[histonet] Cleaning and re-using slides

[Smith, Allen]

Cleaning slides strikes me as a very poor use of student time.  If they are paid even 3/4 minimum wage, it is uneconomical.  If they are unpaid, it is unfair to set them a task they can learn nothing from.
-Allen A. Smith, Ph.D.
 Professor of Anatomy
 Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine
 Miami shores, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Nicholas Evans
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 1:28 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [histonet] Cleaning and re-using slides

Dear all,

In our lab our boss is adamant that we must clean and recycle old unmounted
microscope slides (which have paraffin and cryo sections on them). It is
driving us nuts, as the process of cleaning the slides is incredibly tedious
and labor-intensive - it is vital that the slides are spotlessly clean
before re-treating. We (when I say we, i mean the student lackies who get
drafted in the lab, not me, hoho) currently physically scrub them with
various solvents, such as citrisolve, acetone etc. we use Fisherbrand
Superfrost/plus slides.

Anyone got any ideas how to speed this up/automate - is there a machine
available? And would anyone care to vote on the lunacy or soundness of this
idea? (Please post to me, not the list.) We are not a clinical lab, by the
way.

Nick
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