[Histonet] automated immuno stainer

[Nymeyer, Heather]

I really do not like to recommend one vendor over another but I must
share my experience with you.  We were performing manual stains up until
three years ago and we purchased an automatic IHC stainer.  There was a
drastic improvement in the quality of staining and reproducibility.
Unfortunately, we did not estimate that our volume of stains would
increase as it did and we can not keep up to the number of requests.  
Although our stainer does produce excellent quality, it is a system that
once it starts (regardless if it is full or not) the run can not be
interrupted or added to.  This has caused us some problems with keeping
up with the workload.  
There are systems that are continuous feed and this allows the user to
have three different runs started at separate times.  I feel this would
be a definite benefit to any lab.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information.

Heather D. Nymeyer, RT, CEBT
Charge Technologist, Anatomic Pathology
Royal Inland Hospital,
Kamloops, BC.
250-314-2664
 heather.nymeyer <@t> interiorhealth.ca
-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Patti
Loykasek
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 12:50 PM
To: Chistine Tambasco; histonet
Subject: Re: [Histonet] automated immuno stainer

Hi Christine. I believe that a good, well trained tech can achieve good
immunos on any type of platform. I think the main issues are your
preferences: do you want an open or closed system - any detection system
or
only the instrument company, concentrated or prediluted antibodies,etc?
Antigen retrieval on instrument or ok off instrument? Cost per slide?
Ease
of waste disposal? Can you use the clones of antibodies you have
currently
validated on the instrument? User friendly? Those are the main issues I
can
think of at the moment - my brain is still tired from all the turkey
tryptophan!  
Most companies are more than happy to provide you with a demo & they may
even help work up some things for you.
As for my preference - it is Dako. We have several of the 48 slide
configured Autostainers. I'd be happy to respond to any questions you
might
have about the Dako.
Good luck in your stainer hunting.


Patti Loykasek BS, HTL, QIHC
PhenoPath Laboratories
Seattle, WA







> Hello all! I hope everyone enjoyed their breif repreive from stress. I
was
> wondering if anyone could give me some input on automated stainers for
> immunohistochemistry. Currently we hand stain and our volumes are
steadily
> increasing. We are looking at automation as we probably do up to 12-15
stains
> per day and plan on starting ER and PR. I heard Vantana is very good.
How
> about Leica?  (Theirs does both immunos and ordianry special stains.)
Anyone
> have any experience they would like to share? We are an Ascension
Health
> affiliated hospital as that may matter in the negotiations. Thanks for
any and
> all opinions.
> Respectfullly,
> Christine Tambasco, HT (ASCP)
> St. Mary's Hospital
> Amsterdam, New York 12010
> 518-841-7287
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet



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