Productivity can be a touchy subject in the histology lab, but taking a step back and assessing your methods when cutting can not only help your lab, but can also make your work easier.

This webinar will delve into the art of effective communication through insightful role-playing and practical exercises. This workshop is designed to enhance your communication skills and broaden your understanding of its impact.

This webinar will discuss alternatives to Class D aromatic hydrocarbon used daily in the histology laboratory for tissue processing, slide staining, processor cleaning and the removal of coverslips. Alternatives range from unconventional methods using liquid dishwashing soap and cedarwood oil to commercially available alternatives such as isopropanol or SlideBrite. Each laboratory has different needs and requirements for tissue processing and staining. Each laboratory must validate their chosen xylene alternative to validate the method works with their processor and stainer.

Diagnostic Cytopathology is used primarily to provide a diagnosis in symptomatic patients and those with suspected malignant disease. In many cases cells will naturally exfoliate, and will be present in fluids such as urine, sputum and serous fluids or can be 'washed off or 'brushed off using bronchoscopy techniques. Palpable and non-palpable lesions can be sampled using Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) techniques. Participation is intended to give beginner's an overview of Cytopathology preparation methods available for these sample types; the most common cell types encountered, benign and malignant. Information is aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of newly qualified cytotechnologists in NG Diagnostic Cytopathology or those who prepare samples but do not routinely pre-screen them. Looking at the more advanced techniques concentrates on FNA techniques and the use of immunocytochemistry on Cytopathology samples. FNA has been around since the 1800's but was introduced as a routine diagnostic procedure in the Karolinska Institute in Sweden in the 1970 1s and has since become a first line approach in the investigation of patients with palpable lumps. Superficial lumps on breast, thyroid, salivary gland, and lymph nodes are easily accessed by this procedure and with the aid of ultrasound (US) can be targeted with higher accuracy. Liver lesions are also accessible with US guidance. Lung lesions can be sampled using CT. Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) can be used for lymph nodes and pancreatic lesions. The workshop discusses all FNA samples and what cell types are found in both benign and malignant lesions. Rapid on Ste Evaluation (ROSE) clinics are discussed and how the use of suitably experienced Cytotechnologists can improve the efficiency of this service. Decisions can be made at such clinics re the need to obtain extra material for ancillary tests such as immunocytochemistry and molecular testing whish are now so important for refining a patient's diagnosis. Traditionally in many centres this service has been Consultant led with technical staff attending to prepare and stain the slides. Our experience has shown that cytotechnologist staff can provide a highly efficient service and reduce the need for attendance of Consultant medical staff. The workshop also provides the opportunity to highlight the pitfalls from sample to preparation to diagnosis and offer insight into problem solving and enhanced quality for diagnosis.

Overall, while histology began over four centuries ago, it’s still highly relevant to today’s gene therapy research. The integration of RNAScope, combined with powerful morphological stains, position histology as an indispensable component of the drug development research process.

The use of multiple CD markers is common in most IHC labs but there are so many, so what antibodies do you use? This session will dive into the different types of lymphocytes and pair these cells up with the CD markers best used to identify and differentiate them. This session will also talk about the wonderful tonsil and why it is the IHC techs best friend.

Training in a fast-paced environment is challenging, and the histology lab is no exception to that rule. Learning on the job is commonplace these days, often times due to a shortage of certified histotechnicians and histotechnologist. Whether in a GLP lab or clinical setting there is always training required to develop staff to perform essential functions of their lab role. Time constraints are often a factor for producing an effective training program and quality driven lab. By investing in your colleagues and setting a stable foundation shows the value you hold for the company and patients as well as the technicians and scientists that make it successful. The organization benefits overall because the trainee can get up to speed and begin producing work in a timely manner. The trainer benefits because they can deliver a consistent message and impart the skills needed to do the job with greater ease. There are several influencing factors that will determine how successful a training program will be. The first and second is the trainer and the trainee. Adult learners do not all absorb information the same way. Different training styles may be needed to deliver the message so having quality trainers is a must, simply doing the job well does not always make a good trainer. This may require some investment and education in the trainer. Teachers spend years learning to educate others so how can it be expected that a trainer in a lab have the skills without some effort. This can mean learning how to talk to the trainee in a way that they understand or allowing the trainee the space to digest what has been presented to them. Time and resources come next. Without dedicated time and the resources to lead the training the quality will ultimately suffer. This is not often a negotiable for a trainer, but training is an investment and the more time put into training the better the outcome in the long run. The aim of this workshop is to discuss ways to improve trainer skills and implement a training program that sets a lab up for success. Which includes how to deliver a meaningful training session and how to be a better learner and offer ways to rethink shared learning experiences.

Spatial biology is an ever-evolving field that has been innovating scientific research, emphasizing the intricate relationships within biological tissues. In this review, we will dive into the world of spatial biology and explore some of the current proteomic and transcriptomic spatial profiling methods. With the advent of new spatial technologies, researchers are equipped with the tools to discover novel RNA and protein interactions in tissues. Many spatial biology methodologies employ a combination approach by utilizing a molecular quantification method along with histochemical stains, single, or multiplex immunofluorescent assays to provide holistic context on cell-to-cell interactions and microenvironments within tissue. Furthermore, the discussion extends to translational and clinical applications, elucidating how these techniques contribute to advancements in healthcare. To achieve accurate results, many spatial biology technologies rely on adequate tissue preservation for optimal morphology and for RNA and protein molecules to remain intact. Thus, the role of the histology specialist in this emerging field is critical. To highlight this, we will be reviewing the function of the histology specialist in spatial biology and how these approaches can be integrated into a histology lab using state of the art equipment as well as manual applications. Overall, this session underscores the research advancements that arise from prioritizing histology in the field of spatial biology.

As cyberattacks increase, it important to be prepared due to laboratories heavy reliance on information systems. Laboratories have downtime procedures, however what if "downtime" extended to days or weeks? This workshop opens the discussion for the need of the laboratory to have a Cybersecurity plan. We will discuss healthcare organizations that have experienced a Cyberattack and the lessons learned. And we will discuss the steps and information needed to write a Cybersecurity plan for the laboratory.

Medical billing is a complex labyrinth that requires a wide and comprehensive knowledge base. From CPT codes, ICD-10 codes, Z-codes and G-codes, the chances of getting reimbursed seem to decrease all the time. We will peel back some of the layers on the steps needed to bill successfully on additional/send out testing.

This presentation covers the steps toward implementing your own digital pathology lab. This includes defining your needs, goals, and objectives of going digital and how to identify your infrastructure needs as well as your stakeholders and implementation team. The talk provides a high-level overview taking your lab from decision-making to implementation, training, and beyond.

In this webinar we will share some “Histology Hacks” to properly prepare tissue, an essential but often overlooked element of cryosectioning, and guide practitioners to achieve better cryosectioning outcomes in the research environment.

This session will introduce a practical and customizable protocol to produce high quality whole tick sections using commonly available tools, reagents and standard histologic equipment.

This session will cover all the challenges a histotech might face during microtomy including chatter, compression, divots and more.

As necessary as change is, though, it is not always easy, and we do not always know where or how to start, especially in the histology laboratory. This session these challenges and tools to over come them.

This lecture covers solutions to IHC QC problems such as tissue procurement, QC on unstained slides, and dealing with QC failures.

Explore the world of paraffin and what makes it so unique to the world of histotechnology.

This presentation will introduce the concept of analytical reference standards for immunohistochemistry, provide some examples of the different technology as well as examples of their use.

This webinar will review TCs and their potential impacts.

This webinar will introduce three areas: diagnosis, research, and education, where histology play an important role in Vet Medicine. ** This is a free member educational resource and does not qualify for CEUs **

This talk will explore the impact that self-collection and drop-off of specimens, plus the potential for more point of care testing using artificial intelligence can have in giving women better access to healthcare.

Biomarker testing is rapidly becoming the standard method for selecting individualized targeted therapies for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

A good lab operation requires great techs, great pathologists and great processes. The LIS (laboratory Information System) or LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) choice can amplify, good or bad, the capabilities of your lab.

This workshop is designed for histotechs using or wanting to gain more knowledge on common silver stains used in the histology laboratory – such as Reticulin, Steiner & Steiner, Jones, GMS, and Urates Methenamine Silver.

This presentation will describe how the R&D Imaging Platform at AstraZeneca is managed/led. The Imaging Platform contains automatic pipelines that can copy images from multiple instruments, by different vendors, located across the globe, to the cloud (Amazon Web Services in this case).