[Histonet] RE: Metal molds

Wed Oct 10 12:41:54 CDT 2012

My impression of the intial thread was the general cleanliness and cross contamination potential, not the fact that the blocks aren't easily released. I have never had that issue. 

Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
 > Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:27:09 -0500
> From: brendal.finlay <@t> medicalcenterclinic.com
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Metal molds
> 
> 
> 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!
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > This electronic mail and any attached documents are intended
> solely for the named addressee(s) and contain confidential
> information. If you are not an addressee, or responsible for
> delivering this email to an addressee, you have receivedthis email in
> error and are notified that reading, copying, or disclosing this email
> is prohibited. If you received this email in error, immediately reply
> to the sender and delete the message completely from your computer
> system.
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Histonet mailing list
> > > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> > > 
> > > =============
> > > "This email is intended solely for the use of the individual to
> > > whom it is addressed and may contain information that is
> > > privileged, confidential or otherwise exempt from disclosure
> > > under applicable law. If the reader of this email is not the
> > > intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for
> > > delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are
> > > herebynotified that any dissemination, distribution, or
> > > copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
> > > have received this communication in error, please immediately
> > > delete this message. Thank you"
> > > =============
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Histonet mailing list
> > > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> > _______________________________________________
> > Histonet mailing list
> > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Histonet mailing list
> > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> > 
> 
> Brendal C. Finlay, HT (ASCP)
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet