[Histonet] RE: Metal molds

Wed Oct 10 02:00:50 CDT 2012

We put our molds in the VIP before running the cleaning cycle daily. Then we dip them in alcohol containing mold release..air dry and store.

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of joelle weaver
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 3:27 PM
To: valerie.hannen <@t> parrishmed.com
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Metal molds

I always cleaned them daily, either the very hot water, soapy water method, with water running over them in the sink with them on their sides so it passes over them, not upright so the water sits in them- then a rinse in alcohol and completely air dry. Or you can always do the clean cycle with the racks, running them through xylene, etc. They come out very clean this way- used an old processor that was a backup for this most of the time. But I always did them daily, but also wiped each one out with gauze if I used them twice in an embedding session ( for more than one specimen in that large batch). Also I like metal, I hate those plastic ones. If you keep the block face surface of the mold warm-hot,  and flatten before it turns completely white the specimen is at the surface and you are able to see the edges easily without a lot of "facing". I think this saves time cutting through paraffin, and saves blades. Plus if the specimen is not flat enough, you see it right away and know if you must re-embed to get a complete, representative section, rather than after you have cut some superficial parts of some edges away and not others, only to have to re-embed anyhow. The other problems I see are when people are "afraid" of big molds- please if you are only taking one section, use one large enough to leave a perimeter. Don't try to squeeze it into a medium mold, you are unlikely to need multiple sections on one slide and it is much easier to get flat and get a good section.  Also please  put enough paraffin on top, so that when it is cool the layer over the grooves in the cassette is not so thin that you can clearly see the depressions. That little bit of paraffin is much cheaper than tech time in re-embedding and fussing with a block longer than you should.  Not so much a big issue for many specimens, but anything hard/ dense, such as bone, cervix, uterus, leeps, ( you get the idea) it is not anchored enough without a good dose of paraffin, causing more chatter when you section, and maybe chipping out more frequently, or even the whole bottom surface to lift off the cassette. I guess I have some "pet peeves" with this topic,  so thanks for letting me get that out!

Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
 > From: Valerie.Hannen <@t> parrishmed.com
> To: billodonnell <@t> catholichealth.net; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2012 10:51:01 -0400
> CC: 
> Subject: [Histonet] RE: Metal molds
> 
> We clean our molds once a week. Soak them in Xylene to remove paraffin, soak in 100% alcohol to remove xylene, rinse in running water, dry and spray with mold release solution.
> 
> Valerie A. Hannen, MLT(ASCP),HTL,SU(FL)
> Histology Section Chief
> Parrish Medical Center
> 951 N. Washington Ave.
> Titusville, Florida 32976
> Phone:(321) 268-6333 ext. 7506
> Fax: (321) 268-6149
> valerie.hannen <@t> parrishmed.com
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of O'Donnell, Bill
> Sent: Monday, October 08, 2012 4:32 PM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Metal molds
> 
> 
>  OK folks, I know I should be smarter than this and I haven't seen discussion on it lately.... 
> 
> Are people cleaning their metal embedding molds after evey embedding session?
> 
> If not, how often do you clean them? 
> 
> Do you clean them at all?
> 
> If you clean them, how do you do it? 
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Bill
> William (Bill) O'Donnell, HT (ASCP) QIHC Senior Histologist Good Samaritan Hospital 10 East 31st Street Kearney, NE 68847 
> 
> SERENITY is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
> 
> Cultivate it in PRAYER!
> 
>  
> 
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