[Histonet] slide printer

Tue Aug 25 16:32:31 CDT 2020

When we implemented barcoding I was planning on using direct slide printing. It seemed the most efficient and safest way (ie, no mislabelling) to do the labeling. 

However, when we looked into getting the printers they were on the order of $9,000 per printer. And we wanted 20 printers for histology, cytology, grossing (frozens) and the kidney/muscle lab (kidney and muscle frozens) . That was a huge part of our equipment budget. In fact it was more than the computers, handheld scanners combined. 

So we started looking at slide label printers instead. They are far cheaper - on the order of $600 per unit. And we would need label printers for other areas as well - accessioning (six sites), grossing (three sites), consults slide/block labeling, cytology, EM, etc. 

We demoed both the direct slide printers and label printers. It was good to test them side by side because the pros and cons were very apparent. 

Besides the price of the direct slide printers we found they jammed often. They did not usually have an adequate output chute for the quantity slides we would print (often far more than the 5 or 10-slide capacity of the output chutes available. Also, we realized that since we use a few different slides types we would need to change slides while printing. That means segregating various types of labeled slides and somehow printing separately while needing to change out the slides each time. It was  a logistical problem for the cutters. (this would be solved via centralized slide printing and routing different stain types to their correct slide type thru software. But we wanted to print at the microtome for best practice safe labeling of slides where they are cut). Then we found that if a the printed label on a slide was somehow damaged (smudged, scratched, etc) we would need to print a slide label to fix it. And how do you label a slide with a control tissue already mounted - it risks damaging the tissue section to run it thru a slide printer (and does the control have a label of some sort already?)

Slide labels on the other hand were very flexible. We could print as many as needed right away  (in literally a few seconds). Output quantity was not an issue. Any damaged could be reprinted right away. We could use any number of different types of slides to mount sections and apply the label we had. The cost of the labels would take 5 to 10  years to meet the cost of a direct slide printer (depending on how many labels any given printer produced per year, and by then you would probably move on to new printers anyway). 

We do use a direct slide printer for pre-mounted control slides. Then we put a printed label on the slide for staining with the specific stain necessary. 

The one issue I was concerned about was whether the techs would accept having to apply labels to every slide (which was previously done after staining by one person - with many mistakes!). But during testing and implementation we had every tech try out both systems and they did not mind putting on labels. They thought it was far better than the hand-writing they had been doing. When we went live no one ever complained about putting labels on slides. 

We use the same labels for slides, requisitions and containers so no extra cost for different kinds of labels and printers. 

1)      What are you using? Cognitive label printers from General Data and StainerShield labels (survive every known histology chemical we have tried, including antigen retrieval). 

2)      Did you first try any other vendors besides the one you are using now? General Data (printed labels), ThermoFisher SlideMate, ShurMark (etcher - very slow printing) (we tried other printed label makers as well but GD was the best by far). I will note that when using printed labels you must use a matched system - the labels and printers from each vendor are designed to work together for the ideal results. Mixing and matching printers and labels is very difficult. Since the vendor has already done that, use their system (take it from someone who tried to do that!). 

3)      Do you like what you are using now? Very much. It works perfectly. 

4)      Is it a one or two slide hopper - ie can you load and then select charged or non-charged slides? No need with printed labels. 

5)      Are you using vendor specific recommended slides or have you substituted for a cheaper or other option?  We use various slides. Labels can go on any slide. However, with label printing you must used the matched system a vendor offers - label and printer are designed to work together for best results.

6)      We are looking specifically at Leica, SlideMate and ESPO - do you have any experience of info from other users you know about these vendors? General Data. Absolutely excellent. 

I suggest making a table with each printer or labeler in the columns and then a list on the left of the key features you want, or they have. Then compare each one. Prioritize your most desired features (including price!). Have the key people score each one. 

Tim Morken
Supervisor, Electron Microscopy/Neuromuscular Special Studies
Department of Pathology
UC San Francisco Medical Center

-----Original Message-----
From: Whitaker, Bonnie via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> 
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 1:38 PM
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] slide printer

Hi All,

I am posting this for a friend.  Any info would be appreciated.

Any way we are looking at several slide printer options and wondered the following:

1)      What are you using?

2)      Did you first try any other vendors besides the one you are using now?

3)      Do you like what you are using now?

4)      Is it a one or two slide hopper - ie can you load and then select charged or non-charged slides?

5)      Are you using vendor specific recommended slides or have you substituted for a cheaper or other option?

6)      We are looking specifically at Leica, SlideMate and ESPO - do you have any experience of info from other users you know about these vendors?

Any and all information you are able to share would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bonnie

Bonnie Whitaker
AP Operations Director
The Ohio State University
Department of Pathology

614-293-8418

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