[Histonet] Mixing Paraffin Brands

[Debra Siena]

Hi Lucie,

Paraplast Plus has DMSO and Paraplast Xtra doesn't.  It may be best to infiltrate with the Plus which is softer and then embed with the Paraplast Xtra which is a bit harder.  I don't usually recommend mixing them especially if you only have a few bags.  Thanks

Debbie Siena
800.442.3573 ext. 229 | www.statlab.com

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Lucie Guernsey
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 1:01 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Mixing Paraffin Brands

Hi,

Does anyone know if there's a reason why one shouldn't mix different brands of paraffin? We normally use Fisherbrand's Paraplast Plus (melting point 56 C). We inherited about 8 bags of McCormick Paraplast X-tra (melting point
52 C). Will the different melting points be a problem?

If we were to use the McCormick paraffin, the only place it may mix with the Fisherbrand paraffin is in the blocks themselves (as we refill the embedder). But I don't want to compromise the quality of our blocks just to not waste the free paraffin.

Or, another option could be that we use the McCormick in the processor and the Fisherbrand in the embedder. Could that cause issues in the blocks as the tissue would be infiltrated with one brand and embedded in another?

Maybe I'm over-thinking this......

Many thanks!
Lucie

Lucie Guernsey
UCSD
Dept. of Pathology
lguernsey <@t> ucsd.edu
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