[Histonet] RE: Metal molds

Wed Oct 10 09:27:09 CDT 2012

We clean molds every day.  My preferred method is heated water to
melt the paraffin off, then allow to cool.  Peel the paraffin from
the surface of the water, remove the molds from the water, then dunk
them about 10 times in a mixture of alcohol and mold release.  Allow
to air dry or dry in a low temp oven.  

In my experience, molds that aren't cleaned on a regular basis make it
very difficult to remove the embedded cassettes even if very, very
cold.  It's easier for me if my workspace and tools are clean and
organized.

-----Original message-----
From: Susan.Walzer <@t> HCAHealthcare.com
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 01:00:50 -0500
To: joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com, valerie.hannen <@t> parrishmed.com
Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Metal molds

> 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 plasticones. 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 youcan 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. Soakthem 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 itlately.... 
> > 
> > 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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Brendal C. Finlay, HT (ASCP)