[Histonet] Re: Tissue Processors

[Rene J Buesa]

If I may, I would like to add something: 
do you remember the sales success of the VW Beetle? Why was it a success? Because of its simplicity. They did not even have a gasoline gage and if you ran out of gasoline there was 1 extra gallon reserve that you opened with a handle underneath the passenger's seat.
No thrills, no complexity. You could repair it yourself. Try to do now with a new VW "Beetle", the new ones with the motor at the front of the car. You will not be able to do it.
For the same reason there are labs that today still use the "carousel" type tissue processors, the "Technicon" type still manufactured (now by Leica and some Indian and Chinese lab manufacturers).
Something similar can be said to the "basic" VIP with less valves, less automation but extremely reliable.
Those more "automated" with "hands-free reagents transfer" by laws of probability have to be more prone to failure. More components = greater parts to "go wrong".
Regarding lower exposure to reagents, that depends on the reagents, not on the instrument.
It is well documented at this moment that the only reagents you need to process tissue and obtain the best quality possible is with innocuous reagents in a protocol using isopropyl alcohol → mineral oil → paraffin neither are noxious to the techs' health.
This is my humble opinion.
René J.

From: Teri Johnson <TJohnson <@t> gnf.org>
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu> 
Sent: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 11:37 AM
Subject: [Histonet] Re: Tissue Processors

Dear Tim,

Here's the deal, they all work. When buying new, I bought the VIP5 due to its great reputation. It was and still is a workhorse.

Teri Johnson, HT(ASCP)QIHC
GNF Histology Lab Manager
Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation
858-332-4752

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