[Histonet] blade sign

[Gayle Callis]

Another source of dirt, etc is from the paraffin dispenser. We have 
experienced tissues infiltrated and embedded in paraffin from another lab 
(of which there is nothing wrong with paraffin from a reliable 
manufacturer)  but tissues seemed to have "sand" and sections were a 
nightmare. Ribbon looked like a spaghetti factory production.

  After reembedding in another clean paraffin, the sand syndrome 
disappeared - suspect was a dirty dispenser and failure to stir the 
paraffin BEFORE embedding to redistribute plastic polymers and additives 
evenly in the melted paraffin mixture.

At 02:24 AM 9/6/2004, you wrote:
>Jason,
>
>bad batches of blades DO occur, although it would seem not all that 
>frequently. It is hard to believe that ALL blocks at your 
>facility  contain hard inclusions (unless you are specifically dealing 
>with bone & calcified tissue).
>Other things that might contribute are the way you treat your blade - 
>wiping it with a Kimwipe before cutting for example, or touching it with 
>forceps when picking up sections. Lastly, it may be that there is a 
>contaminant in the wax, dust from nearby renovations might become 
>incorporated in the embedding wax, thus giving rise to scratched & torn 
>sections.
>
>Best regards
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: "jason m" <kosmicdog <@t> hotmail.com>
>To: histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu
>Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2004 11:34:40 -0700
>Subject: [Histonet] blade sign
>
>anyone have tips for minimizing blade sign? i start at one end of fresh
>blade and work to the other end before throwing out the disposable blade.
>sometimes however, blade sign appears even with a new blade. is it just that
>some blocks have hard spots that nick the blade?
>
>thanks.
>J.
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Take advantage of powerful junk e-mail filters built on patented Microsoft
>SmartScreen Technology.
>http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines 
>
>   Start enjoying all the benefits of MSN  Premium right now and get the
>first two months FREE*.
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Histonet mailing list
>Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
>
>
>Louise Renton
>Bone Research Unit
>University of the Witwatersrand
>Johannesburg
>South Africa
>.......so what IS the speed of dark?
>
>_______________________________________________
>Histonet mailing list
>Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

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)