[BULK] - [Histonet] pencil lead deposits on top of sections

[Fred Underwood]

     Ah Ha!!!  So I'm not crazy.  A few years back when I first got my
tissue tek coverslipper (using the tape) I noticed that precipitate
looking stuff.  Eventually I figured out that it was lead dust.  
     I had not heard of anyone else having this problem and figured I
was just some kind of uncoordinated. mega digited, klutz.  Thank you
Gayle.

Fred


>>> Gayle Callis <gcallis <@t> montana.edu> 07/27/04 03:12PM >>>
Unfortunately,  pencil lead exfoliates as pencil lead dust (black
deposits) 
that end up as tiny black blobs on top of stained sections.  This
happens 
when people are heavy handed and hold the slide where pencil is used
for 
labeling rather than on edges of slides and contaminate the waterbath. 
We 
have also observed pencil lead dust deposits on bottom of first
processing 
station e.g. 70% alcohol.

Been there, had it, and prefer to fight with pricey little Secureline 
markers, even StatLab pens have some issues, like smearing unless you
give 
them a tidge of drying time.   We often pre-label slides and cassettes
in 
our insure marker is totally dry with either of these pens.   Being in

research lab is easier to accomplish this task versus a clinical,
hospital 
lab where slides are marked during microtomy session.  We have never
had 
Secureline wash off our plastic cassettes nor  slides, with exception
of 
red Secureline - a total disaster during one processing, the red pens
were 
thrown out.

Keep hoping someone will invent the ideal pen, until then ----

At 11:19 AM 7/27/2004, you wrote:
>#2 pencil anyone ?  rarely washes off, Never dries out.......... 
Wink.
>Just a thought

Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 173610
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-6367 (lab with voice mail)
406 994-4303 (FAX)



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