Histology Laboratory Management Flashcards

Which standard addresses the retention period for histology slides and tissue blocks in a US clinical laboratory?

Answer: CLIA '88 requires retention of slides for 10 years and blocks for 2 years minimum

CLIA regulations specify a minimum retention of 10 years for stained slides and 2 years for tissue blocks, though many laboratories exceed these minimums.

A histology laboratory manager is calculating reagent cost per slide. Which formula correctly expresses this metric?

Answer: Total reagent cost for a period ÷ total slides stained in that period

Cost per slide is calculated by dividing total reagent expenditure by the total number of slides produced in the same period, yielding a unit-cost metric.

During a CAP inspection, an inspector asks for the competency assessment records for a histotechnician hired 8 months ago. Under CLIA, competency must be assessed at which minimum frequency during the first year?

Answer: Twice during the first year of testing

CLIA requires that personnel competency be evaluated at least twice during the first year of performing testing, then annually thereafter.

When a laboratory receives a tissue specimen without a patient label, what is the CORRECT course of action according to specimen management policies?

Answer: Contact the submitting source immediately for proper identification before processing

Unlabeled specimens must be held and the submitting source contacted for proper patient identification before any processing occurs to prevent misidentification errors.

A laboratory safety officer identifies a new solvent that is flammable (flash point 25°C). Where should this chemical be stored?

Answer: In a flammable-storage cabinet away from ignition sources

Flammable liquids must be stored in OSHA-approved flammable storage cabinets, segregated from ignition sources and incompatible chemicals.

A laboratory manager wants to reduce turnaround time for surgical pathology cases. Which lean tool would BEST visually map each step from specimen receipt to report sign-out?

Answer: Value stream mapping (VSM)

Value stream mapping documents every step, wait time, and information flow in a process, making it the ideal lean tool for identifying bottlenecks in specimen processing workflows.

Which action by a supervisor constitutes an appropriate response when a staff member reports a near-miss event in the laboratory?

Answer: Document the event in the incident reporting system and investigate contributing factors

Near-miss events should be documented and investigated as learning opportunities; near-misses carry the same root causes as actual errors and provide chances to prevent future harm.