One Day Forum on Troubleshooting Stains

NSH has recruited two of its highest rated speakers to bring you this one day forum dedicated to troubleshooting stains. New and seasoned Histotechs will benefit from their insights and handout material. Special for this event - handouts will be available for download in color following the event.

When & Where
February 19, 2011
Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center
8120 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Registration Fees
Member: $119          Non Member: $159

AM Session: Troubleshooting Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining
Presented by Ada Feldman, MS, HT/HTL(ASCP)CM, Anatech Ltd, Battle Creek, MI

Hematoxylin and eosin is the primary diagnostic stain in anatomical pathology. However, tissue processing and staining procedure steps can all affect the H&E’s final appearance, potentially interfering with diagnosis. This workshop will help the histotech troubleshoot such common problems of smudgy nuclei, improper staining,“soap suds”, haziness and more. The workshop will review the steps in tissue processing (fixation through slide drying) and H&E staining (deparaffinization through coverslipping) that can alter the stained appearance of a slide. Traditional reagents (formalin, alcohol, xylene) as well as substitute reagents (xylene substitutes, special fixatives, formalin-free fixatives) are discussed.

PM Session: Troubleshooting Immunohistochemical Stains
Presented by Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT

Results from immunohistochemical stains are essential for patient diagnosis and treatment. The major goal of standardization in immunohistochemical testing is to produce high-quality stains where the results are accurate and reproducible, both in your laboratory and in others. Do you find yourself repeating a lot of immunohistochemical stains due to high background, uneven immunoreactivity, weak immunoreactivity,or a negative result when your pathologist tells you it should be positive?  This workshop will examine causes of suboptimal immunohistochemical staining including poor fixation, poor tissue sectioning, inadequate antigen retrieval, antibody dilution errors, and detection system problems. The importance of antibody validation, use of positive and negative controls, and quality assurance/quality control procedures will also be discussed.

Travel Arrangements

Lodging
Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center
8120 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Registrants are responsible for hotel / travel arrangements. We have secured a small block of rooms at the discounted group rate of $99.00 plus applicable taxes.  To make reservations call 301-652-2000 and inform the agent that you are with the NSH Stain Forum. Hotel Deadline is Janurary 26, 2011.

Getting to the Forum
The Doubletree is located in Bethesda, MD convenient to the Washington, DC Metrorail System. For those driving convenient parking for overnight guests is available on Friday and Saturday nights for $5.00. For directions visit the hotel website, http://www.doubletreebethesda.com/map_and_directions/.

Flying to the Forum?
The hotel is just 15 miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); Only 27 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD); and 38 miles from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). Shuttle service from the airport can be booked with Maryland Shuttle (www.marylandshuttle.com) or Super Shuttle (www.supershuttle.com).

Cancellation/Substitution Requests
All cancellations must be received in writing by February 11, 2011 to receive a full refund. Cancellations received after February 11, 2011 and no shows to the forum are non-refundable. Substitutions are accepted at any time. We must receive this request in writing. Individuals registering after February 11, 2011 will not be eligible for a refund.

Register Now!
Download the registgration form below and fax or mail it to the NSH Headquarters Office.
Fax Number: 443-535-4055
Mail: NSH, 10320 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 804, Columbia, MD 21044

Click Here to Download a PDF of the Registration Brochure