Red blood cell transfusion practices: a College of American Pathologists Q-Probes study of compliance with audit criteria in 128 hospitals.

CONTEXT: Most information on compliance with audit criteria for red blood cell (RBC) transfusions comes from single institutions; few studies have compared practices among many hospitals. OBJECTIVE: To survey a cross-section of hospitals in 2008 for criteria and compliance with RBC transfusion guidelines, using the College of American Pathologists Q-Probes format. DESIGN: One hundred twenty-eight hospitals, representing about 4.5% (724,332 of 16,212,000) of all annual RBC usage in the United States, provided information on their RBC audit practices and their recent rates of compliance. They also each examined 50 RBC transfusion episodes for compliance with their guidelines. RESULTS: The participants' median, pretransfusion hemoglobin thresholds for audit review were 8.0 to 8.9 g/dL for most clinical settings and 9.0 to 9.9 g/dL for patients with underlying cardiopulmonary disease. For the transfusion episodes examined, 60% (2063 of 6518) were for a single unit. The median of the institutional averages for pretransfusion hemoglobin was 8.1 g/dL, and the median rate of compliance was 69% (range, 0%-100%). Involvement by a pathologist or transfusion medicine expert in the audit system was associated with more-strict audit criteria and better compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Median hemoglobin thresholds for RBC transfusion audits were somewhat higher than currently evolving recommendations, but opportunities for improvement were provided by expert involvement and by the growing frequency of 1-unit transfusions.

Achieving 95% cross-methodological concordance in HER2 testing: causes and implications of discordant cases.

We were interested in determining our concordance between fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and a previously validated immunohistochemical HER2 assay to identify possible reasons for discordance and to determine if all reasons for discordance were addressed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines. We reviewed 697 cases (2004-2007) in which HER2 immunohistochemical and FISH testing were concurrently done. Overall concordance between nonequivocal immunohistochemical and FISH results was 96%. Of the 19 discordant cases, 13 (68%) were interpreted as positive immunohistochemically but negative by FISH. The primary reason for this discordance was immunohistochemical interpretation. Weak stain intensity, granular staining, and interpretation in areas of crush artifact were identified as the most common issues. Of the 6 cases interpreted as immunohistochemically negative and FISH-positive, 2 were from patients known to be receiving trastuzumab at the time of biopsy, 1 was very close to the FISH equivocal category, and 4 cases had fewer than 1.5 CEP17 signals per cell (1 patient in this group was also receiving trastuzumab). Focusing on issues with HER2 immunohistochemical interpretation can improve concordance rates for immunohistochemically positive cases, but biologic reasons may explain some discordant immunohistochemically negative cases.

Laboratory compliance with the American Society of Clinical Oncology/college of American Pathologists guidelines for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing: a College of American Pathologists survey of 757 laboratories.

CONTEXT: To ensure quality human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) testing in breast cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines were introduced with expected compliance by 2008. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect these guidelines have had on pathology laboratories and their ability to address key components. DESIGN: In late 2008, a survey was distributed with the HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) proficiency testing program. It included questions regarding pathology practice characteristics and assay validation using fluorescence in situ hybridization or another IHC laboratory assay and assessed pathologist HER2 scoring competency. RESULTS: Of the 907 surveys sent, 757 (83.5%) were returned. The median laboratory accessioned 15 000 cases and performed 190 HER2 tests annually. Quantitative computer image analysis was used by 33% of laboratories. In-house fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed in 23% of laboratories, and 60% of laboratories addressed the 6- to 48-hour tissue fixation requirement by embedding tissue on the weekend. HER2 testing was performed on the initial biopsy in 40%, on the resection specimen in 6%, and on either in 56% of laboratories. Testing was validated with only fluorescence in situ hybridization in 47% of laboratories, whereas 10% of laboratories used another IHC assay only; 13% used both assays, and 12% and 15% of laboratories had not validated their assays or chose "not applicable" on the survey question, respectively. The 90% concordance rate with fluorescence in situ hybridization results was achieved by 88% of laboratories for IHC-negative findings and by 81% of laboratories for IHC-positive cases. The 90% concordance rate for laboratories using another IHC assay was achieved by 80% for negative findings and 75% for positive cases. About 91% of laboratories had a pathologist competency assessment program. CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrates the extent and characteristics of HER2 testing. Although some American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines have been implemented, gaps remain in validation of HER2 IHC testing.

Canalicular adenoma arising in the esophagus.

Canalicular adenomas are benign neoplasms that arise from salivary glands and often present as painless enlarging nodules. They have a predilection for upper lip but can be found throughout the oropharynx. To our knowledge, canalicular adenoma arising in the esophagus has never been described in the English literature. Here we report a canalicular adenoma occurring in the esophagus.

Integration of scanned document management with the anatomic pathology laboratory information system: analysis of benefits.

Electronic document management systems (EDMSs) have the potential to improve the efficiency of anatomic pathology laboratories. We implemented a novel but simple EDMS for scanned documents as part of our laboratory information system (AP-LIS) and collected cost-benefit data with the intention of discerning the value of such a system in general and whether integration with the AP-LIS is advantageous. We found that the direct financial benefits are modest but the indirect and intangible benefits are large. Benefits of time savings and access to data particularly accrued to pathologists and residents (3.8 h/d saved for 26 pathologists and residents). Integrating the scanned document management system (SDMS) into the AP-LIS has major advantages in terms of workflow and overall simplicity. This simple, integrated SDMS is an excellent value in a practice like ours, and many of the benefits likely apply in other practice settings.