[Histonet] labvision ihc stainer....problems

[Olszewski, Dawn]

Dear histonetters,
 
I have been having IHC issues sporatically for awhile now and would appreciate any suggestions that might keep me from pulling out my hair.  I am only giving out the name of the products we use to give you the complete picture.  I am not trying to bash any particular company.  I just need HELP!!!!!
 
I have used Dako and Ventanna stainers in the past and know that every stainer has some issues.  I am now using 2 Labvision stainers and was wondering if I am the only one having problems.  I have experienced complete run failures as well as  only 1-2 antibodies per run not working with no obvious reason for failure.  
Sometimes the control will be negative and the patient will work or neither will work or the control will be positive but the patient will be negative (that should have been pos.) so, you never really know if the results are acurate.  But to complicate matters or frustrate me .... the whole process is sporatic with no rhyme or reason and it has happened on BOTH instruments.  I can repeat the stains and all work fine or do 3 different slides with controls and patient side by side and 1 work and 2 fail .  Crazy stuff like that.  I do one step depar and AR in the pressure cooker and also use buffer with tween 20.  I have had the service reps out here several times adjusting drop zones, etc. because the problem looks to be a flow issue.  I am almost ready to  give up.....Maybe I am overlooking something obvious I have just forgotten about .   
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 
 
Dawn Olszewski HTL (ASCP) QIHC
South Georgia Medical Center
Valdosta, GA.