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<DIV><SPAN class=389080318-16122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>We use
both in our lab and I prefer the metal molds for the reasons Tim listed.
However, Tim mentioned one drawback of metal molds being the time required daily
to clean them. Honestly, I find that cleaning and treating once a year is
plenty, if that often. When I get new molds I spray them with any spray-on
mold release (not the kind you have to soak the molds in) and that is usually
sufficient. When I treat some older ones that have been previously
used I run them through the clean cycle of the VIP (I know that is a no-no
but I don't do it often!) and then apply the spray. I do not embed daily but
when I was working at a small local hospital years ago where I did embed daily I
found cleaning/spraying twice a year was sufficient. So I don't think the
time involved in cleaning/handling metal molds is an issue at
all.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=389080318-16122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=389080318-16122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Just
my point of view!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=389080318-16122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=389080318-16122003>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jeanine Bartlett, HT(ASCP)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Centers for Disease Control</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Infectious Disease Pathology
Activity</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>1600 Clifton Road, MS/G-32</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Atlanta, GA
30333</FONT></DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
histonet-admin@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-admin@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Morken,
Tim - Labvision<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, December 16, 2003 12:59
PM<BR><B>To:</B> histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE:
[Histonet] Plastic Embedding Molds<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dr. Hessler wrote:
"...</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">what advantages do these have
over traditional steel other than you don't clean them? As steel basically has
an unlimited lifespan, are the disposable molds really cost effective in a
clinical laboratory."</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Plastic
molds:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Disadvantages:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Very high cost
(although they can be reused for a while - just don't store in the heated
space of the embedding center or they get warped)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hard to orient
fragments due to some kind of electrostatic forces that move the pieces
around.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=GramE><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Slow to cool - again
hard to work with small fragments and skin when you want to orient them a
certain way.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> (<SPAN
class=GramE>though</SPAN> some may see as an
advantage)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Not as flat on the
face as metal, so more trimming - bad for very small
specimens.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Do not hold heat the
way metal does, so cools faster on the sides when time is spent orienting
tissue. I see many more <SPAN class=SpellE>mis</SPAN>-oriented tissues in
plastic molds, and <SPAN class=SpellE>mis</SPAN>-oriented mold/cassette
problems (block face is <SPAN class=SpellE>mis</SPAN>-oriented to the cassette
back, which means the block face is at an angle in the <SPAN
class=SpellE>microtome</SPAN> chuck...= more
trimming).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Advantages:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The sides of the mold
are more vertical than the metal mold so a bit easier to cut (smaller face,
sharper edge)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Easy to take off the
block (metal molds are often difficult to remove)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Metal:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Advantages<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Very low cost, last
forever<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Flat
face<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cool
fast<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Disadvantage<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sometimes difficult
to remove - use mold release (but that does take time and requires cleaning
the molds daily in <SPAN class=SpellE>xylene</SPAN>/alcohol - we put them in
the tissue processor and run the clean cycle)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: 41.25pt"><FONT face=Arial color=navy
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cracked
blocks? I haven't seen that as a problem. It is mainly in large blocks. You
can put them on a piece of paper over the cooling plate to avoid
that.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: 41.25pt"><FONT face=Arial color=navy
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: 41.25pt"><FONT face=Arial color=navy
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It seems
the only real advantage of the plastic is the shorter time spent taking the
mold off the block and avoiding the time it takes to clean the metal ones
(about 15 min/day max)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: 41.25pt"><FONT face=Arial color=navy
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If I was
paying the bills I wouldn't get the plastic - they are far more expensive and
do not give as good quality face as the metal. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: 41.25pt"><FONT face=Arial color=navy
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">But...I
haven't done a cost analysis of the plastic molds <SPAN class=SpellE>vs</SPAN>
time spent to clean metal molds and then soak in mold release every
day.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Courier New" color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-no-proof: yes">Tim
Morken<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original
Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Richard
Hessler [mailto:RHESSLER@mail.mcg.edu<SPAN class=GramE>] <BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent</SPAN></B></SPAN><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">:</SPAN></B> </SPAN></FONT><st1:date Year="2003"
Day="16" Month="12"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Tuesday, December 16,
2003</SPAN></FONT></st1:date><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> </SPAN></FONT><st1:time
Minute="56" Hour="7"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">7:56
AM</SPAN></FONT></st1:time><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B>
histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [Histonet] Plastic Embedding
Molds</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">I would like advise about
disposable plastic embedding molds. Was wondering if any clinical labs had
experienced problems with delays and uneven tissue alignment due to static and
slow heat transfer. Also, what advantages do these have over traditional steel
other than you don't clean them? As steel basically has an unlimited lifespan,
are the disposable molds really cost effective in a clinical
laboratory.</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Thanks</SPAN></FONT><FONT
face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Richard B Hessler, MD<BR>Chief,
Section of Anatomic Pathology<BR>Associate Professor of Pathology and
Neurology<BR>The </SPAN></FONT><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><FONT face=Tahoma
size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Medical</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceName><FONT
face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
</SPAN></FONT><st1:PlaceType><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">College</SPAN></FONT></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><FONT
face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> of
</SPAN></FONT><st1:country-region><st1:place><FONT face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Georgia</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:country-region><FONT
face=Tahoma size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>