[Histonet] Microwave PROCCESSING

[Charles Scouten]

Our position on "Microwave Processing" is as follows.  Our position in
the field comes from the fixation and processing of biological specimens
for specimen preparation for transmission electron microscopy
evaluation.  There is no technology in the market place that is able to
match our ability to prepare tissues to be examined ultrastructurally
for electron microscopy evaluation.  Our preservation of ultrastructure
is equal to or better than traditional methods of specimen preparation
for electron microscopy. 

Thus, we come to the field of histology looking at the preservation and
processing of tissue for pathologic evaluation from a different aspect
than any of the other microwave technologies present in the field of
histology.

The primary focus of our interest in histology is fixation using 10%
neutral buffered formalin and bone decalcification using EDTA.  We are
able to give you fixation equal to a standard 24 hour fixation in 10%
neutral buffered formalin in one hour.  Fixation is the key to
processing and all following results from routine H&E staining results
to improved IHC results.  Good fixation is the key to fast and excellent
tissue processing. Specimens that are fixed using our microwave
technology and protocol will allow the lab to process these microwave
fixed specimens using a traditional tissue processor and chemicals using
a short cycle processing protocol or perform rapid processing using a
microwave processing schedule.   

We are able to decalcify bone specimens with EDTA in 1/10 the time it
takes to decalcify under routine bone decalcification procedures.  We
are able to give you the quality results achieved using EDTA with the
speed of formic acid protocols.

Our microwave technology allows the lab to fix tissue in 1 hour.  These
tissues must be grossed to a thickness of 2 millimeters.  2 millimetes
is the thickness that gives the best fixation of specimens in 24 hours
and in our one hour fixation protocol.  These microwave fixed specimens
may then be processed on a routine tissue processor using standard
reagents or processed rapidly in a microwave processing schedule.  The
H&E stain should equal or better a specimen processed on a routine
fixation and precessing schedule and should result in improved IHC
staining relults.

Specimens greater than 2 millimeters will not achieve the quality
fixation results using our microwave fixation protocol or using a
routine 24 hour fixation protocol.

Cordially,

Lee

Lee Dickey
Product Marketing Manager
McCormick Scientific
5918 Evergreen Blvd.
St. Louis, MO  63134
Ph:  866-737-2540
Ledickey <@t> mccormickscientific.com


Cordially,
Charles W.  Scouten, Ph.D. 
myNeuroLab.com 
5918 Evergreen Blvd. 
St. Louis, MO 63134 
Ph: 314 522 0300 x 342
FAX  314 522 0377 
cwscouten <@t> myneurolab.com 
http://www.myneurolab.com 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Jesus
Ellin
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 1:16 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Microwave PROCCESSING

Nice to see that everyone made it back from NSH and are doing well.  I
have a nice question that might start some serious discussion.
Microwave proccessing!!!!  My question is how many people out there are
doing it and what issues did you have to work through to apply this
technology to everyday use???  How are you handling the testing of your
immuno's since you have to use tissue that has been run by the microwave
proccessor???  How is the transcription being done??? What time are the
pathologist coming in and how LATE are they staying??  Are you
proccessing all tissue type or only small biopies, breast biopsies,
etc.?? What road block have you come up against???  It this the rule to
proccess all tissue or is this the exception??  How are you handling
reference lab consultation with your tissue that is proccessed on the
Microwave and sending it to a lab for instance AFIP for consult and they
only use the conventional proccessing??  Is anyone out there doing both
and how do they keep track of the different types of tissue that have
been proccessed within the different proccessor, if you are indeed using
both.  What additional costs did you do you have, with there new product
from the proccessor??


Our pathologist came back and are now foaming at the mouth for this
technology.  We are not against this, but there are avenues that need to
be addressed, especially with IHC, FISH, and overall workflow.  Any help
would greatly be appreciated and needed at this time.

Your in Formalin

Jesus Ellin
Yuma Regional Medical Center



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