[Histonet] cloudy formalin in vip processor

[Tony Henwood]

Chris,

Often the cracking is due to incomplete formalin fixation combined with
too harsh processing. We found a marked improvement when we extended the
fixation time and decreased the time in the processing solutions.

Having a rotary processor also helps. GI and other small biopsie are
processed on the rotary processor whilst the larger, thicker specimen
are processed in the retort processor.

Regards

Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist
Tel: 612 9845 3306
Fax: 612 9845 3318
the children's hospital at westmead 
Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead 
Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145, AUSTRALIA 




-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
Christine I. Braaten
Sent: Tuesday, 26 May 2009 7:26 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] cloudy formalin in vip processor


Dennis,

We do a warm water flush every Tuesday. We generally have between 40 and
120 blocks a day. Most of our specimens are GI biopsies but we do have
things like uterus, breast tissue, tonsils, things like that. Knock on
wood we have not had a blockage in the 9 years we have been using our
processor. Our biggest problem is the pathologists dissatisfaction with
how our GI biopsies look (dry, cracked). That could be because we run
them on the overnight schedule with our big surgical specimens. I
mentioned washing the specimens to one pathologist and she's not really
up for doing that. So, we'll keep trying and see what happens. Have a
great weekend. 


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