[Histonet] Fite Stain

[Mitchell, Jeannette M.]

Quick question for everyone.  We received a cytology slide in xylene( left overnight) for Fite stain.  Is this ruined because of the extended time in xylene?  I looked in the Carson book and here is what is written

M leprae and Nocardia spp. are weakly acid fast and not alcohol fast (Chandler) so alcohol must be avoided. So we don't want to receive it in Alcohol
Why a short exposure to xylene for removal of paraffin has such an adverse effect on the leprosy organism while the prolonged exposure to xylene during processing does not have the same effect to xylene during processing does not have the same effect is an interesting consideration (Stevens).  According to Stevens, once the leprosy organism is adequately stained, it will resist decolonization as tenaciously as the tubercle bacillus does; instead the problem may be one of resistance to uptake of the stain rather than retention.

We are having quite the discussion what is right.  So I need more opinions from out there

Thanks,

Jeannette Mitchell, BS, HTL(ASCP), QIHC
R&D Histotechnologist
EP1-119
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Burlington, VT 05401

Phone # 802-847-3096
                       &
             802-847-5362