[Histonet] RE: Microwave Processors

[Morken, Timothy]

Ben, we used a Thermo Histowave II (made by Electron Beam Sciences) for many years for rush transplant biopsies. It worked Ok and the results were about 90% of the quality of regularly-processed tissue - however  I think the slightly lessened quality was the shorter fixation time the bx had - maybe 2 hours from excision to starting processing.  We did not do formalin fixation in the MW processor. 

The MW tissue processor part took about 15 minutes and required several manual changes of solutions, so was in a fume hood. It was more of a hassle to keep melted paraffin around than to run the processor. We kept the MW containers and paraffin ready in a dedicated oven. We used it daily so it was routine. 

The thing finally died and we now use a Peloris processor for Rush bx. The results are similar. Again, probably due to short fixation.

MW processing should not be any scarier than any other processing.  It simply requires validation, in which you define the results you expect and then work towards that in the workup.


Tim Morken
Supervisor, Electron Microscopy/Neuromuscular Special Studies
Department of Pathology
UC San Francisco Medical Center



-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Dubansky, Benjamin
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2013 1:51 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Microwave Processors

Can some of you weigh in on how you feel about microwave histoprocessors?  I am terrified that my samples will end up like raisins.  "They" swear that these milestone processors are just as good as any other method, in terms of quality.  I'ts all I have right now and it is very tempting to use it, although I am considering doing things the old fashioned way.  And I am talking about pre-processor old fashioned way.  I am that scared.

Ben

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