Interior Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Interior and links to relevant pages within the course.
Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.
| Endoscopic Biopsies Endoscopic procedures yield small pinched off tissue samples and are commonly used for biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract. The specimens obtained from endoscopy will most likely be of small dimensions with difficult to see cut edges.It is unlikely that any inked surfaces will be present. In fact, the entire specimen is often colored with eosin to make it more visible. Since the surface will likely appear homogeneous, you will embed these types of biopsies most often on end, so that the tallest side is traveling into the block interior. This allows the greatest number of sections to be obtained from the tiny specimens for multiple levels, special stains, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Since multiple level section protocols are very common with these types of biopsies, select the smallest mold size that appropriately contains the specimen pieces. | View Page |
| Practices for Specimen Loss The following steps can be taken if you open a cassette and it appears that NO specimen is within:Look carefully in the cassette lid and interior corners and crevices. If you still find no visible tissue, ALWAYS have a second (or even third person) verify and help you check for any tiny fragments that you might have missed.Check the gross description, it may indicate that the specimen was very minute and was not expected to survive processing. If the specimen has been submitted in lens paper or a mesh biopsy bag, scrape all surfaces with a warmed, dull knife and transfer ANY, perhaps unseen, cells or particles to a mold where you have placed a small amount of molten paraffin. Anything microscopic that might be present will be likely to "float" off the knife, and can then be transferred to the block where it may be visible in the final section. Retain the lens paper or mesh bag in the cassette lid to document that "no tissue was seen."Individual laboratory procedure should be followed when documenting specimen loss on the accession log and/or laboratory information system (LIS).Missing fragments (less than dictated) that have been inadvertently dropped, can sometimes be retrieved, salvaged, and identified by retaining cassette lids in a separate bag for 24 to 48 hours (or until the case is signed out). | View Page |
| A final microscopic slide shows a tissue section with an incomplete outline that is not representative of the submitted specimen. What is one of the MOST likely causes of incomplete sections that occurs during embedding? | View Page |
| Dry Ice If dry ice is used as a refrigerant, it must be placed outside the secondary packaging. Interior supports must be provided to secure the secondary packaging in the original position after the dry ice has dissipated. The packaging must be designed and constructed to permit the release of carbon dioxide gas to prevent a buildup of pressure that could rupture the packaging. A "miscellaneous hazardous materials" label (class 9) must be affixed to the outer package along with a "dry ice" label that includes the UN designation "UN 1845." The net quantity (weight) of the dry ice must also be stated. If the package (category B or exempt substance) is sent through the mail, the amount of dry ice that can be used is limited to 5.5 pounds, unless advanced arrangements have been made. The quantity limit that complies with IATA regulations is 200 kg/441 lbs. | View Page |
| This suspicious form was found on a blood smear. | View Page |
| This suspicious form, shown here under both low and high power, was found in a stool sample and measures 50 µm. | View Page |
| Match each parasite with its respective classification:NOTE: Answers may be used more than once. | View Page |
| A 40 year old male just returned from a six-month tour of the Far East. He went to his doctor upon his return complaining of weakness, diarrhea, fever and cough. Upon questioning the patient it was learned that he spent many an evening swimming in the various local fresh water ponds. The doctor, suspicious of a parasitic infection, ordered a stool for examination. Two suspicious forms were seen: form 1 is roundish and measures 77 µm by 62 µm. Form 2 is long and ladder-like and lays on the edge of form 1. What are these two structures? | View Page |
| I am found in stool and may be easily mistaken for "junk." I measure 12 µm. | View Page |
