Histology Specimen Processing

Added: Nov 12, 2014 11:34 am Histology Specimen Processing



1. General Information :

Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service, Surgical Pathology Department requires specialized histological processing (embedding, cutting, slide preparation, staining, cover slipping) of human tissues and biopsies. Techniques are highly specialized and must meet stringent quality criteria, as the outcome of the work is reading of the stained tissue slide by the VA Palo Alto HCS pathologist to diagnose cancer and other diseases.



Services are requested for times when there is a staffing vacancy, overflow from higher than expected workload or staff vacations during times of low staffing. The Contractor will be notified when VAPAHCS staff is hired so they have at least 30 days notice as to decreased workload.



2. Description of Services:

a. Tissues will be picked up Monday - Friday in the late afternoon (no earlier than 5:30 pm) from the VAPAHCS Histology lab.

b. Deliver slides and tissues: Tuesday - Saturday (as soon as completed, for readout). Couriers will wear identification showing they are from The Contractor lab.

c. 18 hour turnaround time (early evening pickup tissue samples, delivery of blocks and stained slides next day before noon) is required.

d. The Contractor lab must be able to accommodate STAT pick up (within 45 minutes) and delivery services.

e. Able to accommodate variable workload (20 tissue blocks to 100 tissue blocks) without much notice. Work may be sent out for a period of time to accommodate a vacancy, or it may be sent out within 1 day's notice for unanticipated staff absences.

f. Specimens are labeled with the histology lab log in number. Specimens and documentation sent with the samples do not include any patient identifiers.

g. Specimens are handled by the courier is a timely and proper manner to preserve the integrity of the specimen (i.e. no temperature extremes)

h. Specimens are delivered directly to the Contractor laboratory after pick up at VAPAHCS, or as part of a route including other hospitals with the final destination as The Contractor lab.

i. There is a tracking mechanism to determine which specimens were picked up along with time and courier, as well as specimens/slides delivered, time and courier.

j. Upon arrival, specimens are processed in a timely manner and according to standard histological procedures used in hospital based histology labs.

k. Final processed slides/samples are returned to VAPAHCS as soon as completed.

l. The work cannot be subcontracted. Consistency in patient testing services across VA laboratories and affiliates where veteran patients may be treated. Provides same contractual services for VA San Francisco (or any other VISN 21 laboratory) and for Stanford University Hospital Histology laboratory.



3. Qualifications :

The company performing the work must have extensive experience in performing standard and specialized histology work for hospital based histology laboratories. It is essential that the supervisory staff is certified as Histopathology Technicians through the American Society of Clinical Pathology. It is preferable that staff performing the work also hold Histotechnologist certification (HT) through ASCP.



4. Specialized Requirements :

Capability to perform all specialized histochemical and immunohistochemical stains required by a hospital based pathology department.



5. Customer Services :

Relationships with VA Palo Alto HCS laboratory staff who contact contractor for test results by phone/fax will be consistently courteous, respectful, and cooperative in nature. Contractor shall ensure productivity is maintained at the established level to meet the needs of VAPAHCS urgent and specialized test requests.

6. Health and Safety :

Testing staff shall follow standard hospital safety procedures and policies (i.e. those specified by the College of American Pathologists) to ensure as safe of testing environment as possible to prevent accidents with VAPAHCS specimens.