[Histonet] cleaning microtomes

[RCHIOVETTI <@t> aol.com]

In a message dated 09/09/2003 7:51:39 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
Jmrwalker <@t> aol.com writes:

<< After you are finished cutting on 
 your microtome, what do you use to clean it?  Our lab in the past always 
used 
 xylene or alcohol to clean it.  A few new people have been hired in the lab 
and 
 now Paragard and baby oil have been used.  I'm just curious what the 
majority 
 of people in histoland are using.  Thanks! >>


I see mostly Paragard being used in our customers' labs, and I agree with the 
other posters, if the "slick" surface is a problem after the Paragard 
treatment you can then wipe down with a little ethanol or isopropanol.

With time xylene can affect the surfaces of the microtome's external parts, 
especially if used in excess.  Lots of the microtome parts have anodized 
(plated) surfaces that are either black or clear, and you'd think they would hold up 
to just about any kind of abuse.  But they will definitely break down and 
corrode with prolonged or repeated exposure to xylene.  This can lead to pitting 
and discoloration of the surfaces.

If you *do* use xylene, use it sparingly and be sure to wear gloves.  I 
personally don't like the stuff.  Try to use a substitute instead.

First, use a brush or gauze pad to remove the majority of the paraffin.  Then 
use only enough xylene or xylene substitute to barely moisten a gauze 4x4 or 
a tissue.  Wipe off the excess immediately with another dry gauze or tissue.  
You can also follow this with an alcohol wipe-down like you would use with 
Paragard if the surface feels slick or oily after you clean it.

Hope this helps!

Bob Chiovetti
GTI Microsystems
Leica Regional Dealer
Desert Southwest Region, USA