[Histonet] Excelsior processor in Biotech/Pharma facilities

[Elizabeth M Heimrich]

Hi Tracy,
We have both VIP and Excelsior...I like them both, the Excelsior is 
easier to change reagents. Just attach a reagent bottle, instead of 
pouring the reagents into containers, the baskets are a little different 
though, they take a littlle to get used to.  I've processed all my 
tissues on both machines and I have not noticed a difference.  Rat paws 
ti small Lymph nodes....Demo the excelsior before you buy...You are all 
familar w/ VIP, so test drive the Excelsior!
Beth

Tracy Bergeron wrote:

>Hi folks,
>
>        We are looking into getting a new processor in our lab.  We are 
>trying to decide between the VIP and the Excelsior.  Several of us are 
>most familiar with the VIP, and like the ease of use and # of cassettes it 
>holds, the rest of our group though familiar with the VIP like the idea of 
>conserving reagents by using the Excelsior. 
>
>That said
>I am looking for information from the biotech/Pharma community on the 
>Excelsior. 
>Is there anyone out there using this processor outside the clinical lab?
>Does it work well on rodent tissue?
>What about hard tissues?
>Bone
>Paws (mouse and rat)
>
>My next question is for people familiar with the earlier models of the 
>Excelsior as well as the newest model. (clinical or research)
>I find the software for the older model very cumbersome and not user 
>friendly.
>Is the software on the newer machines any easier to use for the average 
>person?
>Is it as easy as using the VIP, or Pathcenter? - follow the prompts sort 
>of thing.
> 
>I would appreciate any input folks have.
>Thanks.
>
>Sincerely,
>Tracy E. Bergeron, B.S., HT, HTL (ASCP)
>Associate Scientist III, Pathology
>Comparative Pathology Laboratory
>Biogen Idec
>14 Cambridge Center
>Cambridge, MA 02142
>Direct:  617-914-1115
>Fax:  617-679-3208
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