[Histonet] Microwave processing

[Luck, Greg D.]

John,
Your concerns are very valid particularly in your role as a reference lab.
A couple of questions.  1st, which part of "FFPE" does the Sakura instrument
not fulfill (e.g. are the tissues not exposed to NBF during the Sakura
processing cycle).  2nd, When you perform IHC in the role as a reference lab
how are you currently ascertaining how the paraffin blocks you receive for
IHC have been processed?  In a somewhat analogous situation for years we
maintained two IHC protocols because we did histology for two hospitals.
One hospital used NBF as its designated routine fixative and the other used
"Prefer".  Was somewhat of a pain but was manageable, however we only
average about 50-60 IHC's/day.  I could share some of what we learned
developing and maintaining two standing IHC protocols for each antibody if
you think our situation has any potential learning value for you.  Good
luck, Greg
Greg Luck, BS, HT(ASCP)
Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
Deaconess Medical Center
800 W. 5th Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
Phone 509.473.7077
Fax 509.473.7133
luckg <@t> empirehealth.org
www.deaconessmedicalcenter.org


-----Original Message-----
From: John PJ Coleman [mailto:jcolclefa <@t> aol.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 2:04 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Microwave processing

I am the Senior tech of a large hospital corporation.  My administration has
just won funding for 4 Sakura Microwave rapid processing units. We run FISH
her 2 on formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue as per FDA protocol. As I
tech, I am not in favor of tossing routine processing wholesale in favor of
a completely new technology without thorough testing and parallel
processing. Also, we are a regional reference lab for IHC and have a panel
of 115 antibodies, all optimized for formalin fixed paraffin embedded
tissue. We run an average of 350 IHC slides a day, max 580 per day and would
have to re-optimize these to use in the new formalin free world while
keeping our FFPE procedures in parallel for our reference lab work. Much
like running 2 labs. If anyone has any insight, or if anyone currently uses
these instruments for routine and/or IHC, feel free to call or email, and
I'll check the postings on this string. We are also taking invitations to
come out and see these things in use real time.

John PJ Coleman-757 335-2159
http://members.cox.net/captainmadman/
http://journals.aol.com/jcolclefa/Waytoomuchboringcraptosayusually/


_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet