[Histonet] RE: Microwave Tissue Processors

[Gehan, Loralee]

I work in an orthopaedics research lab as well and process many many many
mouse hind limbs, calvaria, etc.  We use a microwave processor from Hacker
(milestone medical).  It has decreased our time to process.  We had some
trouble at the start with some of our enzyme histochemistry.  
The trick to the machine is the heat.  It was heating the samples up so much
that one of our stains wasn't working.  After much testing we figured out
that all you have to do is decrease the temperature of the processing and
increase the time.  It was basically trial and error because the company
markets these for rapid processing for surgical biopsies.  
We decal on the machine and we also do antigen retrieval and found that most
of our antibodies worked well with it.   We are still testing out the
capabilities of the machine.  But it has helped this lab become more
efficient. 
	Hope that helps. 

	Loralee Gehan
	Orthopaedics Research Lab
	University of Rochester
> ----------
> From: 	Chan Wai Kam
> Sent: 	Wednesday, October 29, 2003 10:02 PM
> To: 	Mary Reeves
> Cc: 	HistoNet Server
> Subject: 	RE: [Histonet] RE: Microwave Tissue Processors
> 
> Hi Mary,
> 
> I was about to post a question to Histonet about the use of microwave
> for processing of tissues when I came across your message below. I hope
> to get some advice.
> 
> I'm from Orthopaedics (research) and I process bone and cartilage
> specimens the usual way through fixation in formalin, then
> decalcification and so on.  I'm just wondering whether I can use the
> microwave to speed up the processing without affecting the quality of
> the specimens. Our usual processing for bone takes around 3 weeks until
> embedding so it would be great if we could have something that can speed
> up the process without sacrifing quality.  
> 
> Would appreciate any advice out there.
> 
> Thanks
> Julee Chan
> Orthopaedic Surgery
> National University of Singapore
> 
>    
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mary Reeves [mailto:REEVEML <@t> shands.ufl.edu] 
> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 11:38 PM
> To: ASelf <@t> gmhsc.com
> Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Katherine Raker
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Microwave Tissue Processors
> 
> 
> Amy,
> Do you currently have a microwave tissue processor?  We use the
> Hacker/Milestone RHS-1 Microwave to process our fatty tissue. The times
> that you see only represent the time at temperature, they do not include
> the "ramp" up time (the time needed to bring the solution to the
> appropriate processing temperature).  
> 
> Fixation - We fix the tissue cassettes overnight (6pm - 3am) in
> Alcoholic  Zinc Formalin Ethanol - 10 minutes at 65 C JFC - Produced by
> Hacker. Isopropanol can be used instead, however, you may need to extend
> the time at temperature. - 1 hour and 37 minutes at 68 C 
> Vaporization (Vacuum Drying) -Pressure at 500 mbar
> Paraffin - 48 minutes at 65 C and pressure at 100 mbar
> 
> This program takes approximately 4 hours to run, it replaces our 16 hour
> overnight program that we previously used to process fatty tissue.  The
> only fatty tissue we do not process in the microwave is lipoma. 
> 
> Mary Reeves
> Technical Specialist
> Histology
> 1-352-265-0680 ext 7-2113
> 
> >>> Amy Self <ASelf <@t> gmhsc.com> 10/28/03 01:58PM >>>
> 
> 	Mary,
> 
> 	Could you share with me your procedure for processing fatty
> tissue in the microwave.  
> 
> 	Thanks,
> 	Amy Self
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mary Reeves [mailto:REEVEML <@t> shands.ufl.edu] 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 1:38 PM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; thallada <@t> noch.org 
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Microwave Tissue Processors
> 
> 
> We microwave process all of our biopsy specimens and our fatty tissue
> (except lipoma).   
> 
> Mary Reeves
> Technical Specialist
> Histology
> 1-352-265-0680 ext 7-2113
> 
> >>> "Hallada, Teri" <thallada <@t> noch.org> 10/28/03 11:42AM >>>
> I was wondering if anyone out there is using a microwave tissue
> processor for routine hospital tissues. Are there any regulations
> applicable to instituting one, ie FDA approval? Teri Hallada BS MT CT
> (ASCP) thallada <@t> noch.org 
>  
> 
> 
> 
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