3-day Mohs Histology Workshop
Organised by SLEE medical and Mercedes Scientific, the workshop took place at the Lakewood Ranch in Florida.
Trainer Manuel A. Sierra, HT (ASCP), Florida Licensed Histology Supervisor, ProPath Solutions, welcomed participants from 3 different states.
Support at place were Dustin Schmitt, Mercedes Scientific and Simon Owen, SLEE medical.
Here’s a quick overview of the schedule:
Day 1 – Setup & Foundations
Most of the day was dedicated to workshop setup and preparation. We organized the lab stations, confirmed cryostat readiness, staged supplies (inks, OCT, hot dogs / pig’s feet for practice, stain line, maps, and documentation forms), and handled the initial orientation with the group. Once the room was ready, we covered the core theory: Mohs principles, 100 % margin evaluation, accessioning, labeling, and the 4-color inking system (Sky / Right / Grass / Left).
Day 2 – Hands-On Techniques
Full practical day focused on tissue preparation and cryotomy.
Participants practiced:
- Inking and orientation mapping
- Relaxation cuts and embedding (Heat Extractor and Glass Slide methods)
- Sectioning on the SLEE units (starting with hot dogs, then moving to tougher / fatty margins)
- Basic troubleshooting (chatter, rolling, thickness, temperature)
Day 3 – Staining, QC & Workflow Integration
We completed the full workflow with H&E staining and coverslipping, reviewed stain quality and common artifacts, covered daily CLIA/QC documentation requirements, and ran timed full-cycle practice (gross → ink → embed → section → stain). Ended with microscope review of participant slides, Q&A, and wrap-up.
Overall, the workshop went very well. The group was engaged, the SLEE cryostats performed reliably, and the participants left with solid hands-on experience and clear take-home references.
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