound HR practices. When an employee know the job duties, benefits, compensation, training expectations, educational goals, qualifications and other job expectations during their employment, it could result in reduced job turnover. This workshop will examine regulatory law, laboratory accreditation agencies and a basic guide of essential functions to prepare and identify a comprehensive job description. Participants will be exposed to the job analysis systematic process for gathering, documenting and analyzing three basic concepts of a job; job content, job requirements and the context in which the job is performed. This comprehensive job description follows an employee through the interview, training, and evaluations giving the supervisor a very valuable tool. Scenarios will be utilized to shoe the effectiveness and power of the job description during interview, performance evaluations, and disciplinary purposes. An effective job description will improve morale, training development, retention, safe work environment, enhanced skills, customer service, and boost employee satisfaction and productivity of the staff.

Workshop Level: Intermediate

Please Print or Type Legibly

REGISTRATION FORM

TSH CONVENTION March 31 -April 2, 2006

NAME: SS# ______

MAILING ADDRESS: ______

CITY, STATE, ZIP: ______

EMPLOYER:______ADDRESS:______

WORK PHONE:______HOME PHONE:______

E-Mail address: ______

1st TIME ATTENDEE: TSH MEMBER? NSH MEMBER? STUDENT____

FEE SCHEDULE

Friday NSH Sponsored WorkshopNSH Member - $25 NON-NSH Member-$50

(Box Lunch included)

TSH MEMBERNON-MEMBERSTUDENT*

1/2 DAY WORKSHOP $40.00 $60.00$25.00

LUNCH (SAT)* $20.00 $20.00$20.00

*Lunch is free with all day registration in workshops. Students must be TSH members to

receive discount.

____Check here if you have a special dietary need. Please attach a note to registration form as to what

that need is.

WORKSHOPS:(WRITE THE WORKSHOP # of CHOICE)

Friday______

*Monitors - Indicate "M" after workshop # you wish to monitor. Include all fees. If needed as monitor, fee will be reimbursed.