What is your paraffin blocks and glass slides retention policy?

[turtle1966]

What paraffin block and glass slide retention policy do you follow AND why?
(a) CLIA (42CFR§493.1105)
or
(b) CAP recommendation

The difference is for paraffin blocks only. Ten year "recommendation" by CAP and two year "minimum requirement" from CLIA.

Any input would be appreciated.

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[Pathbusiness]

CLIA

 

[Autopsy101]

CAP

 

[LADoc00]

10 yr for blocks, you gotta keep em for all the new molecular tests that seem to be springing up faster than forest fires in California atm...sadly

 

[yaah]

2 years isn't enough for the molecular testing. 2 years is often about the time cases get treated then recur, and they want the original to compare or test since it's a better sample.

 

[Path2009]

10 years - CAP.

I was just at a conference in Boston where Steve Tahan (derm) said they need to be kept even longer. The reason wasn't testing - it was for malpractice defense. He gave a talk where he was able to spin some pretty egregious cases because they had the slides (missed melanomas). He felt that without the slides/blocks that the pathologists would have been screwed. Interesting because it goes against conventional wisdom.