[Histonet] Microscopic slides

[Vickroy, James]

We are once again reviewing the microscopic slides we use.  We have found the sldies we have used on a regular basis take too long to dry properly which gives us some undesireable artifacts.  I have longed for a "one size fits all" microscopic slide.    One of the slides I used in the past is not possible given that I have the Thermofisher Slidemates.   The slidemates require a very smooth labeled end.   Recently we tested several slides both hydrophobic and hydrophilic.  We really liked a hydrophilic slide by Leica but am told it doesn't work well for IHC's and special stains.   Our current slide is a "hydrophobic" slide which traps water easily underneath the section and therefore we having drying problems.  If we don't dry them for at least twenty minutes we get nuclear bubbling.  Leica has another slide we tried that is "hydrophobic" but with "hydrophilic" tendencies.  My staff thought tried that slide and found them to be very similar to the "hydrophobic" slide we already have.

We have tried the Stat-lab M2000 and they seem to  dry better but there often is a "trick" to getting the sections to stick to the slide without sliding off of the end.    Of course we might just have to use two different slides, one for our routine H&E's and one for the IHC's and Special stains.   Anybody have any thoughts on this?

And is a "hydrophobic slide" that has "hydrophilic tendencies" really possible?

Jim Vickroy
Histology Manager
Springfield Clinic, Main Campus, East Building
1025 South 6th Street
Springfield, Illinois  62703
Office:  217-528-7541, Ext. 15121
Email:  jvickroy at SpringfieldClinic.com<mailto:jvickroy at SpringfieldClinic.com>



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